Kent State University’s Honors Program provides students on all campuses opportunities to participate in learning experiences that are challenging and that provide enriching experiences in the students’ areas of interest. On the Salem Campus this year, 12 new students were admitted into the program and they wasted no time creating a “to-do” list of community and campus service projects, as well as academic pursuits.
The students formed the Honors Club to help organize planning and the implementation of their many projects. Officers include Brianna Parfaite as president; Heather Sutherin as vice president; Conni Cross as secretary; and Lindsey Rice as treasurer.
This semester, the students are hosting a Halloween party for children at the Fleming House; volunteering at the Banquet of Lisbon; providing tutoring for English as a second language at St. Paul’s; volunteering at the Salem Historical Society; working for the Undergraduate Research Conference; and organizing a Christmas concert at a local nursing home.
The honors students recently completed training with the Ohio Humanities for Justice Talking, a service-oriented outreach program that brings people together to read and discuss texts that prompt thoughtful conversations about service, justice and civic engagement.
“Students will go out into the community with the Columbiana County Youth Leadership Summit to put the leadership and facilitator skills from the training to use,” explained Dr. Andrew Pfrenger, English faculty and advisor of the Honors Program at Salem. “The hope is to encourage reflection that might result in a deeper understanding of the values inherent in public service activities.”
First and second semester students with minimum 3.3 GPAs and ACT scores of 25 are encouraged to contact Pfrenger to become active with the program (apfrenge@kent.edu).
“This is an active group and they’re excited to raise awareness of the program,” he said.
For more information about the Honors Program on the Columbiana County campuses, visit http://www.kent.edu/columbiana/honors-program.
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Photo:
Honors Program students include (from left) Advisor Dr. Andrew Pfrenger, Julie Pavlich, Molly Davidson, Julia Pitcock, Tyler Stratton, Kayla Bigelow, Heath Lude, Mackenzie Godwin, Heather Lude, Joshua Tungate, Katie Cannon, Leanne Strawn, Lindsey Rice, Stephanie Giles, Conni Cross, Brianna Parfaite, Amber Biser and Heather Sutherin.
