Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Welcome International Students on Thanksgiving
November 22, 2018 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – At about the same time families around the United States were sitting around tables eating their Thanksgiving lunch together, the Texas Tech basketball team was on the practice court, circled together, hand-in-hand, with international students from campus.
The International Student & Scholar Services program was invited by head coach Chris Beard to watch the team's Thanksgiving Day practice and was brought on court as the practice ended. In a circle, players, coaches and the international students introduced themselves and said where they were from. The Red Raiders, who are currently 5-0 on the season, come from all over including international players from Italy, France and the Dominican Republic along with players who are from Virginia, Arizona, Maryland, Georgia, Arkansas and various parts of Texas that has them away from their families on the holiday. It's with that understanding of helping the international students from India, Angola, Brazil, Istanbul, Nigeria, India and Mexico who came on Thursday feel included that made the circle important. Â Â
"Every team I've ever coached has had international students on it," Beard said. "I've always had so much respect for those guys because they are sacrificing so much to be here. They are leaving their families, their country and basically everything they know besides basketball. They come here to better themselves through education and basketball. I also have a lot of respect for the international students on campus. They are here chasing their dreams and are committed to making a sacrifice to make it happen by leaving home."
On a national holiday where school is not in session and loved ones throughout the country come together, the opportunity to spend some time with the Texas Tech basketball team was something Armando Elizalde had been looking forward to all week. A sophomore from Mexico, Elizalde is studying Environmental Toxicology but has also found an interest in Red Raider basketball during his time in Lubbock.
"I'm really thankful for this experience," Elizalde said. "I'm a basketball fan so being here and spending time with coach Beard and the guys is really interesting. I've watched from the stands and on tv, but this was great to interact with them. I have a lot of gratitude. Some times when you're far away from your family you can feel alone, but I saw today that a lot of the players are in the same situation as me being far away from home."
Along with international players, the Texas Tech coaching staff includes Max Lefevre who is from France. Lefevre moved to the United States to play basketball at Avila University in Kansas City and was on Beard's coaching staffs at Angelo State and Little Rock before becoming Texas Tech's Director of Player Development for the past three seasons.
"Our teams have always had international players with Coach Beard being open to different cultures and seeing the talent that comes from a lot of different places," Lefevre said. "We understand as a coaches that it's not always easy on them though. We try to help them adapt and feel welcomed by also embracing their cultures. On days like Thanksgiving I think it's important for us to show them and others that we care about them by understanding that they are away from family. Thanksgiving isn't a holiday where a lot of us are from, but it is a day here where they see others celebrating with their families and that can be tough. I think it's important to stay together and make as many people feel a part of our basketball family as we can."
Two of those international players are senior Brandone Francis and sophomore Davide Moretti. Francis came to America in high school from the Dominican Republic, while Moretti is from Italy. Both are close with their families back home, but moved here for educational and basketball opportunities that will benefit them for years to come. They miss their families, but both say the culture around the Texas Tech program makes them feel supported. Seeing a group of international students at practice and meeting them after was just another reminder of the "everyone's invited" philosophy that permeates the program.
"Just know that you have family here," Francis told the international students in the circle. "I've been away from my home for seven years and I don't get to go home a lot so being here on a team that cares about each other like we do is amazing. Coach Beard is always trying to do things to make us feel welcomed and that we know that we are a family here. On holidays like today we aren't forgotten."
"Being away from family is tough but this team helps me every day with it," Moretti said. "Every day the coaches are helping us feel like we belong. We don't have Thanksgiving back home, but I do miss spending holidays like it with my family. Being around a lot of my teammates and coaches who are going through it at the same time helps though. We are all here for each other."
On Thursday about 30 international students came to practice and met the players and coaches. They were also given a certificate for a free meal courtesy of the Tech basketball team and left knowing that the basketball program cares about them. The ISSS program operates the university's international student life programs, as well as student, scholar, and university department immigration services. Â
"This is something that we really appreciate and wasn't expected," said Beth Mora, who is a Texas Tech International Student Life Administrator. "We are a program that hopes for experiences like this for our students. I'm beyond thrilled that the basketball team included us on a day like this. These are students who do not have families here and this experience really made them feel welcomed and a part of something. This isn't something that the basketball team had to do but they chose to on a day that can be hard for people who are away from home. That really means a lot to us."
"It's important to me on a holiday like this if we can make a little impact and let them know that we care about them," Beard said. "We really appreciate them coming to our practice this morning and can't wait to see them at our games. A big part of our student section is international fans and we really value that connection with them."
