Lamar business student tests out new study abroad program in France

Danny Grigsby expects to graduate after his semester abroad with degrees in management, general business entrepreneurship and general business.
Danny Grigsby expects to graduate after his semester abroad with degrees in management, general business entrepreneurship and general business. | Contributed photo

Lamar University triple major Danny Grigsby is the vanguard participant in a new study abroad program that sends Lamar students to the ESC Rennes School of Business in France.

Grigsby will choose from more than a dozen courses taught in English, though he said he is just as excited about the opportunity for cultural immersion.

"I was drawn to ESC because they offer a ‘Global Experience’— half of the students here are international,” he said. “I expect to gain a lot of appreciation for other countries and for the international students in the U.S.”

The program has been in the works since 2013, when study abroad program director Jeff Palis met ESC international relations staff at a conference. Though so far Grigsby is the only student participating in the program, the agreement is actually styled as an exchange program. ESC will send two of its students to Lamar this fall.

In the meantime, Grigsby expects to graduate after his semester abroad with degrees in management, entrepreneurship and business, an accomplishment requiring focus that he says has been bolstered by working alongside foreign students.

"I’m impacted by living with French roommates because they show me that they really are cautious about what they eat, how much money they spend, and how much energy they conserve,” Grigsby said. “Also, I notice the diligence of all the students from other schools and that is a huge booster for me. Everyone, no matter where you come from, needs to be focused in order to get the most of their education.”