DePaul’s honors program is offering new opportunities for students to earn Honors Distinction by gaining leadership skills and taking a more active role in the program. The program offers positions on two new committees and allows students to plan and lead events that contribute to the honors community.

The changes were announced to the honors community in February. Students can apply to be on the Film Showcase Committee which leads the annual honors film presentation, a multi-day showing of work made by honors students. They can also apply to the honors Ball Planning Committee to organize the annual ball in spring quarter. 

The honors program is an education track for students of all majors. Jennifer Conary, director of the honors program, said the program offers opportunities that students would not have otherwise, such as more intensive classes capped at 20 students or the chance to dorm with other honors students freshman year. Students are typically invited to apply to the program after they are admitted to the university.

“We’re providing high-achieving students who want to get more involved a place to thrive,” Conary said. “We try to provide these leadership opportunities because that is another way for students to build skills they are going to need in the workplace and will build out their resumes.”

Students in the program can work towards earning an Honors Distinction, a commemorative title and award given to students who make significant contributions to the program by going beyond classwork. To earn an honors distinction, which comes with special recognition at graduation, students must complete set milestones of leadership, partnership and scholarship. 

Leadership can be attained by working as an honors practicum mentor or office student worker. With new options in the program, students can also join a planning committee or create their own leadership opportunity by organizing a development event that contributes to the community. They must create a proposal for approval before planning the event. 

“We recognize that many of our students commute or have part-time or full-time jobs, which makes more traditional leadership positions difficult or impossible,” Conary said. “We’re hoping that more students will be able to get involved through this option.”

Partnership is gained by attending community events like resume workshops, book clubs and theater outings. Scholarship is gained by presenting research at the honors conference at least once as an undergraduate student. 

Theo Tran is a first year social studies education major in the honors program. He helps with the program’s social media and is an editor for the Honors Blog. He thinks the social aspect of the honors program is important.

“At the beginning of the year, being in honors helped me build a support system,” Tran said. “You get to know a lot of familiar faces and become friends with people.”

Morgan Mucha, a senior studying history of art and architecture, presented at the Honors Spring Symposium. Her work focuses on ancient Mediterranean art and economics. 

“I adore sharing my passion and love for what I do and educating others,” Mucha said, adding that the opportunities she has through the honors program have prepared her to enter her field of study.

The honors program hosts events like an annual research conference and a welcome ceremony for freshmen. There are also smaller events such as Donuts with the Director, where students can get free sweets every week and speak with Conary about the program. 

Abigail Kane, a fourth-year animation student, started a quarterly open mic night hosted by the honors program. Kane appreciates the opportunity to explore and create new events, which helps her gain leadership experience. 

“People bring guitars or other instruments and sing original songs, read their creative writing, favorite poems, or lead the room in karaoke,” Kane said. “It’s a wonderful night of talent and expression that allows for community building.”

Conary wants students to be involved and an active part of the honors community. They think the networking skills and community gained in the honors program help later on. 

“It prepares students for life after college,” Conary said. “We think that it makes for a better college experience.”

This quarter, the honors program is hosting a resume and cover letter workshop on Feb. 23 and a Fulbright scholarship information session on Feb. 25. Donuts with the Director is held weekly on Thursdays and will continue in the spring quarter. The annual honors ball will be held on April 25.

“We really give the students the environment they need to be their best selves,” Conary said.

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