2011 Fall Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention Fall 2011 New Countries, New Cultures Honors Students Traverse the Globe Fall semester is underway, but some Honors students are participating in a less-than-traditional college experience. While we anxiously wait IRU WKH PRXQWDLQV WR ÀOO ZLWK VQRZ and the trees to drop their leaves, these students are studying in locations like England, Scotland, and Argentina. They are experiencing new cultures and different educational systems, and they hope their experiences will encourage other students to study abroad as well. Senior Tyler Sutton is currently studying through the Principia Consortium at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He said the experience has already been lifechanging, and that being ambitious and overcoming the fear of applying to the program was the biggest hurdle. “I chose to study here because I wanted to experience a rich culture that was both different from my own and yet accessible,” Tyler said. His favorite part of studying abroad has been meeting people from across the world. He mentioned that the number of international students at the University of Glasgow is greater than the entire student population of Westminster. The sheer number of students is one element of Tyler’s experience that has been very different from what he was accustomed to at Westminster. Junior Lauren Johnson travelled to Scotland through the same program last year. She chose the Glasgow program because it was the most affordable, but the experience was better than anticipated. She agreed with Tyler—one of the greatest parts of the Glasgow semester was immersing herself in a new culture and meeting a wide range of people. She also enjoyed exploring the Lauren Johnson hikes on the Isle of Arran off Scotland’s stereotypes of different cultures. She Coast. ruminated, “What are people really like attempting to get to know someone from all of these countries?” Lauren despite an overwhelming language emphasizes the importance of study barrier, I felt incredibly ill.” But abroad because “you get a much more four months later, her experience nuanced view of the world.” has led her to say, “Theatre is more Hailey Henderson, a current junior, than just my passion, but a means by is also studying abroad, though which people can communicate that her choice of Argentina does not transcends language or nationality.” combine an Honors experience with a Though Hailey’s experience in cultural one. Hailey, a theater major at Argentina differs from Tyler’s and Westminster, said she “chose Buenos Lauren’s in Scotland, she has taken Aires…in an effort to combine [her] away valuable experiences in learning two passions” of theatre and Spanish. a new language and navigating a new In Buenos Aires, Hailey encountered culture that she could not have had by a language barrier not present in other remaining at Westminster. programs. She remembered, “I could Tyler said committing to a program not understand a word past ‘Hola.’ PD\ EH WKH PRVW GLIÀFXOW SDUW RI Whether it was indigestion from the the process. “If I could give advice unfamiliar food or the frustration of to Honors students thinking about studying abroad, I would say: embrace the experience fully,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to try something new and most of all be ambitious;; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a different culture.” Lauren’s advice to Honors students thinking about studying abroad is simple: “Do it,” she said. “You get to know real people in that country, what they eat, what they talk about at the dinner table, what they think about America. You get a chance to share \RXU RZQ FXOWXUH DQG UHÁHFW RQ LW« It’s also great to work with people, and establish a respectful relationship with them.” –Lexie Banks Tyler Sutton, currently studying at the University of Glasgow, explores Scotland in his free time. On The Job Getting Involved Accessing Experience and Opportunity Honors programs are notorious for rigorous course loads, and Honors students are even more notorious for their interest and involvement in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. But somehow, nearly half of the students in Westminster’s Honors SURJUDP DOVR ÀQG WLPH WR VTXHH]H D OLWWOH QLQH WR ÀYH RQ FDPSXV ZRUN LQWR their daily schedules. In fact, Honors students make up eleven percent of the entire Westminster student workforce, though they only make up six percent of the student body. 7KHVH ÀJXUHV GR QRW VXUSULVH Wyatt Jackson is employed in Nunemaker as a work study. Honors Director Richard Badenhausen. “Westminster Honors students have always needed to work to support themselves in college,” he stated. “Last year’s entering Honors class had a greater demonstrated ÀQDQFLDO QHHG RQ DYHUDJH WKDQ WKH freshmen class as a whole.” An earlier survey revealed that 85% of Honors VWXGHQWV VSHQW D VLJQLÀFDQW SRUWLRQ of their time at paid work during the school year. Badenhausen remarked that he is proud Westminster’s Honors program has always served a VLJQLÀFDQW QXPEHU RI ÀUVW JHQHUDWLRQ students as well as many students from families with modest resources. “At Westminster,” he explained, “Honors has always meant access rather than special treatment.” As it turns out, access to experiences and opportunities is what the majority of Honors student employees ÀQG PRVW DSSHDOLQJ DERXW WKHLU jobs. Mai Ho, a junior majoring LQ DFFRXQWLQJ DQG ÀQDQFH KDV KDG many opportunities working in the Honors Students Lead at Westminster Gore School of