International Thanksgiving Dinner Brings Together Campus Community

Emcees David Ojo and Qingyang Liu welcomed members of the University community to the 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Dinner. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

More than 700 first-year international students and members of the University community recently came together to celebrate the University’s 39th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration. A beloved University tradition, it is believed to be the only celebration of its kind on a college campus in the United States.

The event, sponsored by the Chancellor’s House and the Center for International Services, was held in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium on Nov. 16. Ph.D. students Qingyang Liu and David Ojo served as the evening’s emcees.

“Thanksgiving is a time to cherish, a time to reflect on the things we are grateful for and a time to share warmth and joy with friends and family,” said Liu. “While the historical origins of Thanksgiving are well-known, tonight we want to focus on the values that make this day extraordinary.”

Bailey Tlachac, a member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, a member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, offer the Native American Blessing. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

“Thanksgiving transcends borders and backgrounds; it’s a universal celebration of gratitude. No matter where we come from, we can all appreciate the value of being thankful for the blessings in our lives,” Ojo said. “We’re thankful for the opportunities we’ve been given, for the support of our friends and family, and for the friendships that connect us despite our diverse backgrounds.”

Dr. Ruth Chen, professor of practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, co-hosted the event with Center for International Services Director Juan Tavares. “I am thankful our international students are part of the Orange family. You bring your culture, language and traditions with you,” she said. “We learn from you, just as you learn from your professors and fellow students.”

Students gather around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carves the turkey. (Photo by Charles Wainright)

Started by the University in the 1980s by then-Evangelical Chaplain Rev. T.E. Koshy, the celebration is intended to introduce new international students to the American Thanksgiving experience. For nearly four decades, the event has served as a celebration of cross-cultural friendship, international community and fellowship. Koshy’s son, Jay, the University’s Evangelical Chaplain, offered the invocation, and his grandson, Josh ’25, was also in attendance.

The Native American blessing was given by Bailey Tlachac, program coordinator of the Native Student Program and member of the Oneida Nation Bear Clan, and Regina Jones, member of the Oneida Nation Turtle Clan, who retired last year as assistant director of the University’s Native Student Program.

Dinner is served (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

Food Services prepared and served traditional Thanksgiving fare: 750 pounds of turkey, 20 gallons of gravy, 300 pounds of mashed potatoes, 200 pounds of stuffing, 150 pounds each of corn and sweet potatoes and 160 pies. Kosher and Halal turkey and vegetarian options were also served. Vendors from the greater Syracuse area donated all the food, linens and table decorations.

During dinner, table hosts—faculty, staff and community members—engaged attendees in conversation and answered questions about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving.

A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial carving of the turkey on the Goldstein Auditorium stage. Students, with camera phones in hand, eagerly crowded around Associate Director of Drumlins Food and Beverage Joe Sidoni as he carved the turkey—an annual tradition at the event.

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “El Nacimiento” from “Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez and “Oye” (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. (Photo by Charles Wainwright)

The Hendricks Chapel Choir performed “El Nacimiento” from “Navidad Nuestra” by Ariel Ramirez and “Oye” (Trad. Ghanaian) arranged by James Varrick Armaah to close the evening. Christian Protestant Chaplain Devon Bartholomew gave the benediction.

Leytisha Jack, a first-year doctoral student from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, attended the dinner last year and again this year. “I was even more excited about this year’s Thanksgiving dinner because our table’s host has Caribbean roots like my own. There was laughter, wholesome rapport and learning of new things because we were all open with each other.”

“The Thanksgiving dinner allows us to forget about the academic settings and responsibilities (momentarily) and helps us to appreciate this festive, rich and unique American culture,” Jack says. “It’s one of the events that I truly think is most organized, relevant and impacts international students in a profound way. … This dinner is where friendships are formed, and students are reminded that there is a great group of SU faculty and staff who represent home and who support us.”

Table host Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, and her guests take a selfie. (Photo by Maggie Washburn)

Maggie Washburn, administrative specialist with the Barnes Center at the Arch health promotion team, hosted a table for the first year. “My coworker, Vicente Cuevas, encouraged the rest of our office to consider this opportunity as he has done it before and found it very rewarding. I heeded the call and was not disappointed,” she says.

The students at her table were primarily from India. “We had a lovely conversation about traditions and food. Even better for me, the students spoke with me about the Cricket World Cup happening that weekend between India and Australia and how they would gather in the wee hours of the morning to watch the match together,” Washburn says. “They were very excited, and I truly enjoyed hearing their excitement and discussing food and sports with them. We did not part before taking pictures and a selfie!”