U.S. student Brandon’s flight to the future
Fri, 21 Dec 2012 07:17:00 GMT
His fellow passenger en route to Minnesota was the University of Huddersfield’s Vice-Chancellor ... and it was a life-changing encounter
The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan, with fellow passenger and now Huddersfield student, Brandon Peterson.
WHEN American student Brandon Peterson boarded a plane in New York for the last leg of a long flight back home to Minnesota from Europe, he could never have guessed that his ultimate destination would be Huddersfield, UK, and university studies that will help him achieve his goal to become a chemical engineer.
The plane that took off from Newark Airport was a tiny one and Brandon found himself seated next to Professor Bob Cryan, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.
“I normally never talk to people on airplanes,” said Brandon, “but I commented on how my car is bigger than the aircraft and that broke the ice and we started talking about all sorts of things, from world politics to engineering. I found out who Professor Cryan was, and I asked for more information about his university. When we got off the plane we shook hands and he said, send me an email.”
Brandon, who is from Cambridge, Minnesota, had been poised to study at the University of Minnesota and had won a valuable U.S. Navy scholarship. But a bout of illness intervened and threw his plans into disarray. Now, after his encounter with Professor Cryan, he researched the University of Huddersfield, learned about its chemistry degree courses and reckoned that it would be the ideal place to resume his studies.
“I contacted Professor Cryan, and he said that he would make sure my application got through to the right people,” said Brandon.
Now, only a few months after his chance encounter, Brandon has relocated to Huddersfield and completed the first term of his three-year BSc degree in chemistry with chemical engineering. He is thoroughly immersed in his studies and university life and has been elected class representative for his course committee.
“I really enjoy being here in Huddersfield. Sitting next to Professor Cryan on that plane changed my life!” said Brandon.
His fiancée Krista – whom he had been visiting in her home country of Finland before the homeward flight on which he met Professor Cryan – has joined him in Huddersfield, where one of the aspects of university life that most impresses him is the multi-cultural campus.
“I have met more people from other countries since being here than I have ever met in my entire life,” he said.
The 3M connection
When he encountered Brandon, Professor Cryan was flying to Minneapolis for talks with the giant global manufacturer 3M, whose chief executive was Sir George Buckley (pictured right), a University of Huddersfield graduate.
The University has developed a fruitful relationship with Sir George and 3M and the link is also important to Brandon Peterson. The 3M corporation is one of the largest chemical engineering companies in the world and, as a Minnesota native, one of Brandon’s goals after graduation is to work for the firm.
While at Huddersfield he hopes for a chance to meet Sir George, whose name is attached to the University’s new 3M Buckley Innovation Centre.
Professor Cryan said: “It was good to meet Brandon on that plane journey and naturally I never pass up the opportunity to sing the praises of the University of Huddersfield, as we have so much to be proud of! I am delighted that he decided to come and study with us and that our chemistry colleagues can offer him just the course he needs to achieve his goals and I have no doubts that he will have a fantastic experience here.”
