On Thursday, December 1st, the University Honors Program recognized over 40 fall 2022 honors graduates. Honors Day recognizes our Honors students’ hard work and dedication to their studies and to excellence. Graduating with Honors is no small feat, congratulations to our graduates!
Before the ceremony began, students presented their capstone projects. The senior capstone project is the final experience for students graduating with Full University Honors.
Sara Plettau, a graduating senior, completed her capstone in nursing and worked under Dr. Cristan Sabio. Plettau says her favorite part about completing her capstone was seeing how hopeful it is for the future. “Seeing all this research about people trying their best to improve working conditions made me really hopeful for myself and the future generations.”
When asked, what does being recognized for Honors Day mean to her, Plettau replied, “It means a lot… To be recognized individually, it means a lot that all my hard work has been worth it, other than just a grade on a transcript or a thank you in an email.”
Azeezat Balogun, a graduating senior, also completed her capstone in nursing and worked under Dr. Jie Chen. Balogun commented, “it means that you can do it. I have had a lot of times where I just wanted to drop out of [an] honors class and try to finish up what’s going on with my nursing school, but I just kept pushing myself. Seeing myself here today, [presenting my] project, and being done and graduating with honors is a very big achievement for me. It means a lot.”
Eric John Kirchman, a graduating senior, completed his capstone in computer science and worked under Dr. Colin Kuehl. Kirchman replied, “It’s a great opportunity. Not only for me, but for the awesome mentors and professors who helped all of us here to travel on this journey, to discover something that we couldn’t otherwise.”
Toward the end of the ceremony, Plettau gave senior remarks, commending her fellow graduates. Our Honors students go above and beyond our expectations, pushing boundaries and making discoveries. Their persistence and hard work are what make them huskies, but their commitment to excellence is what makes them Honors students.
