Georgia State Honors College

We are excited to share that recent Honors College graduate Lauren Adams has been named a 2024-25 Woodruff Fellow for the Woodruff, Whitehead and Evans Foundations. This fellowship offers work experience to recent college graduates interested in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Congratulations, Lauren!

Please join us in congratulating Naomi Lourdes Garcia-Hector—Honors Student and Presidential Scholar—who recently won the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award. This award is part of GSU's Royal Flame Awards, which recognize outstanding students, advisors, organizations and events at GSU.

This award recognizes Garcia-Hector's outstanding ability to promote social justice and inclusion—especially for immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees—through her advocacy work, her work with GSU's Intensive English Program and her work with GSU's exchange program with Uzbek teachers (recognized by State Department officials as a triumph in both education development and cross-cultural awareness).

A big congratulations goes out to Rorah Ndungu (pictured here with Chancellor Sonny Perdue)—Honors College student and Presidential Scholar, class of 2024—on her recent Academic Recognition Day award.

The University System of Georgia's Board of Regents created Academic Recognition Day, which honors students from each of the system’s 26 public colleges and universities Each student best represents the system’s highest scholastic ideals, as selected by their individual institutions.

Our Honors College Stamps Scholars Jada Tulloch, Tylin Dyer, Aislynn Gonzalez, and Kottavai Chandrasekaran recently joined other Stamps Scholars in Atlanta to volunteer at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Over the course of the volunteer event, Stamps scholars helped prepare 20,493 pounds of food to create 17,077 meals. Go team, go!

The Honors College hosted its annual Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference (GSURC) last week as a part of its first ever .

The event was open to all undergraduate students at GSU, and they presented oral presentations, research posters, films, and artistic displays. We are so proud of all of our presenters and award winners, and we are already planning for next year!

Honors College students and research teammates Ekta Jichkar and Chetan Anjana are preparing their research for tomorrow, when Ekta steps into the spotlight to present the research team's finding at Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference (GSURC)... Together, they are blending minds and passion to polish their presentation to perfection!

For those who are unfamiliar with GSURC, it is an annual interdisciplinary undergraduate research conference that highlights and recognizes the research taking place across Georgia State’s campus, sponsored by the Honors College. Each year we invite all Georgia State undergraduate students to submit their scholarly and creative projects as posters, oral presentations and artistic or creative presentations.

Last week we were thrilled to have GSU President Brian Blake join Dean Cook and Honors staff and faculty to meet our future Honors College Panthers! Thank you to everyone who accompanied us for a night full of excitement, and we hope to see you all next fall

Congratulations to eight students from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College who have been named semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Cooke Transfer Scholarship is designed to create a clear pathway to a four-year degree by offering up to $55,000 per year along with academic advising and access to a network of peers.

Let's wish our Honor College students good luck as the Cooke Foundation will announce its 2024 winners later this spring.🐾

Read more on our semifinalists here: https://t.gsu.edu/4cG2FbO.

We are so proud of our six 40 Under 40 Alums: Bernice Butler, Christopher E. Bruce, Brittanie Browning, Grace Hayden MacNaught, Nahomie Julien and Kyle Walcott.

And last Thursday, we were thrilled to host Bernice Butler, Christopher E. Bruce and Brittanie Browning for a dinner full of connection and laughter.

Stay tuned this week for their individual interviews to learn more about their unique stories with GSU and beyond.

Congratulations to our Fall 2023 graduates! 🎓We had a great time celebrating you and your accomplishments. We look forward to seeing what you do next!

Happy International Education Week!

Brandi Berkhan was eager to make the most of her study abroad experience. While participating in the GSU Global and Intercultural Understanding through Children’s Literature Program, she was able to travel and tour interesting places with her class and on her own.

She also embraced the opportunity to try different foods. “I never ate the same thing twice unless it was cinnamon rolls,” she said. She regularly visited a place called Cinnamood with “the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had!”

Since returning to the United States, she’s been looking for other opportunities to travel internationally. “I’m trying to go as many times as possible,” she said. Office of International Initiatives, Georgia State University

Happy International Education Week!

Lauren Adams worked as a legal intern for Paysafe, a multinational online payment company, through the Honors College's U.K. and Ireland Summer Experience.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a nervous wreck moving to a foreign country for two months. I would also be lying if I said I didn’t experience any homesickness during my summer away from home. But today, I would be lying if I said that my London Experience didn’t push me to grow more than I’ve ever had to before. And I’d again be lying if I said that London will never have a place in my heart." Office of International Initiatives, Georgia State University

Applications for next summer open November 15. Visit https://t.gsu.edu/3QGpbIG for more information.

Scholar Spotlight: Katherine Krapivnaya is a first-year Presidential Scholar currently studying Public Health. She hopes to eventually go to graduate school to pursue a career related to medicine.

In high school, Katherine volunteered at the Red Cross and Wellstar Hospital. She also participated in a summer internship with the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where she learned about and created a simulation of RADAR and LiDAR systems.
Outside of her academic interests, Katherine has been involved in the sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics since she was five years old. She is a certified judge and continues to coach lessons at her home gym. She also enjoys reading and tending to indoor plants such as African Violets and succulents.

The deadline to apply for the Stamps and Presidential Scholarships is November 15! Learn more at https://t.gsu.edu/48g6kLi!

