For Lourdes Cardozo Gaibisso, “home” is more than just a place—it’s something people create. “I believe el lugar lo hace uno: ‘the place is made by the person,’” she said. “My mom taught me this when I was a child, and I carry that lesson with me. I try to foster a sense of belonging for students who are far from home by creating a welcoming environment where they feel valued and respected.”

Mississippi State graduate Ginny Walker Shurlds debuts her first children’s book “Mississippi State From A to Z,” with a special signing at Starkville’s Book Mart on Main Street Friday [Sept. 5] 2–5 p.m. She’ll continue signing copies Saturday morning when the store opens at 9:30 a.m.

When Treven Knight was growing up, he was always interested in the extremes. He wanted to know the world’s tallest building, biggest truck and anything that pushed the limits of what was possible. That interest eventually led him to learn more about extremes in weather like the largest tornadoes, and ultimately, how computer models can predict these weather events.