By Sadie Hughes
Alexi Trottier will travel to Mauritius, an island off the southeast coast of Africa, for the first time to be the activities coordinator of The Institute of American Higher Education, a college that will begin a trial year in Jan. 2016.
For now, Trottier said she is doing what she can to prepare by reacquainting herself with the French language and learning basic terms and grammar rules of Mauritian Creole. Both languages are spoken on Mauritius.
Trottier said the aim of the institute is to allow the people on Mauritius to become educated rather than traveling to another country for schooling.
Trottier will be responsible for coordinating any activities organized for the student body.
“When I think of Africa, I think of adventure,” said Alexi Trottier’s sister, Katelyn Trottier. “And adventure is Alexi's middle name.”
The institute’s pilot year is expected to have about 3,000 students.
“She is brilliant at connecting with, leading and uplifting youth,” Katelyn Trottier said. “She is also outrageously fun and dynamic, so acting as activities coordinator for students in college is right up her alley.”
Alexi Trottier said she is excited to build relationships with the people she meets and experience a culture that is new to her.
“She embraces people with her whole heart no matter where she is and no matter how long she's there,” Katelyn Trottier said. “Her stay in Mauritius will be no different.”
Alexi Trottier said she is also preparing for the trip by studying the culture of Mauritius.
“I’ve learned that the people there really like their holidays, and they really value education," Alexi Trottier said. "And it’s a really developed country compared to other African countries."
Alexi Trottier served an LDS mission in Singapore and Malaysia and said she worked with many people of Indian descent, so she believes this will help her understand the culture of Mauritius.
“The people there don’t consider themselves as African,” Alexi Trottier said. “Most of them are of Indian descent.”
Because Alexi Trottier hasn’t received specific details on what her duties will be while on Mauritius, she said she will wait to do preparation beyond studying the languages and the culture.
“She has shown great adaptability to virtually every kind of environment,” Katelyn Trottier said. “I'm confident that she'll fit right in and love it.”
More information is expected to be given to Alexi Trottier in the next few months, but definite planning won’t begin until later this year.
“Mauritius will become a part of her,” Katelyn Trottier said. “And that country will never be the same either.”
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Student to leave the US for the first time for business experience
By Sadie Hughes
Melissa Funk will leave the country for the first time on May 30 to experience real-life business situations. Funk is one of 17 students at Utah State University who will be going to Chile and Peru through the Go Global program.
“We want to give students an opportunity to really experience business and the cultural context of business in other countries,” said David Herrmann, the Go Global leader and adviser for the trip.
Funk, an economics major, will travel to businesses in Chile and Peru ranging from sewing shops to Goodyear.
“This will help me with my future goals because I will have experienced other cultures and seen how different political and economic theories work in practice,” Funk said. “Overall, I think this experience will help me better understand all the opportunities available in the world and how I can best pursue them.”
Funk hopes to eventually work in public policy or on Capitol Hill in a congressman’s office.
“I'm really excited to leave the country for the first time because I'll be exposed to so many new things all at the same time – new climates, new foods and new social norms,” Funk said.
In Chile, the students will also hear lectures from members of local businesses, visit the Embassy of Chile and go to a mining supply company.
“The political and social environments in Chile and Peru are very different, so I'm excited to experience different cultures and better understand how different countries conduct business,” Funk said. “Understanding these differences will make me more educated and open-minded.
The last five days of the trip will be spent working with the Small Enterprise Education Development program. The students will be put into groups of three or four members and evaluate business plans of aspiring companies.
“They will verify the cost of the business plan and the price people are paying for that specific widget and try to decide if it will be profitable,” Herrmann said. “They will act as bank loan officers.”
After evaluating the business plans, each group will give a presentation explaining which companies they feel should receive loans from the SEED program.
“On the one hand they see how poor these people are and are trying to make it work for them,” Herrmann said. “But they don’t want to set those people up for something that’s going to fail.”
The loans range from $3,000 to $20,000.