Business. The good impressions she made as a teaching assistant, tutor, and Director of the Opportunity Quest Business Plan Competition led to an invitation to sit on a faculty search committee. Jared Christensen, a senior majoring LQ ÀQH DUW KDV DOVR KDG LQYDOXDEOH opportunities thanks to his job in the campus photo lab. “Since I’m planning RQ EHLQJ D ÀQH DUW SKRWRJUDSKHU DQ\ experience in the lab helps,” he stated. It is not only the access to handson technical experience that Jared appreciates, but also the expansion of his own creativity. “My job gives me a chance to see the sort of creative work that’s happening on campus,” he said. Whether their jobs provide invaluable experiences, academic inspiration, or access to unique opportunities, each Honors student has a distinctly different experience working on campus. But there is one thing all these students can agree upon: they love their campus jobs. – Sara McCaskey Student Honors Council Providing a Sense of Community For certain students, the Honors program provides more than just challenging courses. It presents a chance to unite their fellow students at fun events, enticing them away from stuffy classrooms and dusty textbooks. It is an opportunity to plan the events they want to see happen, have a good time, and create unique opportunities. For these students, members of the Student Honors Council (SHC), assembling a year-long calendar of cool outside activities for their fellow students is just another part of college life. Already this year the SHC has put its time in, arranging Profs Pick the Flick—where Professor Susan Cottler introduced the cult classic The Big Lebowski—as well as the annual Halloween party and the welcome back barbecue. There was a fantastic turn out at all the events. Freshmen, in particular, showed up to celebrate and unwind, and as one freshman, Sabina Schill, said, “The Halloween party was super fun! Unlimited hot page 2 cocoa plus a bonfire warmed up the getting to know each student.” chilly evening nicely.” According to SHC is busy working hard on SHC treasurer Daniel Burroughs, upcoming activities for this semester. “the freshmen are great this year, as When asked about the difficulty of are the rest of the Honors students. balancing Honors, major classes, and We’ve had really good turnouts for SHC, Sam responded, “so far it hasn’t the events and everyone seems to been too much of a problem.” Future be stoked on getting together and events to look forward to from the relaxing outside of class.” Thanks to SHC include Pizza with the Profs with the efforts of the SHC, students have professor Joel Addams, the annual the opportunity to come together Dead Paper Society, and maybe even repeatedly to chill in Nunemaker. the first ever Honors holiday party. – While we all appreciate the work Laura Wolf the SHC puts into the events, especially since it takes time out of already busy schedules, Samuel Wilkinson, SHC Vice President, notes that “planning events has been a lot of fun,” and even though it may require time and effort, Sam says he enjoys being an officer. He goes on to say, “the best part of being on the SHC has been interacting with the Honors community. This year’s freshman Honors students Sara McCaskey and Katrina England atten class has been very involved in the SHC halloween party as a hippie and the sleep that honors our activities and it has been great students miss while writing their prompts. The idea of college students usually FRQMXUHV XS LPDJHV RI ÀQDO H[DPV evenings spent writing papers, and classrooms full of opinions. But at Westminster, we have over 50 clubs where students can become involved with their peers and their community, leaving behind this traditional notion of a purely academic college experience. Our clubs range from cooking to service, with the opportunity to start your own club in order to pursue unique interests. In the words of Honors student Caitie Wagner, “How awesome is that?!” While we have Honors students involved in a wide variety of student clubs, quite a few students have also pursued leadership positions within their clubs. Jackie Wilson shared her perspective on the club she helps lead, 3LHUFHG ´, ZDQWHG WR ÀQG D FRPPXQLW\ on campus, and being in leadership allowed me to learn about planning events, something that has always been fun.” Echoing the sentiments of many student leaders she went on to say, “I love it! A quiet game can turn into an exciting, defensive match involving everyone.” Similar to Jackie, Kayla Whidden is also a student leader with the Center IRU &LYLF (QJDJHPHQW DQG *ULIÀQV for Grub. Kayla became involved with the clubs on campus through a study abroad experience in Argentina. “I didn’t realize that volunteerism was a special part of American culture until I left it. Sometimes people can really surprise you with their enthusiasm and energy. I have lots of fun memories from my club activities.” Caitie also recognizes how serving in a club has JUHDW EHQHÀWV ´,·P VR Caitie Wagner is a member of the Institute Council and LDSSA Club on grateful to be a part of campus. together, in order to make a difference the Institute Council this in their communities.” Yvonne said. year—helping others and providing an “I am really excited;; now we’ve moved awesome atmosphere helps me make a from an Honors project to a school difference in someone else’s life!” wide club, all the students can become Making a difference in the involved.” community is a goal shared by all Many students voice how passionate Westminster College clubs, as