Contact: Robbie Ward
Photo by: Megan Bean
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A group of Mississippi State students selected for a 10-day trip next month to South Korea chatted recently with students from the Eastern Asian nation now studying at the university.
All involved in MSU's new Global Leadership Program: Korea, the 30 undergraduate and four graduate students have completed the required travel paperwork and begun reviewing lists of what to pack for the trans-Pacific trip. Beginning May 9, they will be visiting universities, technology companies and other locations on the lower half of the vast peninsula bounded by China--and North Korea--to the north and the islands of Japan to the southeast.
J. P. Shim, a professor of management systems and director of the program, said the immersion in Korean culture, business and other aspects of the country will enable the students to broaden their world perspectives. The changing marketplace now requires businesses to consider global perspectives, the South Korean native added.
To take part in the GLP/K study-abroad program, participants must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average (based on a 4.0 scale) and demonstrated leadership experience.
Costs associated with the trip are covered by five South Korean universities and two companies. The sponsors include Catholic University of Daegu, and Daejeon, Kyungpook National, Kwangwoon, and Yong In universities, along with Chew Young Roo Food and Donguibogam Health Department Store.
After arriving in the capital of Seoul, the MSU group will tour high-technology technology corporations, museums, the U.S. Embassy, and other locales designed to introduce them to the country of nearly 50 million people. Following the capital-city phase, they will divide into smaller groups and disperse to one of the five sponsoring universities.
Rob Cochran, a junior mechanical engineering major from Ridgeland, was among those mingling recently with the Korean students at MSU. Even before he ever considered visiting the long-time U.S. ally and major Pacific power, Cochran had spoken frequently with several of the Catholic University exchange students. It was this developing interest in South Korea that pushed him to apply for the trip, he explained.
"I'm going to see them when I get there," Cochran said. "I've already been talking to them about the trip."
In addition to a hard-working, family-centered population with a long and distinct culture, South Korea is widely known for its cutting-edge technologies and production practices. The latter are what piques senior computer engineering major Nashlie Sephus' interest in the trip. The Jackson resident said she's most excited about visiting Samsung to learn first-hand how the electronic products giant operates.
"This is a great opportunity for us," said Sephus, who plans a career in computer engineering after graduation.
The leadership program in which they are the first class developed after MSU President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong and Shim visited South Korea late last year.
Also, following his selection last year as MSU's 18th president, Foglesong made increasing the land-grant university's international outreach a top institutional priority. Since then, he has worked to expand international student enrollment and increase opportunities for students like Cochran, Sephus and the others to travel abroad.
Remaining members of the inaugural Korean trip include (in alphabetical order, by hometown):
ATHENS, Ala.--Grant Chandler, a mechanical engineering major.
BILOXI--Senior computer science major Alan Gay.
BRANDON--Senior architecture major Sully Clemmer.
CLEVELAND--Senior art/sculpture major Marguerite Lester.
COLLINSVILLE--Sophomore biological engineering major Caleb Dulaney.
COLUMBUS--Sophomore accounting major Megan Cregeen; senior Ralph Eide, a double major in architecture and management of construction and land development; and senior industrial engineering major Josie Smith.
CONYERS, Ga.--Freshman international business major Amy Lea.
DUCK HILL--Senior forestry major Brandy Bennett.
FINDLAY, Ohio--Katie Welch, a master's degree student in business administration.
GULFPORT--Junior computer engineering major William Cleveland.
HAZLEHURST--Senior international business major Christopher Stowe.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--Junior biological engineering major Christopher Digesu and sophomore psychology major Jacklyn Nagle.
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.--Junior English major Dennis Hoyle.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Aaron French, a doctoral student in business administration.
LOUISVILLE--Senior political science major Sarah Beth Miller.
MADISON, Ala.--Junior computer science major Andrew Lindeman.
MADISON--Junior biomedical engineering major Jeral Self.
MANDEVILLE, La.--Senior elementary education major Molly Rault.
OCEAN SPRINGS--Aerospace engineering major Marty Brennan and international business major Jennifer Dethloff. Both are seniors.
PICAYUNE--Junior elementary education major Barbara Daniel.
POPLARVILLE--Junior communication major Lara Frierson.
SAVANNAH, Tenn.--Alex Forsbach, a master's degree student in business administration.
SENATOBIA--Junior communication major Nathan Gregory.
SHERWOOD, Wisc.--Senior interior design major Elizabeth Grube.
SOUTHAVEN--Sophomore architecture major Mark Talley.
STARKVILLE--Junior general business administration major Sebastian Leightley; senior biological engineering major Teresa Vaughn; Marcus Vowell, a master degree student in information systems; and Jongtae Yu, a doctoral student in business administration.
Shim may be reached at 662-325-1994 or jshim@cobilan.msstate.edu.