Momentum celebrates another successful session

May 28, 2007

The University of Wollongong's Momentum Mentoring Program celebrated its Autumn Session 2007 with an international dinner and awards night for the participants and stakeholders last week.

The night featured world ethnic cuisine dinner and Peruvian dance group, 'Alegras Andinas'.

"It was an important event celebrating our diverse international culture and facilitating cross-cultural dialogue," said Momentum Co-ordinator Katya Pechenkina.

"All Momentum students and mentors were awarded with program completion certificates and gifts."

The Momentum Program has been running for three session now, organised by the Wollongong University Postgraduate Association (WUPA) with support from the Wollongong University Undergraduate Association (WUSA) and the University Internalisation Committee.

The Momentum Program is designed to support new international students at UOW via peer mentoring support and special events organisation.

The program was first introduced at the beginning of 2006 after a successful pilot program ran in 2005. Each session more students joined the program which now averages more than 300 international and domestic students and mentors per year.

This session more than 150 students joined the program and participated in its activities.

"Momentum would not be possible without our great mentors who contributed their time and talents to the program and its students," said Momentum Co-ordinator Katya Pechenkina.

Supporters and contributors to Momentum include WUPA, WUSA, Student Services, ICIS, UOW Library, Security Services, Wollongong UniCentre, HBS, Education and other UOW faculties, STA Travel, Surf Life Saving Illawarra, Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Studios, Wollongong Police Station and Engineers Without Borders.

This session, Momentum students were offered a variety of social and informative activities, which included as street safety and campus security seminars by Wollongong Police and UOW Security Services, a beach and surf safety day with the Surf Life Saving Illawarra, and an Aboriginal culture day with the Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Studios.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with Momentum should contact Katya Pechenkina via email katya@uow.edu.au or phone 4221 5398.