On July 17, two students from Fort Hays State University will travel to Sias University in Xinzheng (pronounced shinJUNG), China, to study abroad for one month.

FHSU President Edward H. Hammond is sponsoring them for the Sias Study Abroad Program. Room and board is provided, and round-trip airfare from Denver will be paid for by FHSU. Students are eligible to receive FHSU credit at their own expense.

Two of eight applicants were selected. Each candidate must be a full-time, undergraduate student and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average to be considered. Amanda Attig, Van Buren, Ark., sophomore, and Cassy Vopat, Plainville junior, were selected based on their GPAs, accomplishments and personal interviews.

Attig and Vopat will be able to take Chinese language, culture, art, martial arts, cooking, dance, folk song, calligraphy and chess classes, which will all be offered in English.

"Seeing all the Chinese students we have on our campus, I hope to gain experience about where they come from," said Attig.

"I am very excited and very grateful to the university to be able to have this experience," said Vopat.

When the students return on Aug. 12, they will be expected to provide a presentation to other FHSU students. The presentations will be given during International Education Week in November and throughout the year.