"We Chose Tiffin" read the banner international students walked under in this year's Heritage Festival Parade, helping underscore Tiffin sees more and more international students attending Heidelberg and Tiffin universities.
So why does an international student choose a college in Tiffin?
Students are looking for a small, safe town where they can focus on their course work, said Rachel Crooks, director of international student services for Tiffin University.
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Shilu Zhong (from left), Xin Ji and Sophie Kimmich are international students at Heidelberg University this year.
Most of the students who come into the United States are coming from large metropolitan areas where the streets are full with people, taxis and buses.
"I like a small class size. It offers the ability to stay closer to the professors,"
Victor Fernandes said.
Fernandes is from Brazil and is attending TU for his undergraduate degree in business management. He came to TU on a tennis scholarship and, once he graduates, he'd like to work in international business.
Like Fernandes, Ekene Ifeobu appreciates a small class size to receive better interaction with professors.
Ifeobu is from Nigeria and has a bachelor's degree in psychology and is attending TU for a master's in business administration.
Many students like the small, quiet community of Tiffin, as well.
Sakir Reza, from Bangladesh, describes Tiffin as calm, quiet and friendly.
Reza is attending TU for a master's of business administration degree in finance.
Coming to the U.S. is a big change for most of the international students. Most do not have a car and have to rely on friends to take them places. Other adjustments have been the culture, food, weather and learning people here are helpful and friendly.
"(Here at Tiffin) we are able to get involved in the community and to be able to get to know people," said Sophie Kimmich, of Germany.
Kimmich is attending Heidelberg and is majoring in English and biology.
This year, there are more than 100 international students attending TU and nearly 30 attending Heidelberg.
Students have a presence that is beneficial to domestic students, giving a positive reaction to their surroundings, said Julie Arnold, director of international affairs and studies for Heidelberg.
Both colleges offer an orientation process and tour of the area so that the international students can be more comfortable with their surroundings.
Students also are taken shopping for supplies they may need and assisting them in getting established in the community, such as helping them set up bank accounts.
There are many programs on campus for international students and domestic students to get to know different cultures and learn new experiences.
At Heidelberg, there is the World Student Union, cultural mentorship and the culture exchange. TU has the New to TU mentorship program and the World Student Association.
Although the colleges located in Tiffin see most of the international traffic, there are high school exchange students at Bridges Community Academy, Calvert High School, Columbian, Hopewell-Loudon, Mowak, Old Fort and Seneca East High Schools.
Students represent more than 27 different countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, china, Columbia, Estonia, Mexico, Nepal Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Uganda, Venezuela and more.
