Fair highlights opportunities for travel
Nate Billings

Staff Writer

 

Students who want to study abroad will get a chance to see the opportunities different groups offer at the third annual Study Abroad Fair Tuesday.

The theme of the fair will be  Where in the world are YOU going?  The fair will allow students to see which programs are planning to take international trips. Students will be informed about what is involved in planning, financing and taking the trips.

 It s kind of like going to the supermarket,  said Jean Campbell, special events coordinator.  You can shop the study abroad fair. You ll have a panorama to choose from. 

The fair has been arranged by the Writing for Public Relations class. Campbell has been advising the class in its efforts because she helped work on the first two years of the fair.

Brenda Kilby, communications instructor, said there will be prizes given out at the door. The prizes include passes to the Joplin Family Y, Pro-Cut hair care products and a Victor Riley autographed picture.

 Study abroad makes Southern different,  Kilby said.  I hope it s well attended. 

Kilby expects 500-600 students to go through the fair.

 We re trying pretty hard to pump up the event,  said Amanda Tweten, senior general studies major and student in the class.

Instructors will be at the tables to promote their trips and answer students  questions. There will be approximately 15 tables.

 It s important to the College,  Tweten said.  It introduces experiences that are pretty enriching. 

 Often we have students come in and say, 'I want to study abroad, but don t know where to go,   said Dr. Chad Stebbins, director of the Institute of International Studies.

Kilby said the fair has given the class a good opportunity to work in a real-life situation.

 When they get done, they ll have a working knowledge of this,  she said.

The class has planned everything from the food to the entertainment.

 If people aren t involved in the event planning, they are oblivious to it,  Campbell said.

Some of the new trips planned this year for the fair include trips to Russia and Germany. Trips to Italy, Paris, Costa Rica, Spain and India will also be included.

The fair will be from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Billingsly Student Center. There will also be a live radio feed.