Credit: Illinois Wesleyan University
Bea Manlapaz is a sophomore business student at Illinois Wesleyan University and an international student from the Philippines. Her story of coming to Bloomington-Normal to pursue her undergraduate education is featured in a recent episode of “The College Tour”, a TV series that tours universities around the U.S. Illinois Wesleyan was featured on the show earlier this year and the series came to campus over the summer to talk to students.
“I’m very grateful to be able to pursue an education at Illinois Wesleyan due to the amount of scholarships and financial aid that was given to me,” Manlapaz said.
IWU has scholarships specifically for international students that can cover up to full tuition fees. International students are welcomed to campus with a week-long orientation designed to strengthen their ties to the community. The International Office hosts events year-round to offer support to students, and the office is a space that many of IWU’s international students frequently turn to for comfort.
“My favorite part of Illinois Wesleyan is the tight-knit and accepting community that we have here on campus,” Manlapaz said.
Manlapaz talked about the difficulties of making friends as someone coming from a different country and culture, but IWU’s events and activities foster a friendly environment between students. With the help of cultural Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), she was able to celebrate not only her own culture, but her friends’ as well.
She specifically mentioned enjoying being a part of the Asian Pacific American Coalition, the Spanish and Latine Student Association and the Campus Activities Board.
“Whether you’re coming from around the corner or across the globe, you’ll find a community at Illinois Wesleyan. I sure did,” Manlapaz said.