Winners of the 2008 International Student Essay Contest

Each year, International Student Services holds the International Student Essay Contest. This year’s theme was “U.S. Elections: What Do You See?”

This year’s winners are:

First Place: Bingzhi Zhao from China

“I am an undergraduate student transferred from China. My major is economics and mathematics. I am here to explore and discover America, and I am having a good time here.”

Second Place: Mustafa Gökçek from Turkey

Mustafa Gökçek is from Turkey. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in international relations at Bilkent University, Ankara. His research in history focuses on Islam and nationalism in the late Ottoman Empire. His other research interests include modern Islamic movements and intellectual relations between Russian and Ottoman Empires.

Third Place: Yiqian Xu from China

Yiqian is a first-year undergraduate student. She is from China.

Fourth Place: Saher Muslim from Pakistan

“I am from Pakistan and have come to University of Wisconsin for the Master’s program in comparative literature. I am here on a Fulbright scholarship.”

The winners’ essays are available here, and will be featured over the next few weeks on the Badgers Abroad Blog.

The contest is co-sponsored by International Student Services, UW Credit Union, the University Book Store, and the Wisconsin Alumni Association.