“They have three options,” Herrmann said. “They can say yes, no or yes with these few changes.”
Funk has prepared for the trip by studying the history and business atmosphere of Chile and Peru as well as the cultures of both countries.
“While I have specific career goals, I think that this international experience will make me a better person,” Funk said. “At the end of the day my most important goal is to always be learning and growing.”
Melissa Funk will leave the country for the first time on May 30 to experience real-life business situations. Funk is one of 17 students at Utah State University who will be going to Chile and Peru through the Go Global program.
“We want to give students an opportunity to really experience business and the cultural context of business in other countries,” said David Herrmann, the Go Global leader and adviser for the trip.
Funk, an economics major, will travel to businesses in Chile and Peru ranging from sewing shops to Goodyear.
“This will help me with my future goals because I will have experienced other cultures and seen how different political and economic theories work in practice,” Funk said. “Overall, I think this experience will help me better understand all the opportunities available in the world and how I can best pursue them.”
Funk hopes to eventually work in public policy or on Capitol Hill in a congressman’s office.
“I'm really excited to leave the country for the first time because I'll be exposed to so many new things all at the same time – new climates, new foods and new social norms,” Funk said.
In Chile, the students will also hear lectures from members of local businesses, visit the Embassy of Chile and go to a mining supply company.
“The political and social environments in Chile and Peru are very different, so I'm excited to experience different cultures and better understand how different countries conduct business,” Funk said. “Understanding these differences will make me more educated and open-minded.
The last five days of the trip will be spent working with the Small Enterprise Education Development program. The students will be put into groups of three or four members and evaluate business plans of aspiring companies.
“They will verify the cost of the business plan and the price people are paying for that specific widget and try to decide if it will be profitable,” Herrmann said. “They will act as bank loan officers.”
After evaluating the business plans, each group will give a presentation explaining which companies they feel should receive loans from the SEED program.
“On the one hand they see how poor these people are and are trying to make it work for them,” Herrmann said. “But they don’t want to set those people up for something that’s going to fail.”
The loans range from $3,000 to $20,000.
“They have three options,” Herrmann said. “They can say yes, no or yes with these few changes.”
Funk has prepared for the trip by studying the history and business atmosphere of Chile and Peru as well as the cultures of both countries.
“While I have specific career goals, I think that this international experience will make me a better person,” Funk said. “At the end of the day my most important goal is to always be learning and growing.”
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Student stops theft while on vacation in California
By Sadie Hughes
Tera Zook stopped a theft while visiting Mission Beach on vacation in California during Utah State University’s spring break.
While lying on the beach with her aunt, Zook said she was surprised to see someone trying to steal a backpack from a few men who had left their belongings nearby.
Zook, a USU student, said she and her aunt had made friends with the two men who left their backpack behind.
“Their stuff was about ten feet away from ours, and they left it to go boogie boarding,” Zook said.
According to Zook, another man casually walked by the men’s belongings and picked up their backpack.
“He did it so casually that no one thought it was suspicious,” Zook said. “Except for me.”
Zook stood up and asked the man if the backpack belonged to him.
“Everyone on the beach stopped, turned around and looked at him,” Zook said.
The man replied to Zook that the backpack belonged to his friend, but Zook said she wasn’t convinced.
“That’s exactly what he would say if he were stealing it,” she said. “I asked him to point out who his friends were, and he got really mad.”
Zook said she told the man to put the bag back, so he threw it directly at her.
“That was fine because at least he didn’t steal it,” Zook said. “Our Arizona boys were super grateful.”
Zook’s aunt, Liz Zook, said she didn’t realize the situation until her niece stood and confronted the man.
“I ran straight to the guys in the water and told them someone almost stole their stuff,” Liz Zook said. “But my niece saved it.”
Liz Zook said she was scared and even shaking after the confrontation.
“It would’ve been nice to just hardcore chill the whole time,” Zook said. “That’s what we expected to do, but what kind of vacation is actually relaxing?”
