Honors Welcomes Class of 2024!

The Honors Program hosted a virtual event on Sunday 8/23 to officially welcome the Class of 2024 as they embark on their first semester in college. The event was also attended by the HNR 100 instructors and teaching assistants, as well as the Honors Core Faculty members. Among the event speakers were four honors students who shared about their honors experiences in research, civic engagement and leadership.

Anna Feldman, a senior in the College of Engineering and Computer Science majoring in environmental engineering shared about her experiences conducting research on the organic micropollutants in the waterways of Kampala, Uganda, and applying for nationally competitive awards. She is the recipient of the NOAA Hollings and the Udall awards.

Kylie Nikolaus, a senior in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, majoring in electrical engineering talked about the leadership opportunities she has held in the honors program. She is an Honors Ambassador, a resident advisor in Sadler and the current president of the Honors Student Advisory Board.

In her remarks, Nathena Murray, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Biology and Neuroscience, highlighted her research experience in Prof. Sandra Hewett’s lab, as well as her volunteer work with different organizations in the Syracuse area. She has volunteered at the Rahma Clinic, which supports under-insured and uninsured adults within the Syracuse community and served as the co-mentoring chair for the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program (JUMP Nation), an organization that offers SU students the ability to be mentors to local middle and high school students.

Simran Mirchandani, a senior in the college of Arts and Sciences majoring in Biochemistry, Economics, and Spanish Language, Literature & Culture talked about her experiences taking unique honors classes, as well as her research work in Prof. Ramesh Raina’s lab. Simran also holds various leadership roles in the honors program that include being an Honors Ambassador, peer mentor and HNR 100 teaching assistant.

Other event speakers included Dr. Kate Hanson, the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement and Jolynn Parker, the Director of the Center for Fellowship & Scholarship Advising.

In her closing remarks, the Director of the Honors Program, Dr. Danielle Smith, thanked the first year students for ” showing good citizenship” from their first day on campus and pledged to them the commitment and support of the Honors program as they navigate their way through a unique first semester in college.

Regardless of all the unknowns and limitations that we experience, whether classes are in person or online, as faculty and staff, we are committed to your welfare and your success, and we want to support you so that your college experience is rich and rewarding.

At the end of the main virtual event, the first year students joined their HNR 100 instructors and teaching assistants for a meet and greet session.

Welcome Class of 2024!