This Study Abroad Fair will provide information on Missouri Southern travel, opportunities to make lifelong friends, lasting memories, and scholarship ideas to help pay for the trip.

The eighth annual fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 14, on the third floor of Billingsly Student Center. Attendees will have a chance to win hourly prizes, including discounts to local merchants, free food from restaurants, and movie passes.

“The prize committee was responsible for getting prizes and door prizes and things like that for the photo contest and other prizes that will be given away,” said Andrea Moore, sophomore undecided major.

Faculty members leading trips will answer questions for interested students. The trips planned for 2008 include Argentina, Brazil, Vietnam, Japan, Costa Rica, Western Europe and the British Virgin Islands. Organizers expect 400 to 500 students to attend the event.

Students who want to apply for a grant must follow certain guidelines. “In order to receive a study abroad grant, students must have a 2.5 grade point average,” said Dr. Chad Stebbins, director of the institute of international studies.

This year’s theme, Fire up your Future, was chosen to go with the China semester. Chinese dragons will be on display, and the art department will build a Great Wall replica, leading up the stairs to the fair.

New this year, the Travel Photo Contest will display pictures from students and faculty who have traveled abroad in the last two years with one of Southern’s programs. The first-place winner will receive dinner and movie for two and second and third places will receive dinner for two at local restaurants.

“Any student that is interested in studying abroad should take some time out of their day and check out the fair,” Moore said. “I hope that they can find a trip that would interest them. It’s a fun way to earn credit hours and travel the world at the same time.”