Contact: Bob Ratliff
Nine junior and senior Mississippi State University engineering majors soon will trade the sunny South for merry old England.
Participants in this year's College of Engineering's study-abroad summer program, they leave June 28 for four weeks at the University of Bristol in Southwest England.
"While at Bristol, our students will take courses in computer-aided design and manufacturing and in the history of science," said Roger L. King, coordinator of the college's international programs. "The classes will be followed by two weeks of independent study during which they will follow their own travel itineraries in Europe."
Associate professor of industrial engineering Allen G. Greenwood is accompanying the Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana residents.
Having courses taught and graded by University of Bristol faculty, the Mississippi State students will gain a perspective on how engineers are trained in a different educational system, said college Dean Wayne Bennett.
"Since each will live with a Bristol family, the members of our group also will be immersed in the everyday English life," Bennett added. "The living arrangements are another important part of the students' preparation for work in a global environment."
Initiated in 1997, the study-abroad experience is open to students in any of the college's engineering programs or computer science.
The 2002 participants include (by hometown):
CLINTON--Senior Chadwick T. Royston, a chemical engineering major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Royston. He is a 1999 Clinton High School graduate.
COLUMBIA--Senior Nicholas Graham, a computer engineering major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Graham. He is a 1997 graduate of East Marion High School and a 1999 graduate of Pearl River Community College.
GREENWOOD--Connie S. Harris, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Harris, and Ronald W. Robertson Jr., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Robertson Sr. Both are junior biological engineering majors and 2000 Pillow Academy graduates.
JACKSON--Senior Matthew D. Wender, a mechanical engineering major and the son of Dr. David Wender and Marcia King. He is a 1999 graduate of St. Andrew's Episcopal School.
METAIRIE, La.--Senior Melissa L. Biven, a mechanical engineering major and a 1998 graduate of Academy of the Sacred Heart. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Biven.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.--Senior Adam K. Dyess, a computer engineering major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth K. Dyess. H is a 1999 Montgomery Academy graduate.
TUPELO--Junior Erin M. Brinton, a civil engineering major and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brinton. She is a 2000 Tupelo High School graduate.
YAZOO CITY--Senior Timothy J. Kilpatrick, a mechanical engineering major and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kilpatrick. He is a 1997 Manchester Academy graduate.