Spring Celebrations!
We are just a few weeks away from the end of this academic year. What a year it's been! We look forward to celebrating our student successes with the spring Symposium, student highlights, Commencement news and more! Join us in celebrating our students' hard work, dedication, and perseverance during this unique academic year!
Honors College Symposium
The Honors Symposium showcases academic research and creative scholarship by JMU Honors students. Student presenters will serve as panelists, and will offer brief presentations about their Honors Capstone Projects or other Honors research and scholarship, as well as answer questions.
We hope that JMU students, faculty, family and friends will virtually attend the Symposium to learn about unique, interdisciplinary work conducted by Honors students. The Facebook Live event will be held on Friday, April 23 at 4 pm. Register to attend now! You can also view the symposium program, symposium website, and submit a question for any of the students. Thanks so much for your participation.
Valedictorian Accolades
This year, three exceptional students will represent the Class of 2021 as valedictorians. We are proud to announce that two of those three students are in the Honors College. Carter Bowman will graduate with a degree in Political Science and looks forward to attending law school; read more about Carter's story! Emily Thompson will graduate with a degree in Biology; read more about Emily's story!
Medallion Presentation
The Honors College will be hosting small in-person medallion presentations for the Class of 2021 graduates on Saturday, May 1st OR Sunday, May 2nd in the Festival Highlands Room. Watch this video from our December 2020 Medallion Presentation to get an idea of what to expect during the May 2021 Medallion Presentations.
We ask that all guests who attend please adhere to all COVID regulations utilizing face masks and safe social distancing. Also anyone attending the presentations must either show completion of the LiveSafe App OR print and complete the Health Screening Questionnaire prior to entering the Festival. We ask that ALL Medallion Presentation guests enter at the Festival Loop so that our COVID safety usher can see this information. Parking is available in Lots C12 and D3.
Additionally, this year we are offering a unique way for family members, friends, classmates, and professors, unable to attend to interact with the graduates. The Honors College will be using FullMeasure, a mobile-first experience. FullMeasure will allow guests to post messages on the Honors College social wall and students to virtually capture themselves wearing their cap and medallion through social filters. It is a fun way to congratulate the students and we hope you will participate. Family and friends can join the fun by texting JMUhonors to 580-52. Students can participate by texting JMUhonors21 to 580-52.
Virtual Senior Celebration
The Honors College will be hosting a Virtual Senior Celebration on Saturday, May 8. Join us on any of our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram). We will showcase the students with a video montage of the Medallion Presentations and individual photos of each student. We encourage you to participate and post message of congratulations using #jmuhonors2021 or #jmugrad21.
Students in the News
Belinda Addae ('21), a senior Intelligence Analysis major with a minor in Political Science and Honors is on a Pre-Law track and dedicating herself to becoming an immigration lawyer.
Darby Henn ('24), a sophomore Elementary Education major is working on a project to bring multicultural literature into the classroom. She says "every student should feel valued and seen in the classroom."
Corinne Martin ('23), a sophomore English and Independent Scholars double major, is working to give ownership back to Native stories through her Independent Scholars: Major-Native American History, Culture, and Narratives.
Deaquan Nichols ('24) a biophysical chemistry major from Roanoke, VA originally committed to Princeton as a junior in high school. Deaquan never gave serious consideration to JMU until he participated in the SHI (Summer Honors Institute).