Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu 
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

            PHOTO CUTLINE: International student from Japan Kenta Sato, recent graduate of Shawnee State University pitches in a game for SSU this past summer. In the spring, Sato will be playing with the Continental League, a group of professional independent baseball franchises dedicated to creating “America’s Hometown Teams.”

            For the first time at Shawnee State University, three international flags were placed on stage during the Fall Commencement held on Friday, Dec. 11 at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts – Japanese, Taiwan and Bulgaria.
            Japanese graduate Kenta Sato has been working in the office of the Center for International Programs and Activities since summer. He has been responding to international inquiries about SSU individualizing the e-mail to each person.
            Sato’s passion is baseball and he transferred from Rio Grande University to play baseball at SSU. He met Chris Moore, SSU baseball coach, in Florida, and liked him as a coach and along with another friend followed Moore to SSU. He has made many referrals to the Athletic Department for prospective students interested in sports.
            In his e-mails, Sato tells about his experience at SSU. In one e-mail, he wrote: “Let me tell you about SSU from my personal experience through going to school here. As an international student, what I was looking for in a college was to gain experience in academics, athletics and making friends with different cultures. Here I found them all … attending SSU has been a great experience for me. Going to SSU has been one of the best things that has happened in my life.”
            Sato has always wanted to come to the United States, especially to play baseball. In the spring of 2010, he will be at spring training with the Continental League, a group of professional independent baseball franchises playing in fan-friendly facilities dedicated to creating “America’s Hometown Teams.”
            “I will be challenged to find another international student to do the work he does,” said Rita Haider, CIPA director. “Kenta has gone beyond my expectations.”