NSCS Announces Spring 2009 Participants for China Professional Training and Language Academy

Washington, DC, January 14, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is pleased to announce that the following NSCS members have been selected to participate in the China Professional Training and and Language Academy:

• Chris Belfoure, West Virginia University (History, December 2009)
• Ian Nobile, Western Kentucky University (Economics, 2010)
• Carlos Ramirez, Florida International University (Accounting, 2011)
• Sonal Thaker (College of Charleston, December 2006)

The China Professional Training & Language Academy (CPTLA) is a four-month language and internship program in China, taking place from January-May 2009.

The program includes one month of intensive Mandarin language training and a three-month internship for domestic or multinational Chinese companies. The program is run by The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, an honor society inviting high achieving freshmen and sophomores.

Carlos Ramirez, one of the participants, said that he wanted to participate because it's the only time in his life when he could take four months off and participate in an internship program like this. "I really believe it'll help me become a more independent, well-rounded person," he said.

As a full-time student and a full-time employee, Ramirez raised the entire cost of his trip by himself.

For NSCS' Executive Director Stephen E. Loflin, the inaugural semester of CPTLA is the culmination of months of hard work and inspiration. "We came up with the idea of sending students to China because it's an important player on the world stage, both economically and geopolitically," he said.

"We wanted to ensure that our members had the opportunity to learn about this country in a substantive, exciting way that exposes them to a side of China they wouldn't see in other programs. And I'm confident that this program will ensure that these participants are better prepared for this new economy."

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About NSCS:
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the nation's only interdisciplinary honors organization to invite first- and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing. NSCS awards more scholarship dollars to undergraduates than any other honor society nationwide. NSCS offers members exclusive access to scholarships, career resources, leadership and networking opportunities. NSCS has more than 625,000 members and 233 chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.