Hundreds of school children
to participate in Sept. 22 Parade of Flags

About 550 local fifth graders have their marching orders.

The students, carrying the international flags of more than 100 nations represented at NIU, will be the centerpiece of the seventh annual Parade of Flags.

The parade will step off at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, from the east side of Huskie Stadium. The NIU ROTC Color Guard and several members of the Huskie Marching Band also will take part in the parade.

Participants will march along Lucinda Avenue to the Martin Luther King Commons, where NIU Provost Raymond Alden and Paul Beilfuss, superintendent of DeKalb School District 428, will address the audience at noon.

“The event highlights our diversity and celebrates the partnership between Northern Illinois University and DeKalb schools in working toward global understanding,” said Deborah Pierce, executive director of the NIU Division of International Programs.

Sally Stevens, who served as secretary to six university presidents over a span of 32 years before retiring from NIU, has generously sponsored a pre-parade luncheon for students, teachers, chaperones and other parade participants. Also prior to the parade, students from DeKalb-area public and private schools will have an opportunity to meet with NIU international students.

“NIU has sponsored this for many years and our students really look forward to it,” said Sue Orem, literacy coordinator for DeKalb public schools. She said teachers tie the event in with the curriculum.

“All of our fifth-grade students in DeKalb schools participate,” Orem added. “They enjoy meeting international students from NIU and asking them questions about their home countries. A very important part of the mission for DeKalb schools is preparing students for a global society.”

9-18-06