Kent State University’s Honors College is proud to welcome 561 first-year students this fall – one of the most accomplished and diverse classes in the college’s history.
Among this class are 15 international students, 22.3% first-generation college students, and students from nearly every academic discipline at Kent State.
This year’s class represents a wide range of academic interests: 26.7% enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences, 14.3% in the College of the Arts, 11.1% in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services, 10% in the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, 10% in the College of Nursing, and also, 9.6% in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering.
As the Honors College celebrates its 60th anniversary, this incoming class marks an exciting milestone in our tradition of academic excellence, leadership, and community.
Dean of the Honors College, Alison J. Smith, Ph.D., shared her excitement for the milestone year, saying, “We are so happy to welcome our 561 Honors first-year students this fall, [on] our 60th anniversary of the college! We have 15 international students starting their university careers in the Honors College. Kent State welcomes back more than 2,131 continuing students [to the Honors College] as well.”
While these are impressive numbers, the real story is captured by the students themselves. Among them are the newest members of the Honors Leadership Academy, a selective group of first-year students who step into leadership roles from the moment they arrive on campus.
Spotlight: The Honors Leadership Academy (HLA)
The Honors Leadership Academy (HLA) is a year-long program designed for a small cohort of incoming first-year Honors College students – about 10 members each year. HLA fosters leadership development, community service, and peer connections, giving students a strong foundation for success at Kent State during their first year.
HONORS CLASS OF 2029 BY THE NUMBERS
Meet Josephine Giguere:
front of a body of water. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPHINE GIGUERE.
Major: General Business Major
Josephine Giguere is a general business major at Kent State University with a minor in military affairs and a member of the Honors Leadership Academy. She is part of the incoming first-year cohort and the graduating class of 2029. Josephine originates from the borough of Fox Chapel in Pittsburgh, PA. While she finds the great state of Ohio “a bit cold”, she is excited to continue her education at Kent State. Josephine hopes to earn a master’s degree and eventually join the Air Force after completing her education at Kent State. In her spare time, Josephine shows her ambition by pursuing her private pilot's license. When asked about her influences regarding her future career path, the business major states that while her mom was a big supporter, her cousin in the Navy was her main inspiration.
Josephine shared that her reason for joining us in the Honors College was her drive for excellence and desire to fulfill her potential. “I decided to join the Honors College because I had always grown up a very driven person. I've always wanted that challenge and to push myself and just to get my full potential out of everything,” Josephine stated. “And I really believe that being in this community with all these opportunities and amazing people... not only would help me reach my full potential but also create a community with others where I'm giving back, and I'm helping them as well.”
Josephine's message to future first-year students:
“Embarrassment is a mindset. Don’t let the fear of embarrassment stop you from doing something you love!”
HONORS CLASS OF 2029 BY THE NUMBERS
Meet Simone Herro:
alpaca. PHOTO COURTESY OF SIMONE HERRO
Major: Integrated Mathematics
Simone Herro, from Tallmadge, Ohio, is majoring in integrated mathematics (grades 7-12). She is minoring in Spanish and wishes to teach both math and Spanish in her future career. When asked about her future, Simone responded that she has known her ideal career since the young age of 5. Simone currently plans to continue her education at Kent State after graduation to earn her master's degree. While completing coursework, this integrated math major hopes to study abroad and has her eyes set on Bolivia as a destination.
When questioned as to what inspired her to travel this path, Simone responded that, “I've had teachers throughout my entire life, but really just watching them love what they do and impact people... you are so many roles when you are in that classroom.” The Tallmadge native further elaborated by stating, “And my teachers have been such great role models. I've looked up to them. And I would like to be half the person that they are because it's just been amazing. And they make me feel whole.”
Simone also has “... always been an honors kid.” She states, “I am someone who likes to push myself to my limit, because I know that I'm capable of so much more than I give myself credit for and my goal is to try to see how much can I impact people, how much can I impact myself and how much can I grow as a person...” The first-year student and Honors Leadership Academy member explained further, saying that, “I feel like being in the Honors College, I'd be surrounded by so many other people as well who also have that goal.” Simone also mentioned that her fellow students are “like my family”, a comparison often heard by students both at the university and within the Honors College.
Simone's message to future first-year students:
"Success in college is all about balance. Make sure you're making time to do the things you love while also prioritizing your schoolwork. Your well-being comes above everything else."
HONORS CLASS OF 2029 BY THE NUMBERS
Meet Marshall Hall:
his high school graduation. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY WALLACE,
LISBON DAVID ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
Major: Exploratory STEM
Marshall Hall is an exploratory STEM major, a first-year Honors Leadership Academy member, slated to graduate in 2029. Marshall joins Kent State from the small town of Lisbon, Ohio. When asked what led him to the STEM field, Marshall traces his initial interest in the topic back to a teacher he had in high school. The teacher, “would have us sit down and us these like life lessons and just talk about like things that we should take away from his class.” His educator’s teaching style and insight really connected with Marshall.
