As international students get ready to study abroad, an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty comes with it. Will they make friends in the United States or spend more time being homesick than having fun?

That’s why, when students come to Elizabethtown College, there is a team of students to ensure that their welcome is a safe one.

The International Leadership Team (ILT) is made up of International Leadership Assistants (ILAs).

Mostly sophomores through seniors, some of these students who are a part of the ILT have studied abroad and speak multiple languages.

The job of ILAs is to pick up international students at the airport, run a summer orientation with them and plan events throughout the school year.

Recently, some changes have occurred in the office.

Over the summer, several cuts happened to the College, and one of these was the director of this program.
The program is now run by Joni Eisenhauer, assistant director of health promotion; Amy Berra, assistant to the vice president for student life and Lauren Deibler, director of admissions.

Eisenhauer helps run orientation and leads the ILAs in biweekly meetings to discuss upcoming events. International students are welcomed with a party thrown by the ILAs at the beginning of the year.

This year, marshmallows were roasted at the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being around the fire pits to welcome the new students and to catch up with returning ones.

Karaoke night is popular among the students, as well as the end of the year party where students gather to reflect on the past school year and say goodbye to seniors.

One of the longest running traditions of the ILT has been Global Eats.