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Hamilton Scholars Helping Poole College’s Exchange Students Experience Campus Life

There was a lot of networking and calendar-checking going on during a pizza social hosted this week by NC State’s Poole College of Management. The event brought together two groups of students from diverse backgrounds but a common interest: international studies.

Participating were about 15 students in NC State’s Hamilton Scholars program and 13 exchange students from 10 countries who are studying business at Poole College and taking other courses at NC State during their semester abroad experience in Raleigh.

Poole College’s informal ‘Meet and Greet’ was arranged by Debbie Anderson, a Poole College advisor, and Michelle Koehler, co-director of the Hamilton Scholars for Poole College. Also attending was Dr. Seth Murray, professor of international studies at NC State’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) and co-director of the Hamilton Scholars at CHASS.

For the past several years, the Hamilton Scholars have served as mentors to visiting international students from various countries, all of whom take classes in the Poole College.

“A key goal of the mentors is to help the international students get involved in student life experiences at NC State and Poole College,” Dr. Shannon Davis, associate dean for Poole College’s Office of Undergraduate Programs, said in her welcoming remarks to the students. The exchange students met their mentors during the event.

Also welcoming the new students were several Poole College professional advisors, including the college’s new director of international programs, Robert Sandruck.
Poole College is also hosting about nine exchange students who started at the college in fall 2011 and are continuing through the spring semester.

Students in the Hamilton Scholars program at NC State complete coursework for two degrees – one in accounting, business administration or economics at the Poole College of Management, and one in international studies at CHASS. They also complete a study abroad experience.

Poole College and CHASS currently have about 60 students in the Hamilton Scholars dual degree program. Students apply to the program primarily in the spring semester; the current application deadline is January 25. After the new spring Hamilton Scholars applicants are accepted, the program enrollment will increase to its typical 75-80 scholars, Koehler said. Students interested in the program may contact Koehler or view the application process:

The international exchange students joining Poole College this spring are from Austria, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Norway, South Korea, United Kingdom and Uruguay.
Hamilton Scholars mentors this spring, who attended the Meet and Greet are:

  • Jeremy Cooper
  • Ashley Everling
  • Eric Horton
  • Leah Huskinson
  • Caroline Jones
  • Maggie Liu
  • Alex Martin
  • Adrienne Moorefield
  • Emma Nelli
  • Dev Pandya
  • Meera Patel
  • Holly Prater
  • Chris Prosser
  • Kelly Vernon
  • Will Zheng