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Present-day China strikes a powerful balance between the traditions of the past and the possibilities of the future.

"I asked one student what he did for fun outside of class. Even with a translator I couldn’t get him to understand our American concept of fun," marvels Kevin Meagher. "In China, your whole future is based on your college entrance exam."

This was but one of the eye opening experiences the Information Systems major encountered on his two-week Business Mission to China, sponsored by the Envision Institute. Participants were given the opportunity to interact with Chinese university students, as well as to go behind the scenes and straight to the heart of China’s premier business centers. Kevin was able to witness firsthand the obstacles companies are faced with in their quest for modernization, obstacles Information Systems students are trained to address and overcome.

The winner of the 2003 CIGNA Undergraduate Merit Prize for Information Systems and Computer Technology, Kevin called on the knowledge and experience he had gleaned from his instructors, and from his co-ops with some heavy hitters in the business world-Atofina Chemical and GlaxoSmithKline-to craft the winning entry. In fact, Drexel's co-op program was one of the biggest draws when he was considering colleges.

"When finances are an issue, the co-op earnings are a big help," he explained. Kevin also cited the benefit of hands-on learning that a Drexel co-op provides – a definite plus for those who get antsy sitting in a classroom all day.

Not that he'll have much chance to sit around anymore. After graduation, Kevin plans to immerse himself in the information consulting business he and his roommate started last year. He may be back in China sooner than he thinks…