iFriend Participants Celebrate End of Semester

Christina Foor

Participants in the University of Arkansas iFriend program celebrated the end of the spring 2020 semester with an "iFriend Finale" celebration.

The program traditionally hosts the event in The Gardens — but due to restrictions caused by COVID-19, the celebration moved online. Instead of the usual food, music & mingling, the group participated in virtual challenges (like bringing a 3-ingredient recipe), home scavenger hunts and beautiful recognitions of the students who were leaving this semester.

The iFriend program connects local individuals or families with U of A international students, as a platform to build friendships. Individuals can get involved with the iFriend program by becoming a Friendship Family or a Campus Cousin.

The Friendship Family program matches international students with individuals or families in the local community. Hosts meet with their international students once a month or more to share traditions, holidays and everyday life.

The Campus Cousins program matches international students with domestic students at the U of A, and allows the students to develop a peer friendship by participating in campus life events and sharing their culture.

To learn more about participating in the program, contact Christina Foor, iFriend coordinator, at ifriend@uark.edu.