Global Engagement pairs international students with Bronco families for Thanksgiving dinner
Thanksgiving is a holiday built around gratitude, hospitality, and shared traditions, making it a perfect moment to welcome an international student into your home. This year, the Office of Global Engagement has paired 40 international students with SCU faculty, staff, and student families to spend time together during the Thanksgiving break.
For many students studying far from family, a shared meal offers connection, warmth, and a sense of belonging during a season that can feel unfamiliar. For host families, the experience is just as meaningful. Sharing Thanksgiving traditions, whether it’s cooking favorite recipes, watching football, or debating the best pie, becomes richer when seen through fresh eyes.
Families often discover that explaining the “why” behind their traditions deepens their own appreciation of the holiday. In return, students frequently share stories, customs, or holiday practices from their own cultures, turning the table into a place of global exchange.
Last year, Rosanna D’Costa, her son Gabriel ’28, and husband Adrian hosted two graduate students and look forward to hosting students again in 2025.
“This time of year is all about family and friends. We wanted them to have some connection with others and to feel seen and known when they’re so far from home,” said D’Costa. “It was lovely to meet these young people who are in a stage of life just ahead of my son. It provided me a glimpse of who he might be in a few years. They’re discovering who they are, what’s important to them, and how they hope to apply their passions out in the world. They were a perfect match for our family.”
Inviting an international student to your Thanksgiving table is a simple act that enriches our Bronco community. It’s a chance to practice gratitude in its truest form by offering kindness, creating bonds, and remembering that the most meaningful traditions are the ones we share. Mark your calendar now to be part of this special SCU tradition next year.
Since 2012, we have worked to advance international partnerships, global program opportunities, and international student success at ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ. Our mission is to ignite curiosity and foster understanding about the world by connecting students, faculty, and staff through teaching, learning, and research.
