Lindsey Wilson University Students Offer Guests a Taste of the World
Annual International Marketplace features samples of cuisines and cultures from 13 countries.
COLUMBIA, Ky. (04/03/2026) — Columbia resident Sarah Custer took her three children around the world on Thursday, April 2, and she didn't have to leave Adair County.
That's because Custer and her children spent part of the day at the Lindsey Wilson University International Marketplace, held in the university's Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.
The immersive experience featured samples of students' native cuisines as well information about their home countries' cultures. Students cooked the dishes, some staying up until the early hours of Thursday to perfect the culinary treats.
The annual event, which has been held for more than two decades, attracted more than 200 members of the campus and local community. A total of 13 countries from five continents were on display this year, and patrons voted on which country was their favorite food.
Brazil came out on top with a menu of: Brazilian hotdogs, which included mozzarella, potato sticks, corn and mayonnaise; pao de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread); and a chocolate confection known as brigadeiro, which is chocolate powder with condensed milk and butter.
Uganda was runner-up with a buffet of beef stew, spaghetti with tomatoes, jollof rice, white rice, seasoned chicken, samosa (stuffed baked pastry) and mandazi (sweet fried breads). South Africa finished third with its malva pudding.
Homemade dishes
Many of the foods offered were made from family recipes, such as the pierogi served by Polish students Natalia Gorska '27, Maciej Janusiewicz '28, Sara Motyl '26 and Monika Szwarc '26.
"It's grandma's recipe," said Gorska.
Rebekah Burnside, an exchange student from Lurgan, Northern, Ireland, made fifteens -- no-bake sweets made of 15 crushed graham crackers, 15 marshmallows, 15 cherries and condensed milk.
"It's not high effort, but it tastes delicious, especially if you have a cup of tea with it," said Burnside.
Apparently patrons agreed, as Burnside's six batches of fifteens were gone in about 30 minutes.
Learning experiences
Custer used the event as a teaching opportunity with her three children -- Allen, 7; Alifair, 5; and Isabel, 4 -- all of whom she homeschools.
"We're using this as a world history lesson," said Custer, who was attending her first International Marketplace.
As the Custer family made their way to each table, Custer pointed out facts the children have learned about each country, then they sampled foods made by the Lindsey Wilson students.
Allen said he enjoyed the Ugandan dishes, Alifair was a big fan of Australian fairy bread and the dishes from Brazil, and Isabel said she enjoyed several of the desserts, including the brigadeiro.
"She liked basically anything sweet," said Custer.
Part of campus culture
International students have been an integral part of Lindsey Wilson's campus for more than 70 years, and this school year they account for more than 160 students from more than 40 countries, according to LWU International Student Affairs Communications and Global Student Support Coordinator Makayla M. Wright '24, who also coordinated this year's International Marketplace.
Planning for the event started in December. Wright said most of the ingredients for the students' native dishes were available at area stores, although a special order was made so that vegemite scrolls could be served by Australians Max Groom '26 and freshmen sisters Rachel and Tessa Kilchenmann.
Wright said she made a few adjustments to this year's International Marketplace, such as inviting university mascot Blue Raider Bob, adding a photo backdrop, and including the university's Global Citizens Club and host families.
Alexia Konsavage of Columbia was one of the host families who attended this year's event, along with daughters Brielle, 4, and Emersyn, 3. She and her husband, Noah, are a host family this year to two Lindsey Wilson students -- freshmen Ela Cippico of Zagreb, Croatia, and Lara Reis of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
"We really enjoy getting to know about the country we host and showing the international students everything Kentucky has to offer," said Konsavage. "And we love to come to this because we get to eat all the foods from around the world."
Lindsey Wilson student Addie Mouton '29 of Columbia said she enjoyed her first visit to the International Marketplace.
"Everything is so good," said Mouton, a criminal justice and psychology double major. "It's really cool seeing new cultures and what they eat. What they eat is so much healthier than what we eat (in America)."
That's one of the reasons Lindsey Wilson employee Farrah Phillips and her mother, Amy, have returned for several years to the International Marketplace.
"The food is wonderful," said Amy Phillips, who enjoyed dishes from Brazil, Colombia and Japan. "We don't get that around here."
Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 30 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
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Lindsey Wilson University freshmen sisters Rachel and Tessa Kilchenmann, both of Bridgetown, Australia, serve up dishes from down under during the university’s International Marketplace, held Thursday, April 2, in the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.
The Brazil booth was named as having the top cuisine by patrons who attended the Lindsey Wilson University International Marketplace, held Thursday, April 2, in the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. Pictured, front: Níccolas Souza ’27 of Tijucas, Brazil. Second row, from left: Lindsay Cox ’26 of London, Kentucky; Amanda Parreiras Goncalves ’26 of Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Lara Giovana Rocha ’28 of Sete Lagoas, Brazil; and Julia Dos Santos ’28 of Salto, Brazil. Third row, from left: Gabriela Zuquelo ’26 of Chopinzinho, Brazil; Vitoria Loiola ’26 of Brasília, Brazil; Dan Dos Reis Spinola ’28 of Salvador, Brazil; Lara Reis ’29 of Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Maria Eduarda Becho ’28 of Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and Lara Moraes Lima Dorea ’29 of Salvador, Brazil. Back: Filipe Polini ’29 of Sinop Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Sarah Custer of Columbia attended her first Lindsey Wilson University International Marketplace with her children, from left, Allen, 7, Alifair, 5, and Isabel, 4. The annual event was held Thursday, April 2, in the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center and attracted more than 200 people.
Rebekah Burnside, a Lindsey Wilson University exchange student from Lurgan, Northern, Ireland, offers fifteens to Vonnie Kolbenschlag of Columbia during the Lindsey Wilson University International Marketplace on Thursday, April 2, in the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.
Alexia Konsavage of Columbia attended the Lindsey Wilson University International Marketplace with daughters Emersyn, 3, and Brielle, 4, on Thursday, April 2, in the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. The Konsavage family also hosts two Lindsey Wilson international students.
Lindsey Wilson University International Student Affairs Communications and Global Student Support Coordinator Makayla M. Wright ’24 is joined by students Amanda Parreiras Goncalves ’26 of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, left, and Lara Giovana Rocha ’28 of Sete Lagoas, Brazil, during the Lindsey Wilson International Marketplace on Thursday, April 2, in the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.