Zook said she wished problems with stealing weren’t a problem in California, where she lives, but the experience made for a funny story to tell.
“Those are the things that will make this week memorable,” Zook said. “Tera was the hero of the day.”
Tera Zook stopped a theft while visiting Mission Beach on vacation in California during Utah State University’s spring break.
While lying on the beach with her aunt, Zook said she was surprised to see someone trying to steal a backpack from a few men who had left their belongings nearby.
Zook, a USU student, said she and her aunt had made friends with the two men who left their backpack behind.
“Their stuff was about ten feet away from ours, and they left it to go boogie boarding,” Zook said.
According to Zook, another man casually walked by the men’s belongings and picked up their backpack.
“He did it so casually that no one thought it was suspicious,” Zook said. “Except for me.”
Zook stood up and asked the man if the backpack belonged to him.
“Everyone on the beach stopped, turned around and looked at him,” Zook said.
The man replied to Zook that the backpack belonged to his friend, but Zook said she wasn’t convinced.
“That’s exactly what he would say if he were stealing it,” she said. “I asked him to point out who his friends were, and he got really mad.”
Zook said she told the man to put the bag back, so he threw it directly at her.
“That was fine because at least he didn’t steal it,” Zook said. “Our Arizona boys were super grateful.”
Zook’s aunt, Liz Zook, said she didn’t realize the situation until her niece stood and confronted the man.
“I ran straight to the guys in the water and told them someone almost stole their stuff,” Liz Zook said. “But my niece saved it.”
Liz Zook said she was scared and even shaking after the confrontation.
“It would’ve been nice to just hardcore chill the whole time,” Zook said. “That’s what we expected to do, but what kind of vacation is actually relaxing?”
Zook said she wished problems with stealing weren’t a problem in California, where she lives, but the experience made for a funny story to tell.
“Those are the things that will make this week memorable,” Zook said. “Tera was the hero of the day.”
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Blogging used as a tool for study abroad
By Sadie Hughes
Twenty-one Utah State University students will go to Spain in July for a monthlong study abroad at Fundación Universidad de la Rioja. The adviser of the trip, Joshua Thoms, decided to add a new element to the trip – blogging.
The students have been able to prepare for the trip with access to a blog created by Thoms. The blog contains information about each student going on the trip and will be used as a way to practice their Spanish.
“All of the students going got an email with a questionnaire about what music we like, why we’re excited for the study abroad, our hobbies and stuff about our family,” said Brooklyn Baldwin, a student going on the trip. “I can stalk people and get to know them before the trip.”
Thoms explained that one student going on the study abroad lives in California and is taking classes online through USU. Thoms felt the blog has been a way for her to still feel connected to the group.
“Some students were hesitant upfront because they didn’t know anyone else going,” Thoms said. “I thought the blog would be a good way for them to get to know people.”
Each student will be required to attend the two classes they'll be enrolled in Monday through Friday and will be housed with host families. Thoms said spare time can be spent exploring the area and learning more about the Spanish culture.
Students will also publish posts on the blog during their study abroad about what they are learning and experiencing. The posts will be typed in English and Spanish.
“I will be putting the students into groups of three, so each group will be in charge of seven blog posts about cultural aspects they see during the trip,” Thoms said. “I want it to get students thinking about what they’re seeing and experiencing.”
Thoms also said it will be fun for family members of the students to look on the blog and see what is going on.
“It’s a way to document the students’ development and allow them to reflect on their study abroad experience,” Thoms said.
Twenty-one Utah State University students will go to Spain in July for a monthlong study abroad at Fundación Universidad de la Rioja. The adviser of the trip, Joshua Thoms, decided to add a new element to the trip – blogging.
The students have been able to prepare for the trip with access to a blog created by Thoms. The blog contains information about each student going on the trip and will be used as a way to practice their Spanish.
“All of the students going got an email with a questionnaire about what music we like, why we’re excited for the study abroad, our hobbies and stuff about our family,” said Brooklyn Baldwin, a student going on the trip. “I can stalk people and get to know them before the trip.”