each they are about their clubs, whether club does a service project during the semester. Making service a top priority doing service, cooking environmentally sustainable food, or discussing shared was in the minds of Andre Biscaye, beliefs. Starting a club, joining in, Melody Redmond and Yvonne Clark or taking on a leadership role are when they started the Honors Service all exciting ways to ignite interests, Club this semester. passions and service goals with fellow “This all started from a Western students and the community. –Yvonne Regional Honors Conference idea. We Clark wanted students in Honors programs from many different states to all work Announcement Regarding Summer Research Grants The Honors Council is pleased to announce that the amount of the Honors Independent Research Grant has been increased to $3,750/award. Two of these grants will be offered in the summer of 2012. Applications (which will be made available in early December) will be due March 5. Honors applications that are not selected will be automatically included for consideration in the Gore Summer Research grant competition. page 3 Student News & Notes Mai Ho ran the Opportunity Quest Business Plan Competition for Westminster students. Yvonne Clark began the Psych Club at Westminster and currently serves as the President. Katrina England studied Korean Language and History at the International Summer Institute at Seoul National University this July. Melody Redmond was married to Jacob Van de Graaf on October 12. Caitlin Wagner participated as a member in the West Valley Symphony and One Voice Children’s Choir. Joshua Zollinger has started a webbased business for musicians called SingAsOne. Mai Ho, Lauren Johnson, Sara McCaskey, Elizabeth Nelson, and Jackie Wilson presented at the 2011 National Collegiate Honors Council conference in Phoenix, AZ. Melanie Long and Sara McCaskey were selected from a pool of 40 nominees as Presidential Ambassadors for Westminster College. Morgan Anderson studied sea turtles in Mexico during the summer of 2011 through the School for Field Studies. Tracy Hansford (’11) accepted a position as the Education Assistant for Utah Symphony|Utah Opera. Katrina England and Courtney Hammond have been accepted to the McNair Scholars program. Sharayah Cook (’08) accepted a position with McCann Erickson in downtown Salt Lake City as a Strategic Planner. Changing Times Honors Council Increases Freshmen Enrollment While walking around campus this semester, you might have noticed a greater number of Honors freshmen milling around. You’re not crazy. In response to an increased number of applications over the past few years, the Honors Council decided to raise the entering Honors class size on a pilot basis. The council hopes this move will enable more students to take advantage of the unique Honors experience at Westminster while simultaneously enriching the Honors program with greater diversity. However, some fear this decision will jeopardize the tight-knit community atmosphere that makes Honors so special, a dilemma the council aimed to mitigate, at least in part, by adding a third section of Humanities—currently taught by Jeff Nichols and Peter Goldman—and ultimately reducing the head count in each seminar by a few students. As many Honors students see Humanities as the unifying experience of their freshmen year, offering different sections of Humanities poses its own challenges. Alicia Foster, a current freshman from California, suggests that while the different experiences prove “a dividing factor among Honors students, it definitely does not cause a strong split.” Another Honors freshman, Jorie Page, sometimes finds it difficult to get to know all of her peers, but she also indicates that “Honors definitely retains the feeling of a small community of peers, because [she identifies herself] foremost as an Honors student.” In spite of the freshmen being dispersed among three sections of Humanities, the entire group of 47 students gathers together every Tuesday evening for Living Arts. Whatever the effect on the community, it seems one drawback has been averted, at least for this year. With a greater number of students admitted, one would expect a decrease in the overall academic profile of the entering class. However, with an average ACT score of 30.6, the freshmen class of 2011-12 entered with the highest test scores of any group in the history of the program. Richard Badenhausen comments that additional people means additional challenges and work for those running the program, but he’s thrilled with the increased traffic in Nunemaker, and he’s glad to see the abundant energy in the class. “These students,” he remarked, “are notable for their wide variety of backgrounds and their willingness to work hard. I’m having a great time getting to know them inside and outside the classroom.” The Honors Council will start evaluating the success of this move around mid-year, discussing the effects on classes and determining opinions of faculty and students alike as they make a final decision on whether the increased enrollment will continue. Regardless of future outcomes, Jeff Nichols admits that “so far, [he] thinks the experiment is a success.” –Kellie Carrigan These 47 students make up the Honors program’s freshman class of 2015. page 4 Welcome to Westminster Student News & Notes No one said it would be easy, but I remember being told that Honors would eventually become manageable. Our peer mentors were right. +XPDQLWLHV GHÀQLWHO\ NHHSV you busy. Adjusting to the college