Posted: August 16, 2001
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities booth at the State Fair this year will feature a working television studio and an 8-foot tall interactive map of Minnesota showing where students can study for various careers. An award-winning solar car made by state university students also will make an appearance.
Chancellor James H. McCormick plans to meet fairgoers in the MnSCU booth, which is in the Education Building.
"I am excited about the opportunity to meet many people from throughout Minnesota. I hope they will stop by our booth and talk with us about their experiences with higher education and how they believe we can help the state and their communities," said McCormick, who has visited with legislators in all four corners of Minnesota since assuming his position July 2.
Members of the MnSCU Board of Trustees and presidents, faculty, staff and students from the state colleges and universities also will be in the booth at various times during the fair.
The exhibit offers fairgoers an opportunity to learn more about the programs and activities at the state colleges and universities and pick up copies of campus literature. This year, colorful rubber-band bracelets imprinted with "College Material" also will be given away.
This year's exhibit includes:
- Solar car: Built and raced by students at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Winona State University, the "Northern Lights VII" solar car will be on display Friday, Aug. 31, through Monday, Sept. 3. In May, the team won first place in the stock car class in the 2001 Formula Sun Race in Topeka, Kan. The car can run up to 60 mph and travel up to 300 miles per day.
- Interactive map: Fairgoers can push buttons that light up the campuses on this giant state map showing where students can prepare for 20 different careers. These are a sampling of 3,650 degree programs offered on the 53 campuses of the 34 MnSCU institutions.
- Television studio: Fairgoers are invited to give their views about higher education between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from Thursday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 30, in the television studio operated by Minnesota Satellite and Technology. Visitors also can watch legislators, higher education leaders and other prominent Minnesotans being interviewed. MnSAT, the interactive television service provided by MnSCU, will operate the studio.