Thoms explained that one student going on the study abroad lives in California and is taking classes online through USU. Thoms felt the blog has been a way for her to still feel connected to the group.
“Some students were hesitant upfront because they didn’t know anyone else going,” Thoms said. “I thought the blog would be a good way for them to get to know people.”
Each student will be required to attend the two classes they'll be enrolled in Monday through Friday and will be housed with host families. Thoms said spare time can be spent exploring the area and learning more about the Spanish culture.
Students will also publish posts on the blog during their study abroad about what they are learning and experiencing. The posts will be typed in English and Spanish.
“I will be putting the students into groups of three, so each group will be in charge of seven blog posts about cultural aspects they see during the trip,” Thoms said. “I want it to get students thinking about what they’re seeing and experiencing.”
Thoms also said it will be fun for family members of the students to look on the blog and see what is going on.
“It’s a way to document the students’ development and allow them to reflect on their study abroad experience,” Thoms said.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Two USU seniors to return from teaching opportunity in New Zealand
By Sadie Hughes
Lorilei Barkley and Camylle Buck will return Wednesday after two months of student teaching in New Zealand. Both women said the experience was a great way to prepare for future teaching jobs they hope to find after graduation.
“It’s important to be able to have a variety of experiences to prepare you,” Barkley said. “I had to work my way through a new curriculum, new administrative structuring and a culturally different student population.”
Buck, who is majoring in math and statistics education, said she has seen a different way to go about education. She talked to teachers and saw different methods of teaching.
“Coming to New Zealand, I was able to learn about a different educational system and how they function and structure their students' learning,” Barkley said. “This comparison has allowed me to develop my repertoire of teaching strategies and to expand the way I look at education, grading and curriculum.”
Adjusting to a different system was one barrier Buck said she had to overcome. “The high schools out here do not have grades,” she said. “Everything is entirely test-based, so if the students do not pass their tests, they don’t get their degree.”
“The curriculum is so broad in New Zealand,” Buck said. “It allows more time for learning, and the school gets to dictate what the students are learning.”
Barkley said other than learning new ways to teach, she also learned about different ways of living.
“Using a dryer to do your clothes is very uncommon,” Barkley said. “Most people still hang their clothes up on a line outside.”
Also, although English is an official language of New Zealand, Barkley said getting used to conversational words was difficult. For example, she said you don’t buy “candy” in New Zealand. You buy “lollies.”
Aside from English, New Zealanders also speak Te Reo Maori, which is the language of the indigenous people.
“The pronunciation of many of the words was difficult and odd for me at first,” Barkley said. “It took me a while to be able to read and sing along with the students during class.”
Along with the goodbye gifts Buck’s students gave her near the end of her program, she said she was nearly brought to tears because of the connections she made with them.
“The students out here are amazing,” she said.
Barkley and Buck will graduate this year from Utah State University in May.
“As a student teacher, this is our last opportunity to get hands-on experience before we will hopefully be getting our own classrooms,” Barkley said.
Lorilei Barkley and Camylle Buck will return Wednesday after two months of student teaching in New Zealand. Both women said the experience was a great way to prepare for future teaching jobs they hope to find after graduation.
“It’s important to be able to have a variety of experiences to prepare you,” Barkley said. “I had to work my way through a new curriculum, new administrative structuring and a culturally different student population.”
Buck, who is majoring in math and statistics education, said she has seen a different way to go about education. She talked to teachers and saw different methods of teaching.
“Coming to New Zealand, I was able to learn about a different educational system and how they function and structure their students' learning,” Barkley said. “This comparison has allowed me to develop my repertoire of teaching strategies and to expand the way I look at education, grading and curriculum.”
Adjusting to a different system was one barrier Buck said she had to overcome. “The high schools out here do not have grades,” she said. “Everything is entirely test-based, so if the students do not pass their tests, they don’t get their degree.”
