For the first time, Cardinal and gold were the colors chosen to host the third Association of International Student’s Organization National Conference.

Iowa State was chosen to host the national conference from Friday to Sunday. 

AiSO is a non-profit student organization with the goal of giving the necessary tools to help international students become successful. Danilo Tchoupe, a student from the University of Arkansas originally from Cameroon, founded the event to unite all the different International Student Councils around the United States and also create a well-developed networking between them.

The ISU International Student Council is honored to hold the First National Conference at Iowa State. 

Fang Hao Lim, senior in microbiology and a native of Malaysia, said how important this event is for the International Student Council.

“This is a great privilege to promote what ISU multicultural diversity has to offer,” Hao Lim said.

A variety of international and domestic students will be attending. Undergraduates are welcome and several graduates also registered for this three day event. Approximately 180 students registered for the event along with 39 universities, including Michigan State, Princeton, Kentucky, Indiana and other states.

The third AiSO National Conference of International Organizations will have different speakers from around the nation to speakers from Iowa State. The speakers who are going to present are Dr. Martino Harmon, Tamara McMillan, Dr. Fanta Aw, Denise Williams, Richard Garret, Choy Leow, Ruxandra Looft and Mani Mina.

Activities prepared for this event include a cultural fair, professional presentations, around the world in 60 minutes, workshops, discussion forums, dance performances and other educational activities. The conference cost is $85 per person, which includes hotel for two nights, meals covered, conference package and also a conference t-shirt.

Hao Lim said having the opportunity to attend the second AiSO National Conference held in Michigan gave him and Adli Shah, senior in industrial engineering also born in Malaysia, the inspiration to send out a form of interest to hold the conference at Iowa State.

The goal of this conference is to help International Student Council improve themselves, focused more on international students but domestic students are also invited to attend the event.

“The event is mainly for international students but also it has a goal of educating those domestic students who want to learn more about international community, diversity and leadership work,” Shah said. “The theme of this conference is leading to diversity, how you connect with other individuals and enhance communication.”