Contact: Carl Smith

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A sophomore member of Mississippi State’s Reserve Officer Training Corps will spend this summer studying Russian overseas thanks to a prestigious language program.

Robert Nicolle, a political science major from Gurley, Alabama, is MSU’s latest inductee into Project Global Officer (GO), a nationwide program for ROTC students offering fully funded opportunities in critical language education, overseas study and cross-cultural experiences.

Specifically, Nicolle is receiving a full scholarship through the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies to enroll in an exclusive Pitt Project GO intensive Russian language program held at Narva College of the University of Tartu in Narva, Estonia.

Through early August, he will engage in intensive language classes and a cultural program including excursions and lectures, along with opportunities to participate in Russian-language job shadowing experiences.

An avid outdoorsman, Nicolle said he chose Pitt’s Russian program for its ties to Estonia because of the host country’s beauty. After graduating from MSU, Nicolle plans to serve in the U.S. Army and then continue serving his country through other government work.

David Hoffman, director of MSU’s Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, said Nicolle’s selection is a great opportunity for the ROTC cadet to improve his foundation in Russian language skills he built at MSU and gain a deeper understanding of the culture of Estonia’s Russian community.

“Robert was the first student I have worked with on an application for Project GO, and I am hopeful that more ROTC students will apply for the amazing opportunities that Project GO facilitates. Not only does it provide a chance for these students to gain skills and experience critical for our future military capabilities, but it also opens the door for other potential scholarships for further study abroad and language training,” Hoffman said. “It was a distinct pleasure working with Robert, and I am looking forward to hearing back from him when he returns.”

For more information about U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored Project GO, visit www.rotcprojectgo.org.

Learn more about the MSU Department of Political Science and Public Administration by visiting www.pspa.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.