Students were able to take a road trip Sept. 8 without leaving the Billingsly Student Center.

Ultimate Road Trip: Campus 2 Career was held to help students learn skills they need to survive college.

Sheila Shaw, the speaker at the Ultimate Road Trip, spoke to about 125 students about choosing their major, time management and study habits.

Shaw said she has been doing this for about 4 years.

“I do this because I want students to take advantage of the opportunities college provides and get started on the right foot,” Shaw said.

The Ultimate Road Trip is sponsored by Making It Count, a company owned by Monster.com.

Julie Blackford, director of student activities, said the program was free to the University.

She said Missouri Southern only had to supply the lunches students received.

“We were really impressed with [the presentation],” Blackford said.

She said Shaw was good speaker for college students.

Holley Goodnight, coordinator of new student programs, said representatives of the Ultimate Road Trip called her to see if Southern would be interested in hosting the program.

Goodnight checked with the colleges that have used the program in the past.

“Everyone spoke very highly of them,” Goodnight said.

Blackford said the program is geared toward freshman, but the information can help almost all students.

Both Blackford and Goodnight agreed they would like to see the program return.

“They gave lots of good, practical information students could take into the classroom,” Goodnight said.

“We hope maybe a program like this can help with retention,” Blackford said.

Shaw said she usually sees a good response to her presentation.

She said it makes the transition from high school to college easier.

Erin Whelan, freshman marketing and psychology major, attended the Ultimate Road Trip with her orientation class.

“It was pretty good info,” Whelan said.

“[There were] a lot of good tips.”

Travis Huseman, freshman undecided major, also attended with his orientation class. He said the presentation was enjoyable.

“It was good,” Huseman said.

Anyone interested can visit Making It Count’s Web site at www.makingitcount.com. The site gives information and tips on surviving college.