Central Asian Students Association Co-Leads ASU Welcome Event, Marking Milestone for Representation
CASA’s first co-led welcome event signals growing visibility and belonging for Central Asian students at ASU.
Members of the Central Asian Students Association—Yelnur Kamza, Zhassulan Kenzhegali, Rahman Bazarov, Rustem Tugelbayev, Aziz Shamuratov, Medina Zhumatayeva—present their team during the Central Asian Students Welcome event at ASU on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at the Student Services Building Amphitheater. Photo courtesy of CASA
The Central Asian Students Association made history by co-leading its first welcome event at Arizona State University. Partnering with the International Students and Scholars Center, CASA transformed a routine orientation into a moment of cultural affirmation, signaling increased institutional recognition and a stronger sense of home for Central Asian students navigating life far from home.
For the first time since its founding in 2024, the Central Asian Students Association co-led the Central Asian Students Welcome event at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, partnering with the International Students and Scholars Center. More than a routine orientation, the event marked a turning point for CASA, elevating the organization from a student-led community to an active collaborator in ASU’s international engagement efforts.
Held on January 23, 2026, at the Student Services Building Amphitheater on ASU’s Tempe campus, the event brought together Central Asian students newly arrived in the United States. CASA’s role was especially significant given ISSC’s global reach, supporting students from more than 158 countries with immigration guidance, employment resources and campus integration. By co-leading the program, CASA gained institutional visibility while ensuring that Central Asian voices shaped the welcome experience.
CASA introduced attendees to the organization’s mission, upcoming activities and peer support networks. Rather than formal speeches alone, engagement unfolded through interactive elements, including a Kahoot game that sparked laughter, competition, and easy conversation among students meeting for the first time. The format reflected CASA’s intent to build familiarity organically—through shared experiences rather than instruction.
His remarks reflected a broader goal: reducing the emotional distance that often accompanies geographic distance. “We wanted everyone to meet the freshmen so they could have friends here from their countries and feel welcomed” said CASA president Yelnur Kamza.
That goal became most visible during the event’s closing dinner. Familiar Central Asian dishes became conversation starters, drawing students into small groups where language, food, and shared memories bridged initial social gaps. Organizers noted how quickly the atmosphere shifted from formal to familial.
Computer Engineering student Asanali Serikbekov, who came to ASU from Kazakhstan, shared his appreciation for CASA’s efforts. “The organizers made it feel like home,” he said. “I met a lot of new people from Central Asia, and the atmosphere was the same as back home.”
By combining institutional partnership with cultural intimacy, CASA’s first co-led welcome event redefined what student orientation can mean, marking a new chapter in Central Asian representation at ASU.
Read more about other student organizations at Arizona State University here.