This honors student is no stranger to striving for excellence. When asked why he joined the Honors College, he stated, “I feel like I kind of just went for everything I could in high school. Like I was our class president for four years. I was the president of our NHS chapter. I was in Student Council. I was the drum captain in our marching band... I did a lot of leadership things, and I would go for a lot of opportunities, basically anything that just popped up.” For him, the Honors College and Honors Leadership Academy were the natural choices.
When asked about the benefits of being a member of the Honors College, Marshall noted that to him, the option of being assigned a peer mentor as an incoming first-year student was very important. Marshall states that thus far, Honors Leadership Academy “... has given me a great network of like a bunch of new friends, a great support system” and that “all of us clicked with each other.” As for the Honors College and Honors Leadership Academy community, Marshall believes that, “Everybody is a perfect match with each other, I think.” He also points out that the network and support system offer a very like-minded community.
Marshall's message to future first-year students:
"Go for everything. Take every opportunity given to you. Try new stuff, do new things, meet new people, get out of your shell."
Meet Austin Rykowski:
brick building in a Kent State shirt holding a stethoscope.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN RYKOWSKI
Major: Nursing
Austin Rykowski, from Gallipolis, Ohio, is pursuing nursing while hoping to minor in either psychology or LGBTQ studies. He plans to become a women's health nurse practitioner with midwife certification and plans to graduate in 2029. When asked about why he chose Kent State University, he smiles and notes that, “It's like three and a half hours away from my town, and I wanted to be very far from home, just still in Ohio, so I didn't have to pay out-of-state tuition.” Austin served as treasurer for the National Honors Society while in high school. He also took Advanced Prep classes, leading to a favored experience in mock trial. Austin gushed as he described his time acting as a witness and making it to state competition, even receiving ‘Outstanding Witness’ two out of three times during his senior year. When asked about his plans regarding post-graduation, Austin responded with, “I want to work in labor and delivery, and then I want to go on for my master's to be a women's health nurse practitioner; I also want my midwife certification so I can actually deliver babies.” His ultimate goal is to work at Cleveland Clinic. Austin shared that he was heavily influenced by his aunt, sharing that she was a med-surg nurse and has been a great support in his career aspirations.
When the conversation was steered towards benefits from the Honors College, Austin was quick to answer with, “I definitely chose Kent State Honors because it got me that extra scholarship. My family, I have seven siblings that all need college paid for in some way. So, the scholarship from the Honors College really helped.” Benefits such as early priority registration for scheduling classes ahead of the rest of the student population and private bathrooms in some of the Honors College Living-Learning Programs were also a plus for the first-year nursing major. “But overall, I just like to be busy, really, and that's why I joined the Honors College so I could have a little community smaller than just the entirety of Kent State.” Austin recalled that a prospective college even allowed him the opportunity to deliver a “baby” from a robot during a college visit, but Kent State University still rallied at the top of his ‘short list’. When asked about the advantages of the Honors College, he responded, “They definitely instill a sense of community in you, and they specifically plan events so you get out of your room and meet other people that are honors students and are looking for other like-minded individuals. Because you already have one thing in common. Yeah, we're all in the Honors College. I definitely think the Honors College is a great way for people to build closer friendships and closer community because other halls and other places don't have that.”
Austin's message to future first-year students:
“I want you to remember the passion you have for computer science. It is about the love you have for creating and innovating. Take this passion with you into your future career, and you will accomplish anything.”
HONORS CLASS OF 2029 BY THE NUMBERS
Top 3 Enrolled Colleges
A class to remember together, the Class of 2029 embodies the initiative, drive, and spirit of Kent State’s Honors College. Whether it’s pursuing careers in business, education, STEM, or nursing, these students dream big and represent what it means to be both scholars and leaders. As Kent State’s Honors College enters its 60th anniversary year, the future looks bright, as these students have the perfect community to grow, belong to, and succeed in.
The Honors College has been enriching the lives of thousands of students since 1933 and now hails 12 Portz Scholars, as of 2025. The college is part of a long tradition of promoting academically motivated students with a unique academic experience.
The Honors Leadership Academy was established in 2018 as an opportunity to introduce first-year honors students to leadership learning and civic engagement in the local community.
For more information, visit the Honors Leadership Academy or the Honors College websites.
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HERO HEADER PHOTO CAPTION: The Honors College Class of 2029 poses for a group photo.
Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312