New Flag Display Reflects Campus Cultural Diversity

DCCC

DODGE CITY, Kan., November 1, 2019 — Recently, a new international flag display was unveiled in the DC3 cafeteria. This on-going project, which seeks to honor international students by displaying their home country flags, helps celebrate the diversity of cultures on the DC3 campus.

Instituted by Dr. Glendon Forgey, DC3 vice president for administration and finance, the flag display is meant to show appreciation for the college’s international students and to make them feel welcome.

“This has been done at other institutions where I have served,” Forgey said. “Learning about the customs from other nations helps students, faculty and staff from the United States become more diverse, receptive, and understanding of our international students. The flag display also reflects our appreciation and support for the international students.”

The plan is to have flags from every nation honoring all past and present DC3 international students, Forgey said. Currently there are 23 flags hanging in the cafeteria, and two more will be added shortly.

“We have two students planning to attend in the spring from Russia and Morocco,” said Lewis Mize, DC3 director of enrollment management. “We would love to keep adding more.”

“I have had several students tell me how excited they are to have their country represented here on campus,” Mize said, “and it gives them a little relief from being homesick as well.”

Mize said the original concept behind the flags was to emphasize that we are all Conquistadors, no matter where we are from.

“I think the flags also show that education knows no borders,” Mize said.