Davidson-Davie one of five colleges to receive prestigious international award

March 26, 2021 – Davidson-Davie Community College is one of five colleges named a 2021 recipient of the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization, recognizing excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of the Davidson-Davie experience. The award is given by NAFSA, an association of international educators and the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education.

“We are thrilled to receive the 2021 Simon Award at Davidson-Davie,” said Suzanne LaVenture, director of international education at the college. “It is a huge honor, especially since very few community colleges receive this recognition. The award is a testimony to our commitment to providing international education opportunities to all of our students, facilitating high quality learning experiences, and preparing students to be successful in our increasingly interdependent world.”

Davidson-Davie students can experience global learning opportunities on campus and beyond. Over 440 students have participated in the Scholars of Global Distinction program, taking internationalized courses, participating in on-campus learning opportunities, and engaging in a global experience. The college continues to be one of only a handful of community colleges to participate in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants program, hosting visiting scholars who spend an academic year teaching world language on campus. Next year, Davidson-Davie will also host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Argentina. The college offers several short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs each year with destinations including Costa Rica, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, France, Japan, and Argentina. Donors and the college’s foundation provide support for scholarships, enabling Davidson-Davie students to benefit from a high-impact learning experience with proven future benefits.

“Helping our students gain a deep understanding of our changing global community and how their careers and lives fit within a global economy is a priority for us at Davidson-Davie,” said Darrin Hartness, president of the college. “I’m so proud of the many faculty, staff, and students who have made this 2021 Simon Award possible.”  

For more on this award from NAFSA: www.nafsa.org/SimonAward

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Davidson-Davie Community College (www.DavidsonDavie.edu), which incorporated Davie County into its name in 2021, is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, Davidson-Davie offers more than 40 degree and professional certificate programs, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to four-year schools. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, Davidson-Davie is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields.