University attracts international athletes
Posted on 8/26/2010
Topics: Academics and Student Activities
While many international students move to the U.S. in order to benefit from the academic challenges offered by American colleges, other global learners come for the opportunity to play competitive sports.
For example, the tennis team at Kansas State University (K-State) is comprised of women from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia and Spain, The K-State Collegian reports. Head coach Steve Bietau, who spent time recruiting both locally and overseas this summer, said the team gets so many international players because the U.S. is the only place to play sports at a college level.
"I liked the option of combining my education and playing tennis," Olga Klimova, assistant coach and K-State alumna told the news source. "It's a chance that you don't get in Europe; you either have to study or you have to play professional tennis."
Many international learners may be unaware of the opportunities that are available for college-level athletes. K-State offers financial aid in the form of scholarships to all of its student participants.
Global scholars are becoming increasingly present in U.S. higher education, as non-native learners constituted 3.7 percent of the total U.S. student population during the 2008-2009 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education.
For example, the tennis team at Kansas State University (K-State) is comprised of women from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia and Spain, The K-State Collegian reports. Head coach Steve Bietau, who spent time recruiting both locally and overseas this summer, said the team gets so many international players because the U.S. is the only place to play sports at a college level.
"I liked the option of combining my education and playing tennis," Olga Klimova, assistant coach and K-State alumna told the news source. "It's a chance that you don't get in Europe; you either have to study or you have to play professional tennis."
Many international learners may be unaware of the opportunities that are available for college-level athletes. K-State offers financial aid in the form of scholarships to all of its student participants.
Global scholars are becoming increasingly present in U.S. higher education, as non-native learners constituted 3.7 percent of the total U.S. student population during the 2008-2009 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education.
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