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\n JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Defense Language Institute English Language Center recently connected international students to the local San Antonio community through multiple Fiesta celebration events.<\/p>\n
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The Fiesta events highlighted the spirit of the historic festival, bringing together tradition, education, and community while reinforcing the long-standing connection between the military and the city of San Antonio. Fiesta goes beyond just a celebration; it serves as a citywide effort to raise funds for charities that support the community year-round.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLearning is most effective when it\u2019s lived, not just taught,\u201d said Col. Dustin Hart, DLIELC commandant. \u201cAs an organization charged with building military partnerships in an academic environment, it\u2019s vital to create opportunities like this where we\u2019re not only developing our students, but also connecting them with key elements of the local community. That\u2019s how we grow, and that\u2019s how the DLIELC mission remains strong and unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
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To demonstrate the sights and sounds of Fiesta, DLIELC partnered with the community to host a Fiesta Showcase April 15. The event included traditional Hispanic music, dancing and a historical presentation on the local festival.<\/p>\n
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Fiesta had simple beginnings with one parade, the Battle of Flowers, honoring those who fought at the Alamo and during the Battle of San Jacinto. Over time, it has grown into a notable tradition encompassing more than 100 events, each contributing to causes such as higher education scholarships, military programs, and youth initiatives.<\/p>\n
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The Conservation Society of San Antonio is just one example of an organization that hosts its own event, A Night in Old San Antonio, transforming a small area downtown called La Villita into 14 themed areas across the historic grounds. During the Fiesta Showcase, DLIELC students and staff gained a deeper understanding of the organization\u2019s role in preserving San Antonio\u2019s history and supporting the community.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNIOSA is a four-night festival in the heart of downtown San Antonio that celebrates the city\u2019s diverse cultural legacy and welcomes more than 85,000 attendees annually,\u201d said Lewis Vetter, President of the Conservation Society of San Antonio. \u201cNIOSA is the top fundraiser for historic preservation in the nation and lives up to its motto as a \u2018Celebration for Preservation.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
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Events like these demonstrate how celebration and service intersect, directly benefiting the community. DLIELC students and staff experienced first-hand the intersection of celebration and service, engaging in an educational opportunity that brought classroom concepts into a real-world setting.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI was excited for our international military students to experience Fiesta firsthand and not just see it in a video, but truly be part of it. Watching them engage with and see the emphasis on education and helping others is incredibly meaningful,\u201d said Emily Purificato, DLIELC Advanced English Instructor. \u201cThis shows how much our community values education and how powerful learning becomes beyond the classroom. From the Danzantes de San Antonio organization demonstrating heritage through dance to the Conservation Society preserving and sharing history, it was inspiring to see organizations come together with a shared purpose. Being here allows our students to engage, participate, and understand what it means to be part of something that gives back.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The event fostered dynamic learning and created opportunities for growth, while strengthening connections between students and local neighbors and partners.<\/p>\n
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DLIELC students continued their community engagement experiences by marching in the Fiesta Flambeau Parade on April 25. Over 80 international students proudly represented their nations\u2019 flags at the parade alongside DLIELC leadership and staff. \u201cBy sharing these experiences, San Antonians and visitors become more connected with their neighbors and embrace what the city is about,\u201d Vetter remarked. \u201cAs the president of the Conservation Society of San Antonio, I like to say, VIVA FIESTA!! VIVA NIOSA.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Through DLIELC\u2019s Field Studies Program, International Military Students experience history and American life directly. As one of 11 Field Studies objectives, students continue to learn about the historical and local impacts of Fiesta from its early beginnings in 1891 to present day.<\/p>\n
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DLIELC, the 637th Training Group aligned under the 37th Training Wing, builds security cooperation capability through English language training and cultural immersion.\u202fDLIELC serves more than 100 countries and provides support to more than 30 non-resident locations worldwide.<\/p>\n
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