Bism Bulletin May 2026

🌟 Community Spotlight

Group Feature

Celebrating Our Graduates

This month, we celebrated 10 of our graduating students as they completed their journey at IU 🎓❤️ We had a special graduation party together, and several BISM volunteers attended graduation ceremonies throughout the week to celebrate alongside students and their families. We’re so proud of our graduates and thankful for all the memories, friendships, and impact they’ve had on the BISM community 🌍

🤝 Student Spotlight -BISM Student President

Esther Kataate Namakula

Uganda

Science Education

Officially upgraded from Esther to Dr. Esther this week 🎓😎

• •What has been your favorite part of Bloomington?: BISM family
• •Favorite Bloomington Restaurant: Apple Bees

⭐ Happening this Week

📌 Volunteer

Furniture Pickup Volunteering

📅 Saturday, May 16 🕒 9:00 AM 📍 Sherwood Oaks Christian Church

Incoming international students will soon begin arriving, and we have several trailer loads of furniture to unload. This is one of the biggest ways we help welcome new students each year ❤️ No experience needed!

Sign up to Volunteer →

📌 Heads up

International Coffee Hour

📅 Sunday, May 17 🕒 9:30 AM 📍 Sherwood Oaks Christian Church | Christ Community Church

Join us for coffee, snacks, games, and conversations with students from around the world! Whether you’re brand new or have been around for years, we’d love to see you there 😊

Read More →

🌍 Culture Corner

culture

Culture Corner (China)

The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife. The figures, dating from approximately the late 200s BCE, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong County, outside Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The figures vary in height according to their rank, the tallest being the generals. The figures inc...

Read more →

📚 ☀️ Summer across Bloomington/Indiana

🌮

Bloomington Food Truck Friday

Date: Every Friday in May Location: Switchyard Park, 1601 S Rogers St, Bloomington, IN

One of Bloomington’s most popular summer events featuring local food trucks, desserts, live music, and outdoor seating. A great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a summer evening downtown ☀️

🐼

Panda Fest Indianapolis

Date: May 15–17, 2026 Location: Military Park, 601 W New York St, Indianapolis, IN

A fun Asian food and culture festival with food vendors, performances, merch, and lots of photo-worthy moments. Great for a day trip with friends.

🏎️

Indianapolis 500

Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026 Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, IN

One of Indiana’s biggest traditions and one of the most famous races in the world. Even if you’re not into racing, it’s a unique Indiana experience with huge crowds, energy, and history.

🌍 Global Reads: Staff Recommendation

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This book is highly recommended because of how practical and relatable it is for student life. It shares simple ideas about building healthy routines, staying motivated, and making small changes that can lead to big long-term growth. A great read for anyone looking to improve productivity, discipline, or personal growth one step at a time during the summer.

View Info →

📸 Recent Memories

4 photos

🤝 Ways to Connect

🤝

Get matched with a Friendship Partner

Read More →

🗳️ Your Voice Matters

What kinds of summer activities would you be interested in if organised?

A Hiking B Camping Trip C Paintball D Laser Tag E Ice Cream Meetups F Kayaking on the lake G Movie Night H Holiday World or Kings Island (Theme Park/Water park) Trip

Pick all that apply.

Submit vote

🎯 Trivia

Guess the Bloomington Spot

Correct entries will be entered to win a Gift Card

Submit answer

Your answer

Name

Email

Send answer

We only collect your details so we can contact you if you win.

📰 BISM Classifieds

Need something important or time-sensitive advertised? Submit a post through our homepage https://myifm.in/bismnews 📢 All submissions are subject to review and approval at BISM’s discretion.