lifestyle took some time, since within WKH ÀUVW ZHHN RI +RQRUV courses freshmen are buried in reading and ideas for an “original” prompt. Turning in prompts can be a harrowing experience: Freshman students create pictures to introduce themselves at Orientation.. students check the box Living Arts provides all the indicating that this prompt Honors freshmen, even the ones in is “some of my very best work. I’m different Humanities sections, to proud of it,” only to receive it back connect through shared experiences with corrections written all over the during these weekly evening sessions. margins and the ideas and argument The students in the freshman class completely ripped apart. Sometimes, are so diverse, and socializing during WU\LQJ WR ÀQG WKH EDODQFH EHWZHHQ D Living Arts allows students from text’s ideas and your own opinions is YHU\ GLIÀFXOW EXW HYHQWXDOO\ ZH FDXJKW all over the country and the world to become friends in Westminster’s on, and Honors freshmen would unique atmosphere. By the middle agree that their individual writing of the semester, all the students have KDV EHQHÀWWHG IURP UHFHLYLQJ UHJXODU become so comfortable with each criticism. )UHVKPHQ KDYH WR ÀJXUH RXW KRZ WR other that tired students can safely be independent and still do homework, DQG HDVLO\ ÀQG D SODFH WR QDS MXVW about anywhere. Westminster and the and that takes practice. Professors Honors program really have become look to you as adults and expect you the perfect home for new freshmen. to act like it. Sometimes the mentality Being a freshman in the program of high school reemerges during is worth the late night reading and afternoon homework sessions, but the the early morning panic. Numerous independence of college really is just Honors freshmen have tackled as great as we thought it would be. schoolwork, jobs, athletics, clubs, Westminster opens up opportunities and recreation all at once: they know to experience every part of student that Honors keeps you on your toes, life and how to be a successful college but that’s half the fun! Living as a student. The Honors program exposes freshman in Westminster’s Honors freshmen to “Living Arts” sessions, environment allows you to take showing us what the odds of winning advantage of the many opportunities in Las Vegas really are (not good, made available to students. Clubs, by the way), what global warming is events, friendships, and new cultures and how it affects us, and teaching us are just some of the ways Westminster new ways to exercise through Zumba and the Honors program help classes. Sometimes, knowing that I freshmen adjust to the new climate of have a prompt due the next day makes college. me reluctant to attend Living Arts, In the end, it boils down to knowing since I could be using that time to that being a Westminster College enhance my prompt or read the next Honors student is one of the best Humanities text, but Living Arts is experiences a new student can have. an experience not to be missed. It Plus, who knew it was possible to is a uniquely Westminster Honors prove how much of a genius you are in experience and each week is never the a page and a half ? –Anabel Alvarado same. Annie Brings is currently studying in Preston, England. Heidi Saxton became a nationallyregistered EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician-Basic) during the summer. Victoria Valencia volunteers at Camp Reach for the Sky for the American Cancer Society every summer. She works as a camp counselor for kids with cancer and their siblings ages 8-18. Additionally, she volunteers with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Elizabeth Nelson, Heidi Saxton, and Laura Wolf travelled to India on a service trip for two weeks, then trekked by the world’s third tallest mountain. Nicole Bedera attended the Western Republican Leadership Conference Presidential Debate in Las Vegas. Marlayna Townsend got a job at the START Center as the new Honors and Science Peer Advisor. Kellie Carrigan has been accepted to the University of Ulster as an Irish American Scholar and will travel to Ireland for the upcoming spring semester. Cassidy Jones (‘11) became :HVWPLQVWHU·V ÀUVW )XOEULJKW (QJOLVK Teaching Assistantship grant recipient and is currently teaching English in Turkey. Jessie Aragon was married to Josh Smith on May 29. Whitney Orr currently serves as the Westminster-East liaison for the Math Terminator Program, an after-school math tutor program for high school students. The Freshman Experience page 5 National Collegiate Honors Council Conference 2011 Presentations in Phoenix project to be about.” The National Collegiate Honors Council Lauren Johnson and Mai Ho, both juniors Mai found a panel discussion on the (NCHC) hosts a national conference every in the program, presented on Honors Study development of Brazil to be particularly year, and Westminster sends students from Abroad and Transformation in a roundtable interesting. “I interned at Goldman Sachs the Honors program to present, discuss, and discussion. They responded to the ODVW VXPPHU DQG OHDUQHG WKDW WKH ÀUP ZDV participate with students from across the conference through their different interests investing strongly in São Paolo, Brazil. The country in three days of sharing research and in academics and travel. LGHDV 7KLV \HDU ÀYH :HVWPLQVWHU VWXGHQWV attended the NCHC conference in Phoenix, Arizona from October 19-23, 2011. The students presented on three separate topics: Study Abroad as a Transformative Experience, Creating a Winning Honors Newsletter, and How Honors Programs