Honors English Program Holds Winter Festivity
The English Honors Program, a prestigious initiative for seniors interested in exploring a project related to the field of English, recently held a Winter Celebration to honour students and their completed English honors theses.
The event, led by Professor Susan Sweeney, who established the English Honors Program in 1998, took place on an unspecified date in April. Nine students presented their thesis projects, showcasing a diverse range of topics from Boethius's Paradox of Poetry and Philosophy to Emily Dickinson's Eternal Deaths.
Each presentation was followed by a question and answer session with faculty and students, providing an opportunity for in-depth discussion and feedback. Seniors who were part of the English Honors Program were selected based on their academic performance in the classroom and grades.
One of the presenters at the event was Christian Barkman, who presented his thesis titled "The Boy on the Sixth Floor - A Memoir." Another notable presentation was by Ben Lepper '25, who shared his project titled "The Boy on the Sixth Floor."
The Winter Celebration marked a significant milestone for the English Honors Program, as it aims to have a 25th-anniversary celebration in the spring to honour students and celebrate those who have completed an English honors thesis.
Professor Sweeney expressed pride in her students' presentations, stating that it's moving to see their research develop. The event also offered English majors the chance to take an English major shirt following the presentations.
It's worth noting that the application process for the English Honors Program varies by college. Generally, it involves meeting minimum GPA requirements (often around 3.0–3.7, depending on the institution), completion of core or prerequisite English courses, submission of an application or proposal, securing faculty supervision for the honors thesis or project, and at some colleges, submitting test scores or demonstrating language proficiency.
Regarding upcoming anniversary celebrations of the English Honors Program or Honors College, no specific event or celebration has been scheduled as of the current search results. For information about such a celebration at a particular college, it would be necessary to check that college’s Honors College or English department website or contact program administrators directly.
The 2024 Academic Conference, which took place at the end of April, also provided seniors with opportunities to see the work of their classmates. Last Wednesday, the English Honors Program presented their theses to families, friends, and members of the English Department, with all guests having the chance to ask any further questions they had for students about the thesis presentations. The English Department hosted the English Honors Program Winter Celebration, while the 2024 Academic Conference allowed seniors to see how smart their classmates are.
In conclusion, the English Honors Program's Winter Celebration was a successful event that celebrated the academic achievements of its seniors. As the program continues to grow and evolve, it looks forward to its 25th anniversary celebration in the spring.
- The English Honors Program, which was established by Professor Susan Sweeney in 1998, held a Winter Celebration to honor students who had completed their English honors theses.
- At the Winter Celebration, students presented a diverse range of thesis projects, including Boethius's Paradox of Poetry and Philosophy and Emily Dickinson's Eternal Deaths, followed by a question and answer session with faculty and students.
- The English Honors Program aims to have a 25th-anniversary celebration in the spring to honor students and celebrate those who have completed an English honors thesis, and it offers English majors the chance to take an English major shirt following the presentations.
- The application process for the English Honors Program varies by college, but generally involves meeting minimum GPA requirements, completing core or prerequisite English courses, submission of an application or proposal, securing faculty supervision for the honors thesis or project, and at some colleges, submitting test scores or demonstrating language proficiency.