“The curriculum is so broad in New Zealand,” Buck said. “It allows more time for learning, and the school gets to dictate what the students are learning.”
Barkley said other than learning new ways to teach, she also learned about different ways of living.
“Using a dryer to do your clothes is very uncommon,” Barkley said. “Most people still hang their clothes up on a line outside.”
Also, although English is an official language of New Zealand, Barkley said getting used to conversational words was difficult. For example, she said you don’t buy “candy” in New Zealand. You buy “lollies.”
Aside from English, New Zealanders also speak Te Reo Maori, which is the language of the indigenous people.
“The pronunciation of many of the words was difficult and odd for me at first,” Barkley said. “It took me a while to be able to read and sing along with the students during class.”
Along with the goodbye gifts Buck’s students gave her near the end of her program, she said she was nearly brought to tears because of the connections she made with them.
“The students out here are amazing,” she said.
Barkley and Buck will graduate this year from Utah State University in May.
“As a student teacher, this is our last opportunity to get hands-on experience before we will hopefully be getting our own classrooms,” Barkley said.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Aggie plans summer-long trip to Europe
By Sadie Hughes
Turkey, Hungary, Austria, France, Spain and Italy. John Thompson, a junior at Utah State University, will visit all of these places on a trip through the Huntsman School of Business Go Global program followed by two months of exploring on his own and with his family.
On May 28, Thompson will begin his journey in Turkey and Hungary with the other students in the Go Global program.
"We will be applying course knowledge while visiting business leaders abroad," said Mandy LoPatriello, another student going on the trip. "This program will help us accomplish personal, academic and career goals by providing an invaluable experience internationally."
The students will visit businesses that originated in the two countries to see the effects of global economics on society. One of the companies the students will visit is Prezi, a business focused on presentation building, that originated in Hungary.
“I'm hoping to experience the traditional Turkish baths in Istanbul that many locals participate in to become clean before entering holy mosques,” Thompson said. "It's not so much what I want to see, but rather what I want to do."
Thompson will then make his way to Austria. Alone. He'll spend a week and a half exploring Vienna and Toulouse, France. Thompson will stay with locals and hopes they will show him around.
“I want to visit the less-known parts, the gems," he said.
Next, Thompson will fulfill a promise he made to himself years ago to travel to Spain. He'll spend a month there on his own with no definite plans.
"I don't want to be tied down to any one place for a certain period of time," Thompson said. "Heck, maybe I'll just hang up my hammock and sleep on the beach."
“I want to see the local life of Spaniards in coastal towns,” Thompson said. He also hopes to see the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and the windmills described in Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote.
This trip will be the longest amount of time Thompson has been alone. He is excited to spend some time outside of the “Utah bubble.”
"I feel this is one of the best opportunities to make decisions on my own, relax a bit and make some memories with people I have yet to meet," Thompson said.
After Thompson’s exploration of Spain, he will meet his family in Florence, Italy. He said he is excited to spend time with his brother who he hasn’t seen for four years. He and his family will then travel through other parts of Europe for the remainder of the trip.
Thompson will return to Utah on Aug. 14.
“We all want to travel all over the place," Thompson said. "But rarely do we act on it."
Turkey, Hungary, Austria, France, Spain and Italy. John Thompson, a junior at Utah State University, will visit all of these places on a trip through the Huntsman School of Business Go Global program followed by two months of exploring on his own and with his family.
On May 28, Thompson will begin his journey in Turkey and Hungary with the other students in the Go Global program.
"We will be applying course knowledge while visiting business leaders abroad," said Mandy LoPatriello, another student going on the trip. "This program will help us accomplish personal, academic and career goals by providing an invaluable experience internationally."
The students will visit businesses that originated in the two countries to see the effects of global economics on society. One of the companies the students will visit is Prezi, a business focused on presentation building, that originated in Hungary.
