Over 30 years and a million dollars later, flags can now wave proudly before ULM’s International Student Center. The flags, which are often swapped out, represent the international students on campus.

The American flag and Malaysian flag stand side by side to represent the unity of cultures on campus and the power of people coming together to help one another.

Liew, the million-dollar man and ULM alumni, arrived from Malaysia over 30 years ago not quite sure what to expect from an American university. He didn’t have much and walked to a Piggly Wiggly to buy hot dogs and milk.

When he returned to his dorm, he discovered there was no refrigerator. He kept his groceries in the scarce snow outside.

Liew is now the CEO of AOSS Medical Supply, Inc. and has come back to make sure that international students are cared for.

“Thirty years ago seems like yesterday. When I first came here I could speak little English and experienced the same thing that every international student who comes here for there education does,” Liew said.

Back then there were around 2,000 international students attending ULM. Currently there are only 400. Liew’s dream is to bring that number back.

“I hope every international student understands that if I could do it you can too,” Liew said.

And that’s exactly what Senior Nabin Timilsina hopes for himself and many others just like him. Timilsina said this is about more than Liew’s money. It’s about his heart.

“I want to be him some day. He is my inspiration. I look up to him as a good person with a big heart. A person who has the heart to give one million dollars to other people,” Timilsina said.

Timilsina arrived at the ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31 with his nerves disguised behind a sharp suit. He said he didn’t expect the event to be so big, as he looked over a crowd full of students and faculty.

Timilsina said his blood was pumping faster than usual.

But when he stepped up to the podium he looked into the eyes of Liew and Nick Bruno and decided that he had nothing to be nervous about.

“I spent a couple minutes trying to figure out what I might be saying then when I came here I saw so many VIPs around me and I said forget it. This is my building, these are my people and I’m going to say whatever I like to say,” Timilsina said as people laughed and cameras clicked.

Timilsina arrived at ULM four years ago and is now president of the International Student Association.

“When I first got here I was really nervous because I had never seen a school this big. The first couple of weeks I used to get lost,” Timilsina said.

On his first day he forgot how to get back to his apartment and walked around for a couple of hours until someone helped him.

“When I look back it really feels good to be apart of those challenges,” Timilsina said.

He hopes to one day use his academics and leadership skills to go into education or politics. Timilsina said he is grateful for everything Liew has done.

“Despite having budget cuts in the state of Louisiana, we have this unique building, which a lot of schools in the United States don’t have,” Timilsina said.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, the key to the van donated by Interstate Dodge was passed on to Bruno.

“The van completes the dream. We will now pick them up from the airport, bring them here, welcome them with open arms and let them get their feet planted,” said Sami Owens, the director of the international student program.

Owens said in the past they would have to pick up the students from the airport and drop them off in an empty dorm room with bare walls and nothing but a mattress.

“Now, that will change,” Owens said.