International Students and Muhibbah
Fuji Tsukamoto was the first of many students from Japan to graduate from Wilson College. After her graduation in 1894, she attended the University of Pennsylvania and then returned to Japan to teach at Kobe University.
Tsunako Negami graduated from Penn Hall in 1928 and Wilson in 1932. She was responsible for establishing the “sister city” relationship between Chambersburg and Gotemba, Japan in 1960. She received an honorary degree from Wilson in 1990.
Satoko Matsumoto graduated from Wilson in 1933. She wrote a charming book of essays called, “My College Days” about her time at Wilson. “Good-bye to the beloved campus with its pines and maples, with its gently flowing Conococheague. A timid little foreigner I was, indeed, when first I alighted at the Main entrance, but the welcoming smiles which met me everywhere on campus constantly filled my heart with the joy of friendship as well as of learning. God bless the place whose high intellectual heritage so greatly enlightened a mind, and bless all those dear people whose sweetness so graciously enriched a life!
Pearl Gamboa, Philippines, Carmen Hernandez, Puerto Rico, Soveig Sontum, Norway, Akram Gheysari, Iran, Hana Marie Gach, Ecuador
Before World War II most “International” students were the American children of missionaries stationed overseas, the “Mish kids”. This included Pauline Morrow Austin who was raised in Mexico.
After World War II, the number of international students increased significantly and the represented countries expanded. The class of 1951 had students from Cuba, France, Greece, and China. Other classes had students from Iran, Ecuador and Norway.
Today, Muhibbah and Friendly Families provide opportunities for the Chambersburg community to get to know Wilson’s international students on a personal level.