Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--In what is believed to be a first for any university, Mississippi State simultaneously took its 130th birthday celebration to more than 80 statewide sites.
An estimated 600 prospective students, parents and friends of the university participated in last Thursday's [Feb. 28] celebration. They joined in via a videoconference link provided through the MSU Extension Service's 82 local offices and four regional research centers.
"It was an historic opportunity to showcase what we do, reach out to the citizens of Mississippi," said Vance H. Watson, vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine and extension service director.
MSU President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong and other key administrators on the Starkville campus communicated directly with prospective students and their parents basically from the Tennessee state line to the Gulf Coast, Watson said.
"They particularly enjoyed having the chance to speak directly with our president," he said, adding that it was the first time that all 82 counties were linked at one time for a recruiting event.
Phil Bonfanti, director of admissions and scholarships and one of the on-campus panelists, said questions ranged from academic programs to student life to scholarship opportunities.
"Students were obviously very engaged and very interested in what Mississippi State has to offer," Bonfanti observed.
As an added feature, admissions counselors from Bonfanti's office were present at many of the extension locations. As it happened, the first question of the evening came from DeSoto County, followed by one from Harrison. The last one of the evening came from Sunflower County.
"It was really exciting to be able to talk with students from all over the state, no matter the size of the community," Bonfanti said. "Our admissions counselors tell us students were really thrilled to interact with their peers from other parts of Mississippi."
Organizers in the divisions of Student Affairs and Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine agreed the collaboration was a good first step that will lead to more such programs in the future.
"It was a real success," Bonfanti said. "The event gave our motto, 'One State, One Team,' a whole new meaning."
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.