UTPB starts to attract more international students

By Ruth Campbell

Midland Reporter-Telegram

University of Texas of the Permian Basin's enrollment has spiked this year, and that increase includes an international flavor. Yixian Chen from Dong Ying, China, is one of 10 students from around the world attending the Odessa campus this fall. Because of her hometown's sister city relationship with Midland, UTPB President David Watts met Chen's father.

"He expressed an interest in his daughter coming to the United States to study," Watts said. Chen's father works in the foreign office at Dong Ying and travels worldwide for his job. "I said I'd be delighted to have her here and gave her a $500 scholarship. I think it's in the best interests of the relationship that UTPB and Midland has with Dong Ying to bring more students like Yixian to study either at Midland College, Odessa College or UTPB," Watts said.

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