The College of Engineering recognized nearly 60 undergraduate students as Engineering Global Fellows at a ceremony April 29 in Anabel Taylor Hall.

A new effort to highlight the accomplishments of students who work, study, conduct research or perform service learning abroad, the first Engineering Global Fellows reception honored students who had overseas experience within the past three years. International students active overseas and outside their home countries are also eligible for the distinction.

"The college recognizes that engineering will involve the entire world, not only the city, state or country that we live in," Kent Fuchs, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering, told the students. "We're grateful that you've done something that's not only good for your education, but also increases our exposure overseas."

Several students spoke about their experiences, including Erica Mallare, a senior operations research and information engineering major who spent the spring semester of her junior year studying at the University of Nantes in France.

"What I got from studying abroad was really learning how to understand and appreciate a different culture, and learning how to appreciate and accept things that are different from what we know," she said.

Matt Perkins, a senior in materials science and engineering, completed a co-op in China working on wind energy for General Electric.

"It really completed my Cornell experience," Perkins said. "You learn a lot in the classroom, but the opportunity to apply that doesn't come until you do a co-op or internship."

Also a materials science and engineering major, Yuri Sylvester did research at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, where he met students from all over the world.

"I realized how people in other countries don't have the same opportunities that we do," he said. "We need to be appreciative of what we have and how fortunate we are."

Engineering students who could not attend the reception but have had an international experience can pick up their certificates at Engineering Co-op and Career Services.

Robert Emro is a communications specialist with the College of Engineering.