APPLIED EXCELLENCE: HONORS STUDENTS TURN PASSIONS INTO REAL-WORLD IMPACT
The Ron and Laura Strain Honors College is preparing the next generation of engaged citizens and successful professionals through thought- provoking courses, independent study, and leadership and service opportunities. A highlight of the program is the Honors project capstone, completed during the senior year. Students pursue topics they are passionate about—regardless of their declared major—and conduct research with the goal of making a real impact in their communities, both on campus and beyond. “Our Honors students really set themselves apart from their peers with the quality and depth of the work they do in their honors projects,” said Dr. Jim Williams, dean of the Strain Honors College. “For most students, this is a two-year process where they are working one-on-one with a faculty mentor on something that drives their intellect and passion. In the course of those two years, they transition from being passive, knowledge-consumers to being active, knowledge-creators. I am always humbly impressed with how our students discover themselves and hone their skills in the process.” Here are just a few examples of how Honors students are turning their passions into meaningful research:
Elizabeth Estes ’26 (Nursing)
29
MAGAZINE // WINTER 2025
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker