Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--When recent Mississippi State graduate Daniel R. Zabaldano arrives in Italy in a few months, he plans to immerse himself in the international community while pursuing a graduate education.
As a 2010 J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholar, the Brandon resident will be among the latest group of students representing the United States through the prestigious exchange program. Having received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering earlier this month, he now begins taking courses toward a master's in petroleum engineering at the University of Turin.
Founded in 1404, the institution's formal name is Università degli Studi di Torino (often abbreviated to UNITO). One of that nation's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning, it currently enrolls nearly 70,000 students, some 1,800 of whom are pursuing either post-graduate and post-doctoral degrees.
The son of Paul and Theresa Doddato Zabaldano, the graduate of Flowood's University Christian School said the decision to seek an advanced degree abroad was influenced by a family trip to Holland, Austria and Germany. That first European excursion five years ago left him wanting to further explore the continent, he added.
"It helped me see a world outside of Mississippi," Zabaldano said. "I developed a passion for international cultures."
Created by Congress shortly after World War II to help increase a greater sense of unity and community between peoples of the U.S. and other nations, the Fulbright program is named for its founder, the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. To date, about 300,000 scholars--graduate students, faculty members and professionals--have participated, including 40 eventual Nobel Prizes winners.
Louis R. D'Abramo, dean of the MSU's Graduate School and associate vice president for academic affairs, worked with Zabaldano to help navigate the application process. He said the Dean's List student showed determination and focus throughout the lengthy process to achieve his goal.
"I was very impressed by his enthusiasm and perseverance," D'Abramo said. "Graduate study in Italy at the University of Turin was his dream, and it soon will come true."
While completing a master's degree, the 23-year-old Rankin County resident also will be working to achieve another life goal--to speak three languages by his 25th birthday.
While at MSU, he minored in Spanish, attended a language immersion program in Costa Rica, studied engineering in Spain, and lived for a time in Cuneo, Italy.
"Immersing myself in this outstanding international setting will be the launching pad for my life's work in developing a career in petroleum engineering, and working toward my overall goal of becoming an international engineer," Zabaldano said.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information on Zabaldano's Fulbright quest, contact Dr. D'Abramo at 662-325-7400 or ldabramo@grad.msstate.edu. He also can assist in contacting Daniel.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.