ABERDEEN, S.D. (May 16, 2017) – Suzanne Higgins has been named Northern State University’s 2017 Undergraduate Competitive Research Grant winner.
Higgins, a third-year management information systems major, will receive up to $2,500 for her research project, titled “A Proposal to Study European Union Demographics and European Technologies Institutes.” Her project aims to increase awareness and understanding of political and economic impacts of technological changes and Internet regulations.
With her project, Higgins seeks to expand her understanding of international relations within applied sciences and technologies institutes through a study abroad course. The “Spirit of Europe: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology” summer course will take place in Hasselt, Belgium; Maastricht, the Netherlands; and Aachen, Germany, in the heart of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.
Higgins said the idea for her project came from current events and progression of Internet regulations. She leaves late this month and will return in mid-June. Her itinerary includes visits to institutions such as Zuyd University of Applied Sciences of Maastricht, Netherlands, which is known as the birthplace of the euro, as well as the European Monetary Union.
Higgins graduated high school at Connections Public Charter School in Hilo, Hawaii. After a year at University of Hawaii, Hilo, she transferred to NSU. She said she chose Northern because it is economically sound, and a friend from high school recommended the school.
“NSU faculty has given me opportunities to achieve higher goals,” Higgins said. “The faculty on campus make time to help students achieve their goals.”
Lindsey Huber, instructor of management information systems, serves as a faculty advisor for Higgins’ project.
“I am excited for Suzanne to have this opportunity to network with other college professors and students this summer,” Huber said. “Since our Internet service providers stand between us and everything we do online, this is definitely an up-and-coming topic that we are looking to explore and hopefully provide awareness to our NSU students.”
Higgins works in NSU Net Services as a help desk representative and under the technology fellowship in the e-learning department. After college, she is looking into graduate school at Dakota State University and plans to continue working under the technology fellowship.
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