Panama, Day 1:

After a long delay getting off the ground in the U.S., my companions and I arrived in time for a late dinner and quick planning session for the week's events.

Panama, Day 2: 

We left bright and early for our meetings.  The bids for the Panama Canal expansion were being opened that day so the air was charged with anticipation.  A noteworthy group of global representatives were hanging around the Canal as we made our way to our appointments.

Our first stop was the International Maritime University of Panama where we met with the President, Victor Luna and some of his staff.  President Luna and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaborative maritime projects.  We saw a demonstration of the sophisticated simulation labs used by the cadets as they learn every aspect of running a ship.

Next on the agenda was a briefing on the Panama Canal by Oscar Bazan V., marketing manager.   The expansion of the canal is a huge undertaking for the people of Panama, and we learned a great deal about the detailed analyses applied to make decisions throughout the process.

The SIDMAR Simulator demonstration offered a unique thrill as I was invited to "operate" a large freighter making its way through the canal.

Next up, a meeting with Acting President, Luis Barahona and his cabinet at the Technical University of Panama, the country's designated engineering school enabled us to plan for another MOU to be signed in Mississippi in September.

Dinner at Mira Flores Locks where humongous ships are ushered from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice versa.

Panama, Day 3:

The University of Panama (all sites) has an enrollment of 70,000!  Our visit there made me appreciate the more manageable 16,000 back home.  Interestingly, the Panamanian government funds almost all the costs of the University.  Students pay no tuition - only one annual fee of $27.50.

The City of Knowledge occupies the installations of a former military base on the banks of the Panama Canal.  It is a government-sponsored project which seeks to create a cluster of academic organizations, technology companies and NGOs.  It provides a "platform" for universities to reach students in the Latin American region.  In light of the City of Knowledge's current partnerships with such prestigious organizations as Organization of American States, Pan American Health Organization, UNICEF and International Center for Sustainable Development, we should have plenty of opportunity to form important collaborations.

A quick tour of the nearby Hospitality, Hotel and Restaurant Management yielded a wonderful tour of a new model for the service industry in Panama and a nice lunch in its dining room overlooking the Panama Canal.

Panama, Day 4:

Our host treated us to a day at the astonishingly beautiful Gamboa (rain forest) where we saw capuchin monkeys "up close and person" and climbed to the top of Gamboa's uppermost tower for a breathtaking view of the forest, the Chagre River, Lake Gatun, and the Panama Canal. 

We managed to disturb a nest of the neighborhood snakes who gave us quite a start...but I'll save that story for another time.

Panama, Day 5:

Coming Home.

Governor Barbour will be on our Hattiesburg campus today to lend support to a new partnership between Southern Miss and GE Aviation, a world leader in the production of jet engines and one of our state's outstanding corporate citizens. 

Researchers with both GE Aviation and the University of Southern Mississippi will be working together to develop composite materials and processes that will be used at the company's Batesville, Mississippi, facility.

Composite materials are the way of the future in aviation.  Composite aircraft components offer unparalleled weight savings and durability, which in turn yield greater fuel efficiency and greater operability in the aircraft in which they are used.

This exciting new public-private partnership will utilize the expertise at USM's School of Polymers and High Performance Materials and will draw on our state's considerable research capabilities to develop real solutions that will have a long-lasting impact on the future of aviation. 

Our students will benefit from working with a global aviation leader on sophisticated research and development work that has an important real-world application. The collaborative effort between GE Aviation and USM provides hands-on research experience to Mississippi students and build our state's research and development capacity for the future.

Congratulations Coach Palmer.  It was a great ride.

A little rain did not deter massive attendance at this year's Mississippi Day in Central Park.  Locals and visitors lined up for some fine catfish and downhome conversation.  Governor Barbour was there enjoying the festivities.  Southern Miss and the City of Hattiesburg partnered up to display the best of South Mississippi. 

Then, if ever, come perfect days."  (Lowell)

We've had a few such perfect days already at Southern Miss this June.  On Monday, our baseball team and beloved coach, Corky Palmer, returned in triumph after winning the regional tournament.  They'll be moving on to super regionals this weekend in Gainesville, Florida.

This morning's mail held the exciting news that Tyler McCleery has been selected as one of the Society of Physics Students' 2009 Top Leadership Awardees.  Tyler was selected from a group of exceptional applicants.  I commend him and his faculty mentors for outstanding academic performance.

Beloved community leader, Jerry St. Pe' offers his thanks upon receiving the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Steel Pan Orchestra preparing for recessional.

Strike up the band!

And the party begins...

Jennifer Lamb was named our first Morris K. Udall Scholar in recognition of her commitment to the environment.  She was one of 80 Scholars selected from more than 500 applicants.

Terry Johnston was named our first James Madison Fellowship Recipient in recognition of his commitment to a career as a social studies teacher.  He is the Fellow for the state of Mississippi.

Justin Poelma became the university's first Marshall Scholarship Reserve List Finalist and he was also the only student from a Mississippi institution to be selected as a Phi Kappa Phi national fellowship recipient.  Each chapter may submit only one nominee and from there 60 Fellows are chosen.  Not only was Justin selected as a Fellow but he was selected as the Hohenstein Fellow for the South Central Region meaning he was the top ranking applicant from our entire region.

Suzanna Ellzey was named the university's first Phi Kappa Phi Emerging Scholar (one of 60).  She was also one of three USM students to be chosen to receive Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants.  She along with Ruth Poe and Alexis Smith are the first to receive PKP Study Abroad Grants.  Only 50 were granted and USM was one of only three chapters nationwide to receive the maximum of three grants.

Cindy Burleson is the first student from USM to be representing us at the International Olympic Academy in Athens Greece this summer.  She will present a paper on using Olympic Truce as a peace-keeping tool.

Last but not least Jessica Shackleford was named to the USA Today All-Academic Third Team.  This is on the third time a USM student has been named to the team and is the first such an honor by a USM student in more than a decade.  Only thirty students nationwide are named to the team.

Congratulations go to Dean Davies and the host of faculty who supported these students in the classrooms and through letters of nomination.