Media Contact: Joan Adamo, UCSD International Center, (858) 822-3453,   or Jan Jennings, (858) 822-1684

INTERNATIONAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO TO HOST 15TH ANNUAL STUDY-ABROAD FAIR, QUEST INTERNATIONAL 2000

Representatives from more than 70 international study programs will meet with students, faculty, and community members Oct. 20 when the International Center at the University of California, San Diego presents Quest International 2000.

In its 15th year, the annual study-abroad fair will be held from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the university's Library Walk, a major campus pedestrian thoroughfare.

The motto of Quest is A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step. Its purpose is to increase awareness of international opportunities in general, as well as to provide students and community members with specific information about the many study, work, travel, and internship programs available.

UCSD's Quest International is one of 13 study-abroad fairs being held this fall on campuses throughout California. More than 1,000 are expected to attend the International Center's event here.

Joan Adamo, UCSD's Quest International 2000 coordinator, says more than 700 students took part in international programs in 1999-2000, many of them receiving their information about the variety of overseas options at the Quest fair.

Exhibitors represent a wide range of study-abroad opportunities sponsored by United States and foreign universities and study programs. These include Boston University, Butler University, Syracuse University, the University of Minnesota, Tel Aviv University, the School for International Training, Semester at Sea, the American Institute foreign Study and the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP).

Intensive language and special internship programs will be represented, along with opportunities for paid and volunteer overseas work programs. These include the Peace Corps, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program and Amigos de las Americas.

The International Center also will hold an International Cafe luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during Quest International 2000. The cafe's $2.50 luncheon is a regular Friday feature of the International Center, sponsored each week by a different campus or community organization or business. The public is invited.

Participation in Quest International 2000 is free and open to the public. For further information, call Quest coordinator Joan Adamo at (858) 822-3453.