Should Use Facebook. Each conference attendee had something different that they enjoyed the most. Sara McCaskey, a sophomore presenting on Honors programs and Facebook said about the conference: “My favorite part was the panel I attended about sexual diversity on college campuses. I loved being part of NCHC conference attendees. From left to right: Mai Ho, Jackie Wilson, Lauren Johnson, Sara McCaskey, and Elizabeth Nelson. an intelligent and respectful discussion about panel discussion introduced me to some such a heated topic. It was great to see so Lauren said, “I loved seeing the research pretty insightful macro perspectives of many people from different religious, ethnic, of Honors students across the country at Brazil’s new position in South America, socioeconomic, and moral backgrounds NCHC. There were so many creative ways of compared to its neighbors such as Mexico put their differences aside in order to try to looking at different issues. It was a great way and Colombia,” she said. understand the views of others.” to start to formulate what I want my research page 6 Elizabeth Nelson, a junior, and Jackie Wilson, a senior, presented in a panel discussion of what makes a winning Honors newsletter. Both students also participated as judges for the 2011 NCHC Newsletter contest. Elizabeth’s favorite session discussed the importance of Peer Mentors in Honors programs. She said, “I loved sharing our own successes with students from other colleges as well as noting strategies that we could incorporate into our own program here at Westminster!” Jackie’s interests in the conference were two-fold: “I attended a session that encouraged me to continue researching for a paper I am writing and helped me to see that students from other regions are interested in the same topics as I am. I also enjoyed getting to know the students from Westminster on a deeper level and connecting with students from programs outside of Salt Lake City.” –Elizabeth Nelson and Jackie Wilson **Abstracts from these NCHC presentations can be found on page 11. page 7 Jillian Edmonds 6WXGHQW 3URÀOH Senior Honors student Jillian Edmonds has a busy life at Westminster. As a community volunteer, ASWC Senator, and double major in political science and philosophy, Jillian has never been one to slow down in the pursuit of her passions. She is an especially outspoken activist when it comes to preventing violence against women. Jillian developed a long-term commitment to this issue after witnessing the devastating effects of domestic abuse in the lives of her friends and family. “I’ve been a feminist before I knew that was what the philosophy was called,” she said. She volunteers with the Rape Recovery Center and the Girl Scouts of Utah, and this will be her fourth year with V-Day at Westminster. She is excited to be serving as a co-coordinator of the event this year. “I think it’s a powerful movement in getting women to open up about their experiences and relate to one another,” Jillian said. Jillian’s most recent involvement with student life has been her foray into student government. She is serving as an Arts & Humanities Senator this year, a role that gives her a voice in decisions that affect Westminster students. Jillian describes herself as someone who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, even in the often heated atmosphere of ASWC. She admitted that her willingness to challenge proposals doesn’t make her popular, but does allow her to better serve the student body. “It’s easier being a yes-man,” she said. Jillian ran a spirited campaign for Director of Clubs and Organizations this September, motivated by the value she sees in having active clubs on campus. Describing her participation in student government, Jillian said, “I think I can always do more [to help students], and that’s why I joined.” Jillian spoke highly of the Honors program, and she emphasized her appreciation for the relationship between students DQG SURIHVVRUV 6KH GHVFULEHG JUHDW H[SHULHQFHV ZLWK SURIHVVRUV ZKR ZHUH ZLOOLQJ WR WDNH WLPH WR PHHW GXULQJ RIÀFH KRXUV and provide “hands-on” learning opportunities in the classroom: exploring her artistic side in “The Arts in Performance,” DQG WKURZLQJ SDSHU ERPEV DW KHU FODVVPDWHV LQ ´3ROLWLFDO (FRQRP\ RI &RQÁLFW µ -LOOLDQ YDOXHV WKH FORVH NQLW +RQRUV community at Westminster. She said, “It’s nice that there are a lot of people [in Honors] who have varied interests but are still willing to hang out with each other.” Jillian is a student who follows her passions and gets involved in the student community to make campus a better place. –Melanie Long )DFXOW\ 3URÀOH Joel Addams Any students who attended Pizza with the Profs or took Science, Power and Diversity this fall have already met the newest Honors professor, Joel Addams. Joel comes to us with degrees in Business Finance, Middle Eastern Studies, and an M.D. If it seems like these are very different degrees, that is because, in his words, “I was WRR LQWHUHVWHG LQ WRR PDQ\ ÀHOGV µ %XW WKHVH GLIIHULQJ ÀHOGV DUH ZKDW JLYH KLP DQ advantage in teaching an Honors class about diversity. He says that teaching with another professor can help students understand what it takes to practice a discipline more fully than students without the team-teaching experience. Joel also has a background in photography. He takes photography very seriously and said during his time in London, “photography became a way of life” that stayed with him after returning to the United States. When asked what Honors students should know about him, he