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Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Two Mississippi State students are among 28 recipients of the Southeastern Conference’s 2016-17 Dr. Pepper Education Abroad Award.

The recent award made it possible for senior physics major Ruth E. Fowler of Madison and junior mechanical engineering major Ryan P. Matijevich of Leesburg, Virginia, to participate in life-changing study abroad experiences this past summer.

In 2015, Dr. Pepper allocated $100,000 to provide faculty-led study abroad opportunities for SEC students who excel in the classroom, demonstrate financial need and represent non-traditional study abroad participants.

“Increasing the amount and type of education abroad opportunities available to SEC students has been an SECU goal for more than a decade,” said Torie Johnson, executive director of the SECU Academic Initiative. “It’s exciting to know that thanks to Dr. Pepper’s generosity, more SEC students than ever will have a life-changing experience in another part of the world.”

SECU was established in 2005 as the SEC Academic Consortium, and one of its original focal points was education abroad. For more, visit .

Seeking to gain a better understanding of language and culture, Matijevich traveled to Moscow, Russia. He expressed appreciation for the Dr. Pepper Education Abroad Award in making the opportunity to represent Mississippi State possible.

“Drawing similarities and differences between Russia and the U.S. was fun,” he said. “I was able to take in a lot of sights and get some interesting souvenirs, too.”

Accompanied by students and faculty from the university’s Department of Chemistry, Fowler traveled throughout Scandinavia, including Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. She also enjoyed adventures to Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris and London.

“Each country was incredible in its own way as we traversed the land to learn about alternative energy sources,” Fowler said. “Iceland was my favorite country. Its wild landscape dotted with waterfalls and sheep is absolutely captivating.”

Like Matijevich, Fowler said she is “deeply grateful to have been selected for such a worthy scholarship.”

“This award made one of the best months of my life possible,” she said. “To be able to represent �㽶ֱ��and our beautiful state was humbling and a huge blessing.”

On Wednesday [Oct. 5], the �㽶ֱ��International Institute’s Office of Study Abroad is hosting a study abroad fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first floor of the Colvard Student Union. Students of all classifications and majors are encouraged to stop by and learn about faculty-led, exchange and provider-company study abroad opportunities for which they can earn academic credit.

For more information on the Office of Study Abroad and the upcoming fair, contact coordinator Annika Campbell at 662-325-8251 or acampbell@international.msstate.edu.

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