Texas Tech returns to action at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday when they host Northern Colorado at the United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders are coming off winning the Hall of Fame Classic Championship and are also on a 41-game non-conference home winning streak coming into the game. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
The International Student & Scholar Services program was invited by head coach Chris Beard to watch the team's Thanksgiving Day practice and was brought on court as the practice ended. In a circle, players, coaches and the international students introduced themselves and said where they were from. The Red Raiders, who are currently 5-0 on the season, come from all over including international players from Italy, France and the Dominican Republic along with players who are from Virginia, Arizona, Maryland, Georgia, Arkansas and various parts of Texas that has them away from their families on the holiday. It's with that understanding of helping the international students from India, Angola, Brazil, Istanbul, Nigeria, India and Mexico who came on Thursday feel included that made the circle important. Â Â
"Every team I've ever coached has had international students on it," Beard said. "I've always had so much respect for those guys because they are sacrificing so much to be here. They are leaving their families, their country and basically everything they know besides basketball. They come here to better themselves through education and basketball. I also have a lot of respect for the international students on campus. They are here chasing their dreams and are committed to making a sacrifice to make it happen by leaving home."
On a national holiday where school is not in session and loved ones throughout the country come together, the opportunity to spend some time with the Texas Tech basketball team was something Armando Elizalde had been looking forward to all week. A sophomore from Mexico, Elizalde is studying Environmental Toxicology but has also found an interest in Red Raider basketball during his time in Lubbock.
"I'm really thankful for this experience," Elizalde said. "I'm a basketball fan so being here and spending time with coach Beard and the guys is really interesting. I've watched from the stands and on tv, but this was great to interact with them. I have a lot of gratitude. Some times when you're far away from your family you can feel alone, but I saw today that a lot of the players are in the same situation as me being far away from home."
Along with international players, the Texas Tech coaching staff includes Max Lefevre who is from France. Lefevre moved to the United States to play basketball at Avila University in Kansas City and was on Beard's coaching staffs at Angelo State and Little Rock before becoming Texas Tech's Director of Player Development for the past three seasons.
"Our teams have always had international players with Coach Beard being open to different cultures and seeing the talent that comes from a lot of different places," Lefevre said. "We understand as a coaches that it's not always easy on them though. We try to help them adapt and feel welcomed by also embracing their cultures. On days like Thanksgiving I think it's important for us to show them and others that we care about them by understanding that they are away from family. Thanksgiving isn't a holiday where a lot of us are from, but it is a day here where they see others celebrating with their families and that can be tough. I think it's important to stay together and make as many people feel a part of our basketball family as we can."
Two of those international players are senior Brandone Francis and sophomore Davide Moretti. Francis came to America in high school from the Dominican Republic, while Moretti is from Italy. Both are close with their families back home, but moved here for educational and basketball opportunities that will benefit them for years to come. They miss their families, but both say the culture around the Texas Tech program makes them feel supported. Seeing a group of international students at practice and meeting them after was just another reminder of the "everyone's invited" philosophy that permeates the program.
"Just know that you have family here," Francis told the international students in the circle. "I've been away from my home for seven years and I don't get to go home a lot so being here on a team that cares about each other like we do is amazing. Coach Beard is always trying to do things to make us feel welcomed and that we know that we are a family here. On holidays like today we aren't forgotten."
"Being away from family is tough but this team helps me every day with it," Moretti said. "Every day the coaches are helping us feel like we belong. We don't have Thanksgiving back home, but I do miss spending holidays like it with my family. Being around a lot of my teammates and coaches who are going through it at the same time helps though. We are all here for each other."
On Thursday about 30 international students came to practice and met the players and coaches. They were also given a certificate for a free meal courtesy of the Tech basketball team and left knowing that the basketball program cares about them. The ISSS program operates the university's international student life programs, as well as student, scholar, and university department immigration services. Â
"This is something that we really appreciate and wasn't expected," said Beth Mora, who is a Texas Tech International Student Life Administrator. "We are a program that hopes for experiences like this for our students. I'm beyond thrilled that the basketball team included us on a day like this. These are students who do not have families here and this experience really made them feel welcomed and a part of something. This isn't something that the basketball team had to do but they chose to on a day that can be hard for people who are away from home. That really means a lot to us."
"It's important to me on a holiday like this if we can make a little impact and let them know that we care about them," Beard said. "We really appreciate them coming to our practice this morning and can't wait to see them at our games. A big part of our student section is international fans and we really value that connection with them."
Texas Tech returns to action at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday when they host Northern Colorado at the United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders are coming off winning the Hall of Fame Classic Championship and are also on a 41-game non-conference home winning streak coming into the game. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
At about the same time families around the United States were sitting around tables eating their Thanksgiving lunch, the #TexasTech basketball team was on the practice court, circled together, hand-in-hand, with international students (@TTU_ISL). #4To1
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) November 22, 2018
??https://t.co/ttTmqUzHGa pic.twitter.com/r49aNxZd31
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