OSU summer academy to showcase careers in management information systems

Friday, March 6, 2009

(March 6, 2008   Stillwater, OK) – High school students who are interested in the intersection of business and technology are encouraged to apply for a scholarship to attend the OSU Information Systems Technology Exploration (ISyTE) Academy.

The OSU ISyTE Academy will be held on May 31 – June 5, 2009 on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Okla. Twenty students will receive a full scholarship that covers all the expenses, meals and lodging for the program.

The six-day program is designed for students who will be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade during the 2009-2010 academic year and will allow participants to experience college living first-hand and participate in hands-on activities relevant to business, technology and management information systems (MIS). Participants will stay on the campus of Oklahoma State University and work with current OSU MIS faculty and graduate students.

 “This program will be fun and will give the students a chance to learn more about a future in MIS. I’m excited and looking forward to this program and helping prepare students for college and helping them assess their collegiate goals,” said Rick Wilson, head of the OSU Department of Management Science and Information Systems.

Attendees will experience field trips, cultural activities and behind-the-scenes visits at ConocoPhillips, Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy and the OSU information technology department.  The participants will visit the Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City and Stillwater landmarks such as Boone Pickens Stadium, Eskimo Joes and Hideaway Pizza.

The MIS major is quickly growing to be a very valid, exciting and thriving field of study that teaches students to solve real-world problems. The Bureau of Labor Services projects an education in MIS prepares graduates for success in five of the fastest growing occupations in the United States.

The OSU ISyTE Academy is sponsored by the OSU Department of Management Science and Information Systems, the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development in the Spears School of Business, The Kerr Foundation, Inc., and ConocoPhillips.

“The Kerr Foundation is a proud sponsor of ISyTE,” said Lou Kerr, president of The Kerr Foundation, Inc. “This program will give young students a glimpse into the management science field, but also it will help them in their future decisions in their educational pursuits.”

Scholarship applications and more information about the OSU ISyTE Academy can be downloaded at cepd.okstate.edu/isyte. To apply to for an ISyTE scholarship, submit a scholarship application form and all accompanying documents to the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development by 5 p.m. on March 27, 2009.  Scholarship recipients will be notified after April 15, 2009.