responded, “I would be surprised if Honors Students wanted to know anything about me except how I grade papers! I probably grade them more heavily on grammar and style than is expected.” Joel has had the opportunity to travel to many places around the world, and suggests that all students should get international experience doing something, whether studying, serving, or getting lost. “Overall, I think it’s very important for people to diversify their education. This notion of ‘utility’ expected by some students in higher education as ‘training’ for a job simply misses the point of higher education.” His advice to students is this: “You truly need to measure success on your own terms. Please do not fall into the GLVWXUELQJ QRWLRQ WKDW VXFFHVV LV ZKDW VRFLHW\ WHOOV \RX LW LV RU ZKDW \RXU FKRVHQ ÀHOG WHOOV \RX LW LV ,I LW LV PRQH\ WKDW·V ÀQH 0DNH D ORW RI LW GR LW KRQHVWO\ DQG HQMR\ \RXUVHOI 7KHVH SHRSOH GR D ORW IRU WKH ZRUOG LQ D YDULHW\ RI ZD\V ,I LW LV inventing, do it with style and make the best software and systems you can. This will make you successful. If you are an DUWLVW WKURZ \RXU ZKROH VRXO LQWR LW DQG PDNH DUW WKDW VDWLVÀHV \RX 6HW \RXU RZQ VWDQGDUGV LQ \RXU ÀHOG RU ÀHOGV DQG push for them. People who change the world often don’t do it between 9 and 5 with a half hour for lunch. They do it all the time, even when they’re forced to be away from their goals. Do what you want to do, do it well, and your success will come.” –Jackie Wilson page 8 How does the Honors program at Westminster provide a holistic experience, shaping individuals both inside and outside the classroom? Student Response Faculty Response Han Kim Assistant Professor of Public Health Honors students have the unique opportunity to participate in coursework that is multidisciplinary, holistic and unbound by the physical limitations of the classroom. Coursework on the Westminster campus, particularly honors courses, prepare you with a very diverse, holistic viewpoint of the world. Courses such as Science, Power and Diversity explore not only the world of research and science, but also the VRFLDO SKLORVRSKLFDO DQG FXOWXUDO UDPLÀFDWLRQV RI VFLHQFH in today’s world. To have two instructors from such varying disciplines team-teaching gives an incredibly broad perspective on such topics as health, ethics, and science. No discipline exists in a vacuum, and Honors coursework GHÀQLWHO\ HPSKDVL]HV WKLV %XW EH\RQG WUDGLWLRQDO coursework, Honors students have the amazing opportunity to observe some of the concepts and issues discussed in coursework and apply it to the real world. May Term trips, service learning projects, and study abroad give the opportunity to not only just see, but experience what was discussed in the classroom. All of a sudden, the readings that were read, the topics that were discussed, and the papers and prompts that were written come to life. Education is not limited to the classroom, and these opportunities outside of the physical campus have such great potential to truly integrate what is learned in the classroom. Discussing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Thailand in class can be very immersive, and these classes may change your viewpoint of the disease. But to actually talk to the public health leaders who fought the disease in person, to walk through the streets of Bangkok and see the red light district and the commercialization of sex, and to visit an AIDS hospice and speak to terminal AIDS patients.....these experiences can change your life. David Luhr Class of 2012 7KH PDLQ EHQHÀW and strength of the Honors program is providing a structure for self-directed learning. The diversity RI WRSLFV DQG ÀHOGV covered by the core seminars encourages us to adapt to critical study and discussion from many perspectives. On top of fostering adaptive students, the curriculum relies on students to draw new connections between seemingly disparate areas. When a course acts as the synthesis of varied schools of thought, we have the opportunity to expand our experience, perspective, and comfort with an unbounded body of knowledge. 6WXGHQWV PRVW EHQHÀW IURP WKH SURJUDP E\ HVVHQWLDOO\ learning how to learn. True education is not the process of passing information from professor to student, and then evaluating learning by requiring the student to repeat the information. Effective education relies on the students to drive deep discussions and explore the curriculum by comparing the many different interpretations and applications offered by each individual. Every student has a unique experience to add to the discussion, and every student receives a cohesive XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH FRQWHQW WKURXJK DQDO\WLFDO UHÁHFWLRQ We are in the primary role of our education. 