OXFORD, Miss. – Hannie “Parker” Capps of Sunflower, a senior at
the University of Mississippi, is killing two birds with one stone while
studying this semester at the University of Ulster in Northern
Ireland.
A member
of UM’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and Lott Leadership
Institute, Capps is majoring in public policy leadership and civil
engineering. While the two fields may seem to be opposites, Capps said
she is planning to broaden her perspective in both areas.
Her study
abroad is made possible through an exchange partnership with UU
coordinated by the UM Study Abroad Office. This exchange allows her to
take courses abroad and apply them to her UM degree as resident credit at
the same tuition cost of taking classes on the Oxford campus, plus she
can also use financial aid that she receives on campus to help defray her
expenses. While abroad, she is slated to complete three required liberal
arts courses, and she is also looking forward to traveling and enhancing
her other interests.
“I
would like to see as much of Europe as possible, but I hope to really get
to know the cultures of Northern Ireland and Ireland,” she said.
“I will enjoy the experience of observing the political, cultural
and religious differences, and I’m also looking forward to seeing the
ancient architecture as well as the modern.
“I
have visited the nearby cities of Belfast and Londonderry, and have plans
to go with my roommate to visit her family in England. I’ve also been
getting to know the area around Portstewart, the town I live in. It is so
beautiful here – sometimes I just can’t believe it.”
Capps has
completed enough academic hours for senior status at Ole Miss, but with
extra coursework required to complete her double major, she plans to
graduate in May 2012.
“I am
really considering going to law school after I graduate,” she said.
“Regardless, I plan to combine civil engineering and public policy
leadership in my future career.”
As for her
college experience so far, Capps said, “I am really enjoying my time
at Ole Miss and am very grateful for the incredible opportunities that
have been offered to me here. After visiting several universities
throughout the South, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.”
Active in
student government, she served as the Honors College ASB senator during
her sophomore year. She was tapped for membership in the National Society
for Collegiate Scholars and the national academic honor societies of
Alpha Lambda Delta, Lambda Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, Chi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi
and Sigma Alpha Lambda.
A graduate
of Indianola Academy, Capps is the daughter of Billie Dove Parker of
Sunflower.
For more
information about UM Study Abroad, visit
http://www.outreach.olemiss.