They looked like typical American students in blue jeans, tank tops and T-shirts, but they were a very special group of 22 high school graduates from the Middle East and Africa. They came to the United States as part of the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders. But this was not an ordinary summer excursion. Their homelands were rocked with war and threats of war. How do you learn and experience new things when you fear for the safety of your loved ones and the very way of life you have known? But they did learn, and we, their hosts, may have learned even more.

For the second consecutive year, Benedictine University was selected as one of five colleges and universities nationwide to host students from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, the West Bank and Yemen. The students stayed on campus from July 30 to August 13, learning about American culture and the challenges we face as a diverse society through campus seminars and visits to the Chicago metropolitan area.

MEPI is a presidential initiative founded to promote political, economic and educational reform in the Middle East and Africa through diplomatic efforts and results-oriented programs. It focuses on mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries around the world. Students who participate in the MEPI Institutes leadership training program are nominated by U.S. Embassies and selected by the Department of State. The program is operated under the auspices of the University's Political Science Department and Benedictine's partner, Global Education Services. A representative from the Educational Services accompanied the students throughout their visit to the United States.

Interestingly, a young lady from Nazareth said, "I wish Americans did not think of all Arabs as the same, for we are not alike." This was a learning moment for us. How often do we stereotype ourselves - saying this is what Black, Irish, Polish, etc. people do. In her simple remark, our Nazarene guest reminded us that we are all individuals created different from all others. Each person, no matter their ethnicity or race, is a unique gift to the rest of us.

Leadership training was a very important component of the institute. The leadership program was designed for the State Department by author, professor and organization development expert Jim Ludema, associate professor of Organization Development at Benedictine University. The theme of the program was "The Challenges of Democracy in a Diverse Society."

Students maintained a hectic pace during their stay at Benedictine University. They attended 23 academic seminars and were involved in several community service projects and cultural tours - all of which focused on developing an understanding of our society, politics and culture, and discussions on leadership training, the critical role of public service and citizen involvement.

Benedictine University political science professor Roger Rose, Ph.D. director of the program, said that the students "will go back to their countries not just to share talk and reflection about the United States, but our hope is that they will also be energetic in their own communities and promote projects that they feel are worthwhile."

During one interview, a student stated that he finally realized all that leadership involved and the responsibilities of leaders. He was encouraged to begin studying leadership so that he could be a leader in his own country.

The students visited the Chicago Art Institute, the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, World Vision's Chicago headquarters, McDonald's corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, the Editorial Board of the Chicago Tribune, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

As the end of their visit approached and our guests prepared to leave Benedictine University for the final time to return to their homes overseas, a student from Lebanon had no place to go. War-torn Lebanon is not receiving commercial flights and there is no ground transportation. What to do?

I am pleased to report that through the cooperative efforts of Sen. Dick Durbin's office and the State Department, this young lady will be permitted to stay in this country for the fall semester at Benedictine. The University and its friends will provide for her tuition, room and board, and whatever she needs to be successful.

I was asked, "Why would Benedictine University do this?" The answer is simple - that's what Benedictines do!

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