3URJUHVV DQG VXFFHVV LQ DQ\ ÀHOG UHO\ RQ LQQRYDWLRQ The ability to recognize underlying relationships between different pursuits allows for creativity and ingenuity that drive this innovation. An Honors student can make these connections because the program does not assume that any SDUWLFXODU ÀHOG LV DQ LVODQG LQ DQ RFHDQ RI LQGXVWU\ 5DWKHU WKH SURJUDP GHPRQVWUDWHV WKDW HDFK ÀHOG FDQQRW H[LVW LQ VROLWXGH DQG HDFK ÀHOG LV SURJUHVVHG E\ REVHUYLQJ WKH ZRUOG as a communicative whole. Beyond the structured learning environment, Honors students are ready to pursue further learning in their daily lives. Honors students are passionate individuals. Whether enjoying a hobby, hanging out with our friends, or working in our careers, we are constantly looking for new knowledge DQG H[SHULHQFH :H DUH QRW VDWLVÀHG E\ VXUIDFH LQWHUDFWLRQV and we do not settle for mediocre jobs to just get by. We want to see our surroundings advance with our efforts. Honors allows us to engage directly with our education and push the curriculum with our interests and experience. Learning is not bounded to the classroom because we are learners regardless of our location. We live our education. page 9 Honors Independent Summer Research Grants NCHC 2011 Convention Abstracts Through summer 2011, the Honors program has awarded three $2,500 Independent Research Grants. These awards are designed to support Honors students who are conducting high level research during the summer in lieu of a full-time summer job. These projects should lead to conference papers or publishable work. The application process takes place during the spring of each year and is administered by the Honors Council. Abstracts from the 2011 awards follows. NCHC sponsors an annual convention attended by about 2,000 undergraduates, professors, and administrators from Honors programs around the country. Representatives from Westminster College attend the convention each year to participate in workshops, attend sessions, and enjoy the many entertaining diversions of the host city. If you are interested in participating in the 2012 conference in Boston, look for information on the Honors website and discuss your ideas with Professor Badenhausen. “Characterization of Novel Haloarachaea Genera: Halophiles as a Source of Bioremediation” Allie Roach Senior Biology 7KH SXUSRVH RI WKLV VWXG\ ZDV WR SHUIRUP WKH ÀUVW URXQG RI FKDUDFWHUL]DWLRQ RI D QHZO\ GLVFRYHUHG haloarchaeon genus, including the following assessments of growth requirements for this organism: the optimal NaCl concentration required to prevent cell lysis and facilitate maximal growth, optimal temperature requirements for maximal growth, optimal pH requirements for maximal growth, optimal MgCl2 FRQFHQWUDWLRQ IRU PD[LPDO JURZWK %\ VHOHFWLQJ VSHFLÀF KDORSKLOHV ZLWK WKH DSSURSULDWH ELRPROHFXOHV FDSDEOH RI EUHDNLQJ GRZQ SROOXWDQWV SUHVHQW LQ LQGXVWULDO EULQH HIÁXHQW toxic waste may be remedied prior to its release into the environment and thus may prevent top VRLO HURVLRQ DQG RU LQWHUPLQJOLQJ ZLWK JURXQG ZDWHU 7KH ÀUVW H[SHULPHQW RI WKLV VWXG\ KRZHYHU demonstrated extensive microbial contamination of our samples. Several attempts were made to isolate the desired microbial strain, but the attempts were unsuccessful. As Westminster students discover new genera annually in Dr. Baxter’s genetics course, it is vital that we discover a way to maintain the purity of these samples so that they may eventually be characterized and the results published. “Pigou versus Minsky: Reconciling the Real Balance Effect with the Debt 7HVV *UDKDP 6HQLRU (FRQRPLFV 'HÁDWLRQ 6SLUDOµ This project used historical data to explain the contrasting conclusions of British economist Arthur C. Pigou and American economist Hyman Minsky. Pigou theorized that consumers will increase spending in light of falling prices, while Minsky maintained the opposite: that economic agents will decrease spending as prices fall. I explored the source of this disagreement, and concluded that it sprang from the differences between consumers in Pigou’s and Minsky’s respective eras. Pigou developed his theory in Britain during and immediately after World War II. I found that the consumers to which Pigou referred held their wealth as cash and maintained very low debt. In this context, falling prices increase the value of consumers’ (cash) wealth, leading them to spend liberally. I also found that Minsky, writing in the United States in the nineteen seventies and eighties, observed wealth in other forms—such as real estate—and high levels of debt. Consumers ZKR RZQ VXFK WDQJLEOH DVVHWV DQG DOVR PDLQWDLQ GHEWV IHHO GHÁDWLRQ DV D ORVV RI ZHDOWK DV DVVHW prices fall and debts must be repaid in increasingly valuable dollars. Finally, I compared Pigou’s FRQWH[W ZLWK P\ ÀQGLQJV RQ 0LQVN\·V KLVWRULFDO FLUFXPVWDQFHV &RPSDULQJ WKH KLVWRULFDO FRQWH[W of each man demonstrates how the two theories can be reconciled. They actually apply to different situations: Pigou’s refers to an economy of cash wealth, while Minsky’s relates to an economy dominated by tangible assets and high debt. In the course of the research I also examined Minsky’s ZULWLQJV DQG GLVFRYHUHG WR P\ VXUSULVH WKDW WKH LQFOXVLYH WKHRU\ RI ERWK ÀUPV· DQG FRQVXPHUV· behavior I thought was obvious therein has been neglected in the popular understanding of Minsky. ,QWHUSUHWHUV RI 0LQVN\ IRFXV RQO\ RQ KLV WKHRU\ RI ÀUPV DQG ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV , WKHUHIRUH included in my paper an outline of the theory of consumer behavior I think Minsky clearly implies. page 10 “Honors, Study Abroad, and Transformation” /DXUHQ -RKQVRQ 0DL +R Study abroad experiences are often discussed in terms of their “transformative” nature. But what actually changes when a student studies abroad? Her perspective on her native country? Her view of other countries? Her understanding of herself ? This roundtable will explore the question of study abroad and transformation guided by two Honors students, an American who spent a semester studying at the University of Glasgow and a Vietnamese Honors student currently enrolled at an American college. The group will seek to understand just what happens when students travel elsewhere for an academic experience and why that experience is so powerful. They will also ask whether Honors is especially good at preparing students to study abroad and explore how Honors learning models might alter that experience. Might the Honors emphasis on inquiry and selfUHÁHFWLRQ KHOS VWXGHQWV EHWWHU QHJRWLDWH VXUSULVHV WKH\ DUH OLNHO\ WR HQFRXQWHU OLNH IRU H[DPSOH QHJDWLYH critiques of America and its cultural ascendancy? 