Happy International Education Week! The first time Brandi Berkhan got on a plane, she was flying to Germany for a study abroad trip. Berkhan is studying elementary education and participated in GSU’s Global and Intercultural Understanding through Children’s Literature. She was excited not only to do a deep dive on children’s literature but also to travel to Germany, a place her dad has always wanted to visit.

“A lot of what I did in Germany just kind of solidified everything and made life outside of the U.S. real for me,” she said. In addition to studying children’s literature, the class visited many historical sites connected to the books they were studying. Her class was able to tour two castles, one of which was the inspiration for Cinderella’s castle.

“I did so much while I was in Germany, and it opened me up to so many opportunities,” she said. “Even in Germany, I had the opportunity to go to Prague for the weekend, and I got to see some things I never would have thought I’d ever be able to see.” Office of International Initiatives, Georgia State University College of Education & Human Development, Georgia State University

Scholar Spotlight: Harshini Mahesh is a first-year Honors student and Presidential Scholar majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Political Science. Through FRC robotics, she went to the World Championship and won the Rookie Inspiration Award. Currently, she is part of the executive board of the Programming Club and is involved in the Robotics Club, Girls ++ and Girls Who Code. She hopes to gain more knowledge in computer science and one day be able to help her community significantly and provide opportunities for people to pursue their passion in the STEM field. She also works at one of GSU's leading research labs, where she is part of the Lipophagy research team, which could significantly impact the human body. She is very excited to begin her journey at GSU and hopes to make many more connections along the way!

We're accepting applications for our next class of scholars at https://t.gsu.edu/48g6kLi! Apply by November 15.

Scholar Spotlight: Ria Kotwani is a first-year Honors student and Presidential Scholar embarking on a journey to excel in two distinct yet complimentary fields: Nursing and Finance. In high school, Ria was a dual enrollment student at GSU and contributed to the Mathematics Department as a Student Development Specialist, showcasing her passion for working with others.

She obtained certification as a nursing assistant at the age of 17. This early commitment to healthcare showcased her dedication to patient care. Beyond her academic pursuits, Ria actively engaged in the Student Government Association and held positions as both the Senator of Academic Affairs and the Speaker of the Senate, representing Georgia State University's Alpharetta campus.

We're accepting applications for our next class of scholars at https://t.gsu.edu/3LA2hyh! The deadline to apply is November 15.

Here’s what’s happening this week at the Honors College!

Thursday, November 2nd:

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: The final session of the Graduate School Workshop, where you will discuss interview tips and tricks!

4:00 pm: The third info session for the UK Summer Internship, where you’ll learn about the companies you can intern for, the timeline of the internship, the application process, and other specifics of the program!

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: A movie night at the Honors College hosted by HSO! Spend some good time with peers around a good movie!

Thank you to everyone who came out last night to hear Karen Sugar speak and honor Dr. Lauren B. Adamson. We were grateful for Karen's willingness to meet with students and share the work she's doing with Women's Global Empowerment Fund.

We're excited to introduce this year's Presidential Scholars! Learn more about them at https://t.gsu.edu/45LaKqL

We're accepting applications for our next class of scholars. The application deadline is Nov. 15. Find out how to get started at https://t.gsu.edu/48g6kLi.

Scholar Spotlight: Touba Kamal is a first-year Honors student and Presidential Scholar studying neuroscience with a pre-med concentration. She is also the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship. Touba’s research interests include finding ways to promote mental health advocacy, especially among South Asian communities and working to destigmatize mental illnesses within these communities. She works with GSU’s Anxiety Research Lab to pursue these interests. In her free time, Touba likes to read, paint and explore nature.

Apply to join our next class of scholars at https://t.gsu.edu/48g6kLi!

What's happening this week at the Honors College? Founders Lecture!

This year's speaker is Karen Sugar, founder and director of Women's Global Empowerment Fund, an organization working to provide tools and programs that create economic, social, and political empowerment to women and families.

The event will be held on Thursday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Centennial Hall Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Scholar Spotlight: Lyra Domingue is a first-year Presidential Scholar studying Film and Media. In her studies, she plans to focus on screenwriting, editing, and directing. Lyra hopes to one day utilize the medium of film to promote stories often marginalized in film and media, including those of women and BIPOC communities.

In high school, she participated in the musical theatre program all four years, including the two-time One Act state championship. She was also a part of the yearbook staff, art club, and Watson Brown Junior Board, an organization offering grants to historical building sites. Lyra participated in the JROTC program throughout high school and played several key leadership roles. Additionally, she served as a class representative for two years in Student Government. Lyra is very active in her community and has donated over 100 hours of community service to various organizations, including the Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia, serving victims of sexual assault through fundraising programs for the past decade.

Apply to join our next class of scholars at https://t.gsu.edu/48g6kLi!

Scholar Spotlight: Dalette Molina-Ordonez is a first-year Presidential Scholar. She is majoring in nursing with a minor in psychology. In high school, she completed a Healthcare Science pathway, was a member of Peer Leading, volunteered with elementary school children, and was the editor of her high school yearbook.

She is a strong advocate for the importance of mental health and is doing a University Assistantship with Dr. Dominic Parrott at the Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence and Behavioral Science Lab. After graduation, she aims to become a travel nurse and experience new places in the United States and abroad. She hopes to offer her services and be able to work in and give back to underdeveloped and under-resourced communities and countries.

Apply now to join our next class of scholars at https://t.gsu.edu/48g6kLi!