“I'm hoping to experience the traditional Turkish baths in Istanbul that many locals participate in to become clean before entering holy mosques,” Thompson said. "It's not so much what I want to see, but rather what I want to do."
Thompson will then make his way to Austria. Alone. He'll spend a week and a half exploring Vienna and Toulouse, France. Thompson will stay with locals and hopes they will show him around.
“I want to visit the less-known parts, the gems," he said.
Next, Thompson will fulfill a promise he made to himself years ago to travel to Spain. He'll spend a month there on his own with no definite plans.
"I don't want to be tied down to any one place for a certain period of time," Thompson said. "Heck, maybe I'll just hang up my hammock and sleep on the beach."
“I want to see the local life of Spaniards in coastal towns,” Thompson said. He also hopes to see the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and the windmills described in Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote.
This trip will be the longest amount of time Thompson has been alone. He is excited to spend some time outside of the “Utah bubble.”
"I feel this is one of the best opportunities to make decisions on my own, relax a bit and make some memories with people I have yet to meet," Thompson said.
After Thompson’s exploration of Spain, he will meet his family in Florence, Italy. He said he is excited to spend time with his brother who he hasn’t seen for four years. He and his family will then travel through other parts of Europe for the remainder of the trip.
Thompson will return to Utah on Aug. 14.
“We all want to travel all over the place," Thompson said. "But rarely do we act on it."
Thursday, April 2, 2015
USU student selected as intern for German company
By Sadie Hughes
Austin Derbique, a student at Utah State University, will board a plane to Munich, Germany on June 16 and won’t return until Sept. 1. Derbique will spend those two months as an intern for Infineon Technologies, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of semiconductors.
“Hopefully this internship brings some experience in the field and opens new doors in my future to bigger and better things,” Derbique said.
Derbique, a computer engineering major, will work in the radio and communications division of Infineon and said this type of work will be right up his field of study.
Daily responsibilities for Derbique will involve taking measurements of radio frequency waves, verifying that the electronic boards are working properly and using simulation tools for the electronic boards and documenting the results.
“I was looking for a motivated student,” said Thomas Bartl, the senior manager and head of project management at Infineon. “This internship will allow him to have practical hands-on experience in technical matters, intercultural experience and insights to company life.”
Derbique was the only intern selected this year, and Bartl hopes the opportunity will allow Derbique to build relationships within Infineon.
“Maybe he will join Infineon in the U.S. later after he graduates,” Bartl said. Infineon has several locations in the United States including California, North Carolina and Michigan.
The selection process consisted of sending documentation to Bartl including his passport, transcript and a resume.
“Even though it’s an English-speaking company, I've started to prepare by learning German,” Derbique said. “I'll be living in the culture as well. I won’t just be doing an internship.”
Austin Derbique, a student at Utah State University, will board a plane to Munich, Germany on June 16 and won’t return until Sept. 1. Derbique will spend those two months as an intern for Infineon Technologies, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of semiconductors.
“Hopefully this internship brings some experience in the field and opens new doors in my future to bigger and better things,” Derbique said.
Derbique, a computer engineering major, will work in the radio and communications division of Infineon and said this type of work will be right up his field of study.
Daily responsibilities for Derbique will involve taking measurements of radio frequency waves, verifying that the electronic boards are working properly and using simulation tools for the electronic boards and documenting the results.
“I was looking for a motivated student,” said Thomas Bartl, the senior manager and head of project management at Infineon. “This internship will allow him to have practical hands-on experience in technical matters, intercultural experience and insights to company life.”
Derbique was the only intern selected this year, and Bartl hopes the opportunity will allow Derbique to build relationships within Infineon.
“Maybe he will join Infineon in the U.S. later after he graduates,” Bartl said. Infineon has several locations in the United States including California, North Carolina and Michigan.
The selection process consisted of sending documentation to Bartl including his passport, transcript and a resume.
“Even though it’s an English-speaking company, I've started to prepare by learning German,” Derbique said. “I'll be living in the culture as well. I won’t just be doing an internship.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)