7KLV GLVFXVVLRQ LV DSSURSULDWH IRU ERWK VWXGHQWV ZKR KDYH VWXGLHG DEURDG DQG ZDQW WR UHÁHFW RQ WKDW experience as well as students who are considering study abroad and are curious about the phenomenon. Faculty members involved in study abroad might also gain insight into the student experience. “How Should Honors Programs Use Facebook?” 5LFKDUG %DGHQKDXVHQ 6DUD 0F&DVNH\ Just what is Facebook for, anyway? And how might Honors programs and colleges best use this tool to connect with their students, faculty, alumni, and prospects? The moderators will lead a discussion that invites audience members to share their experiences and consider a wide range of questions, both broad and narrow. For example, what audiences should Facebook target? What is the ideal relationship between a Facebook page and program website? Which types of content belong in each? What kinds of photos should appear on Facebook? What is the best way to use tagging functions? Who is the best person to oversee content on the page? What are the privacy concerns associated with Facebook? How can we best use Facebook to recruit students for events? How do programs of different sizes use Facebook to accommodate their particular needs? Rather than a “How to” session, this discussion will strategize about optimal ways to implement this powerful tool. Three Honors students—from small, medium, and large institutions—will give audience members a reality check by offering their views of how students do (and do not) use social networking tools. “What Makes a Winning Honors Newsletter?” (OL]DEHWK 1HOVRQ -DFNLH :LOVRQ This panel will use the 2011 NCHC Newsletter Contest as a means to discuss the details of newsletter production. Who won this year’s contest and why they won it will be discussed by the judges, with commentary provided by representatives from those schools. All interested audience members will be able to participate in the general conversation, both by offering their own stories of experiences and by asking questions regarding the development of newsletters for Honors overall. This panel offers very practical DGYLFH IRU WKRVH KRSLQJ WR LPSURYH RU ÀQH WXQH WKHLU QHZVOHWWHUV DV ZHOO DV WKRVH VLPSO\ KRSLQJ WR VWDUW RQH The contest judges will give insight into the process and winners will also be invited to participate. page 11 Dear Honorables, As we step into another new year, we welcome back our old faces as well as the largest freshman class we’ve ever had in our little community. We’re incredibly excited for the opportunities this year presents, and we’ve been thrilled by the involvement and enthusiasm of students both old and new. The members of the program are what make Honors at Westminster come alive, and we love to see you involved with Honors and with each other out of the classroom as well as in it. We encourage you to continue this involvement in whatever way interests you, and we look forward to seeing you all in classes, at events, and just around campus. We can’t wait to spend the rest of the year with you! With Honor, The 2011-2012 SHC. From left to right: Marya Smith, Danny Burroughs, Victoria Valencia, and Sam Wilkinson. Your 2011-2012 SHC Dear Friends, The Westminster Honors program is about so much more than a degree or FHUWLÀFDWH 2XU VWXGHQWV UHDFK RXW DFURVV GLVFLSOLQHV WR PDNH DQ HGXFDWLRQ WKDW is uniquely their own. The work inside the classroom is one part of an Honors education, and students approach education as a stepping stone to greater involvement and personal development. From conducting summer research funded by grants from Honors and outside programs, to expanding interests on campus through club leadership, our students recognize that being part of the Westminster community is about Editors of Honorable Mention. From left to right: Jackie more than just going to classes and doing homework. This year, we welcomed Wilson, Kellie Carrigan, Elizabeth Nelson, and Jessie Smith. the largest freshman Honors class to date, and here at Honorable Mention, we are excited to see how these new students will impact the community and respond to the challenge of an Honors education. Honors students reach out to the world through study abroad and to other colleges through attending conferences like NCHC. As we continue to watch our program grow, there will be new challenges to address, and with backgrounds spanning many disciplines, our students will be ready to face those challenges as a member of the worldwide community. We would like to say a great, big “Thank You” to each person who helped put together this semester’s issue of Honorable Mention. Without our writers and photographers there could be no newsletter—we appreciate all you do! Honorably Yours, Jackie Wilson Elizabeth Nelson Kellie Carrigan Jessie Smith Co-editors of Honorable Mention [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] Honors Program Westminster College 1840 S. 1300 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84105 www.westminstercollege.edu/honors We will be nationally recognized as an exemplary community of learners, distinguished by our distinctive educational programs, our record of preparing graduates for success in a rapidly changing world, and our commitment to continuous improvement, effectiveness, and value.