By Doug Harris

Dayton football player Reagan Malas wanted to experience as much as he could while taking part in a two-week academic project in China with other business majors. 

The freshman from suburban Columbus toured the Great Wall of China, visited historic Tiananmen Square and was blown away by the many ancient sites and endless skyscrapers of Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou. He even played some pickup basketball with locals in Beijing.

But while Malas was open to trying nearly anything on the trip, he did have his limits when it came to sampling the local cuisine.

"The food is so much different than what we have. I actually ate a chicken's foot for a meal — a real chicken's foot," he said.

"But almost everyone on the trip ate a scorpion. I was one of only a couple who were like, 'I'm not eating a scorpion.' They have some really exotic food if you're willing to try new things. It's not the same as your Chinese take-out here."

Malas and 14 other students were chosen by the School of Business Administration to participate in a short-term study program over winter break designed to provide real-life work experience while exposing them to a new culture.

Suzhou, where the UD China Institute is located, is a bustling metropolis and home to a third of the world's Fortune 500 companies. The students were tasked with coming up with strategies to increase the market share of General Electric, which has a factory there.

They also served as judges and awarded prizes as Chinese students presented ideas for new businesses — sort of like the Asian version of TV's "Shark Tank." 

"I didn't exactly know what to expect, but it definitely had a positive influence on me," Malas said of the trip.

"You're seeing how people live on the other side of the world. When you're living there for 15 days, you're seeing the wealthy and not-so-wealthy. It was a really good experience that I wouldn't get any other way."

The students stayed in apartments at the UD China Institute in Suzhou and in hotels at Beijing and Shanghai.

They were accompanied by a translator, but English is commonly spoken in urban areas. And Malas was struck by how well the group was accepted.

"One morning, I was rushing and stopped at a breakfast hut," he said. "All I had was American money and my credit card. I ordered and then they said, 'Sorry, you don't have the money.' I was about to leave without breakfast, but this guy goes, 'Hold up, hold up.' And he paid for me. Everywhere we went, the people were so friendly to us."

And Malas extended that graciousness as well. You see, UD won the Pioneer Football League this year and made its first trip to the FCS playoffs. Malas brought PFL championship shirts on the trip and gave them to several people including an executive of Pratt and Whitney in Shanghai.

"That was pretty awesome," he said of reaching the postseason tournament. "We didn't get a win this year. But we're going to be working all offseason to hopefully go back to the playoffs and get one next year. It was also great to share and celebrate the championship in China."

Terence Lau is the associate dean of undergraduate programs in the School of Business Administration who facilitates courses at the UD China Institute. He was impressed with how Malas embraced all aspects of the project.

"It was great having Reagan along with the program," Lau said. "He demonstrated maturity and brought leadership wherever he went. … 

"Students said they formed lifelong friendships and experienced China's many cultural delights. They all want to go back soon. They were able to interact with an all-star roster of corporate executives from many industries."

Malas chose UD over Morehead State, Butler and a walk-on opportunity at Miami. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety from Dublin Coffman was one of just seven true freshmen to see playing time for the Flyers last season and the only one to start a game.

UD touts its programs in China as vehicles for personal growth, and Malas is grateful to be at a school where he can receive a well-rounded experience. 

"I came to Dayton to play football. But now that I'm here, there are so many great things they offer," he said.

"I'm very happy I'm here and love all these opportunities I have while also playing football."