A KSU student working on a server cluster in the Office of Information Technology.As a female majoring in Applied Information Technology, Krystyna Fisher is venturing into a highly specialized, competitive and male-dominated career that requires outstanding preparation and training. She is getting that preparation at 厙ぴ勛圖 through her classwork, but also through her participation in KSU���s Green-to-Gold program, which is allowing her to gain hands-on experience while financially supporting her college expenses.

KSU���s softball coaches became aware of Krystyna while she was playing for Contra Costa Community College in California, and KSU subsequently offered her a partial athletic scholarship. So while it���s her love of softball that brought her to KSU, it���s the love she has developed for KSU that keeps her here.

���I really like that KSU is so small, it���s not overwhelming,��� she said. ���And I love my softball team. They made the transition really easy. We always have great time when we���re together.���

Krystyna notes that Kentucky is quite different from California. ���A change of scenery is nice. I enjoy it here. It wasn���t hard at all to get adapted.��� The fact that her three older brothers all went away to school made it easier for her to follow their lead. ���My family is very supportive,��� she notes. ���I felt like I had to go away, and I���m glad I came here.���

Her Green-to-Gold work experience ��� in the Office of Information Technology ��� is giving her real-world experience in her major, as she works with the network manager to identify, troubleshoot and maintain the university���s information technology system.

���I���m really enjoying working with our network manager, and I am learning a lot,��� she added.

Krystyna plans to be at KSU one more academic year, to finish her degree in 2015. ���Then it���s back to California,��� she says. ���I���m looking to get into a job there, and there are a lot more work opportunities in technology back home.���

.