DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Adam Hasley, a University of North Texas junior from Forney studying finance in the College of Business, is one of four students in the nation selected as a U.S. Student Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation China CEO Forum July 12-14 in Beijing and one of 30 U.S. students selected to attend the APEC CEO Summit Oct. 5-7 in Bali, Indonesia.
APEC -- dedicated to supporting sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region -- consists of 21 member nations. The CEO Forum in July will address the future of China and its role in the global economy. The APEC CEO Summit in October is expected to be attended by presidents and prime ministers of nations and CEOs of large corporations discussing sustainable growth.
"It meant the world to be selected for this," said Hasley, who is pursuing a minor in Asian studies from the Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences. "I'll have the opportunity to study the Chinese economy and international trade, and I hope to pursue a career as an international business relations manager for a large corporation or in politics. I'm so grateful for this opportunity."
At UNT, Hasley has served as a senator representing the College of Business in the Student Government Association, LEAD ambassador for the Center for Leadership and Service at UNT and ambassador for the Office of Outreach.
"When I got to UNT, I just fell in in love with it," Hasley said. "I realized that most bigger schools have an expected path you follow, but at UNT you can blaze your own trail. I am very independent person, and UNT did not stifle that; they encouraged that."
Hasley also received a $1,500 scholarship from the U.S. Virtual Trade Mission Foundation based in Washington, D.C., and $1,750 in funding support from the Division of Student Affairs at UNT, $1,000 from the UNT College of Business and $500 from the Student Government Association.
The competitive selection of U.S. student ambassadors was headed by Dr. Lou E. Pelton, associate professor of marketing and logistics in the College of Business at UNT. He is the chief operating officer and vice president of the U.S. Virtual Trade Mission Foundation.
"Adam's energy and enthusiasm for discovering the inextricable linkages among the APEC economies were key factors in his selection as U.S. student ambassador," Pelton said. "His major in finance and minor in Asian studies is a relevant and timely academic program. It will inevitably help him to better understand the volatile political economy."