Dean’s List: An Honors To-Do List

An Honors To-Do List

We know honors students love a good to-do list, so Dean Coon pulled together one full of boxes worth checking, the kind that move you closer to your goals and help you make the most of your time in honors. From study abroad to secret, solemn rites, this list is your guide to turning ambitions into great stories of your own.

• Study abroad: Experience a different culture, brush up on a second language and grow as a leader. Honors students often find themselves and strengthen their passions abroad. Nicholas Broadbent (B.S.M.E. and B.A. German, summa cum laude, ’20) discovered new direction while interning at the Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany and now researches on some of the top Formula 1 tracks around the world.
• Attend a House Concert: Enjoy a live performance in the Honors Student Lounge in Gearhart Hall, an inviting space that sets the stage for intimate musical experiences. Teni Rane (B.S.Ch.E., summa cum laude, ’16) recently returned to campus to share her journey from student-athlete and engineer to award-winning folk artist, reminding us how passions can take unexpected, beautiful turns.
• Take an Honors Arkansas course: Collaborate with peers across the state and explore topics rooted in the academic wealth of Arkansas. Honors Arkansas brings together educators to enrich the scholarly, professional and social experiences of high-achieving students. This past spring, students teamed up to research some of the most pressing health challenges facing communities across the state, looping in Dr. Corbin Stinnett, honors alumnus, physician and medical historian.
• Volunteer on campus: Enhance your college experience through leadership and service. Whether it’s curating a jazz-fusion show as a DJ at KXUA, stocking the Gearhart Hall mini pantry or teaching future scholars about dinosaurs, honors students bring a unique drive to improve the campus community.
• Apply for an Honors College Grant: Pursue research, travel or creative projects with support from one of the nation’s most well-funded honors colleges, just like Jaylan Brown, who received funding for his research on college athletes.
• Get to know your professors: Build connections with top faculty mentors to explore new ideas, engage in research and form lasting collaborations. You might find yourself combating disease in broiler chickens with Dr. Adnan Alrubaye at the hatchery or learning the art of Science Communications from award-winning speechwriter Andy Albertson.
• Pick up a new hobby: Step outside your major and explore creative or challenging pursuits, even the busiest students find time for inspiration. Daniella Fernandez, a triple major in psychology, sociology and criminology, carved out time in her schedule to learn 3D printing pottery through the Honors College Signature Seminar, “Technology Craft.”
• Stop by Honors Recess: Take a break with snacks, games, and spontaneous fun. You never know what surprises await during Recess. This spring, honors alumnus and whodunnit expert Greg Karber joined us to help honors scholars solve the mystery of the Recess Researcher. There were twists, intrigue… and chips with guilty-mole.
• Visit the Futures Hub: Reach lofty goals with bold intentionality. Stepping outside your comfort zone is where discovery begins, and you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re exploring research, eyeing grad school or refreshing your resume, take a cue from Yerko Berrocal and tap into the campus expertise and resources ready to support your next step.
• Audax at Sapiens: Shhh… it’s a secret. Graduate, and we’ll reveal all.