Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Fourteen students from Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering will spend part of their winter break sightseeing and studying engineering practices in France Jan. 3-14.
Enrolled in the university's winter intersession course titled "Engineering Practice in Europe," the group will visit universities in Toulouse and Paris, as well as examining several private companies. They also will travel to the French cities of Grenoble and Marseille.
"I'm excited about the trip, especially because I've never traveled outside of the country," said junior computer engineering major Nashlie Sephus of Jackson. "I will enjoy seeing the cultural differences, as well as those in the engineering field."
It marks the first year MSU has extended the winter break to include courses during the two-week period before students return to the campus Jan. 18 for the spring semester. Courses range from "Landscape Systems" to "Interviewing in Communication." Students may take only one three-hour credit class during the intersession.
"Awareness of global issues is relevant to engineers in any field and these students realize that," said Donna Reese, associate dean for academics and administration. She will accompany the students along with Allen Greenwood, coordinator of the college's international studies program.
"Our goal is to enhance the students' education by introducing them to engineering practices in an international field-study setting," said Greenwood.
Private companies the students will visit in France include Airbus, Alstom Power Technology Center, Eurocopter, Schneider Electric and United Parcel Service.
For more information, contact Julie Lemons at (662) 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.
LOCAL EDITORS:
MSU students scheduled to make the trip include, by hometown:
ATHENS, Ala.--Grant G. Chandler, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and the son of Donald and Martha Chandler.
BELDEN--Matthew K. Bell, a junior mechanical engineering major and the son of David and Melissa Bell.
BROOKSVILLE--Andrew M. Howard, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and the son of Esther H. Parker and the late Thomas Howard.
DECATUR, Ala.--Barrett W. Kirsch, a senior chemical engineering major and the son of Jeffrey and Amy Kirsch.
GRENADA--Stuart E. Saulters, a junior civil engineering major and the son of John and Vera Saulters.
JACKSON--Nashlie H. Sephus, a junior computer engineering major and the daughter of Tonie Sephus [39213].
LAWLEY, Ala.--William C. Hicks, a senior mechanical engineering major and the son of Randall and Maggie Hicks.
MADISON--Kyle A. Frazier, a senior civil engineering major and the son of Esther Frazier and the late Terry Frazier; and Kathryn E. Smith, a senior biological engineering major and the daughter of John and Mina Smith.
MERIDIAN--Aaron J. Wright, a junior electrical engineering major and the son of Roland and Amy Wright.
SATSUMA, Ala.--Alta A. Knizley, a junior mechanical engineering major and the daughter of Robert and Chere Knizley.
STARKVILLE--Anique L. Hutchins, a senior majoring in electrical engineering and the daughter of Robert and Carolyn Hutchins.
VICKSBURG--Megan E. Sabol, a senior industrial engineering major and the daughter of Bruce and Margaret Sabol.
WARSAW, Poland--Gregory Zdaniuk, a doctoral student majoring in mechanical engineering.