Morris was chosen as one of 75 participants in a pool of more than 500 applicants for this unique opportunity.
Morris will leave on July 31 for Germany after a two-day orientation in Washington, D.C. While in Germany, Morris will attend a two-month intensive course to learn the German language. He will then spend the next four months studying the German culture at one of the universities there. During the final five months, he will complete an internship with a German company in his career field.
In late June, Morris will find out his university and company placement. He is hoping to get into Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich where he can study international business and marketing.
“I am most looking forward to seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling, tasting and living the German culture,” said Morris. “This is a once in a 500 lifetimes chance. I am going to make the absolute most of it that I can.”
The program is designed primarily for young adults in business, technical, engineering, vocational and agricultural fields; however, all career fields are eligible to apply.
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange is a reciprocal scholarship program. While American participants like Morris will experience life in Germany, young German professionals will live in the United States during the upcoming academic year. German participants study at U.S. colleges in the fall and work at local businesses in the spring, all while living with an American host throughout the year.
Morris is currently working on his associate’s degree in marketing management from GNTC. He was set to graduate at the end of this year, but will postpone graduation until after he completes his internship.
According to Morris, he chose GNTC because it offers the program he was looking for and made it affordable to obtain his degree.
“It has been a pleasure having Ron Morris in class the last couple of years,” said Stephanie McElhone, marketing management instructor. “He has clearly demonstrated the ability to work independently, with great creativity and enthusiasm. I was extremely impressed with Ron’s ability to navigate this internship opportunity. He showed initiative and insight that will continue to serve him well throughout his career. The joy and pride in his face when he learned that he was selected was truly a tribute to his tenacity and perseverance.”
Morris is a resident of Floyd County and graduated from Pepperell High School in 2008.
He chose the marketing management program because it allows him to be creative and express himself while helping companies grow and thrive.
“Ron has been an excellent student,” stated Mark Upton, GNTC program director and instructor of marketing management. “He has shown a strong work ethic, works well on group projects, and shows leadership abilities when working with his classmates.”
Morris hopes to intern with the German American Chamber of Commerce and find a permanent position within their organization after coming back to the states. Morris also plans to further his education by earning his master’s degree in business administration.
“I love seeing new places, and meeting new people. I am ecstatic to find out what this internship can do for me in regards to my career, my education and my life in general,” said Morris.
Morris is the son of Ron Morris Sr. and Tammy Atcheson.
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