University Honors Program

By Kaitlin Lewis

For eight years now, the Honors Program has produced the HonorsLINK magazine, a newsletter for students, faculty and alumni to stay up to date on achievements, events, signature programs and more offered by the Honors Program. The magazine is compiled from student interviews, reflections from alumni and graduating students and submissions by current students and faculty. While most readers only see the final product, there are a lot of students who go into the creation of the HonorsLINK, who without them, the magazine would not be possible each year. 

Past staff members of the HonorsLINK have been made up by both student workers in the Honors Program office and students who volunteer for the responsibility. One example of these volunteers includes 2017 grad Elizabeth Pedrotti, an English major who worked as a reporter and editor for the HonorsLINK. A recipient of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, Pedrotti was dedicated to a life of service and found that leaving an impact by working for the HonorsLINK left a major impact on her life as well.

“I will miss the staff at the Honors Program,” Pedrotti said upon graduation. “I built a great relationship with them working with the Program and will miss seeing everyone.”

One student worker involved in the current edition of the HonorsLINK is senior Emma Kapp, a communication major who, after starting as a staff writer and editor, has become the content manager of the magazine for the past two years. In the past, Kapp has written reflections from current Honor students or alumni to include in the magazine. Kapp says that on top of being able to share some pretty amazing stories about the Honors Program, her favorite part of HonorsLINK has been working with her peers.

“I've really enjoyed working with the HonorsLINK staff to produce the newsletter,” Kapp said. “Everyone is very professional and committed, and I think that shows when we publish the magazine.”

As a celebration for 2019 marking the 40^th anniversary of the Honors Program, this year’s edition of HonorsLINK will be a reflection on all that the Program has grown to be since the start. The staff for the magazine has been talking with both current and past staff of the Honors Program to compare how the program has changed into what students know today. One current staff member is junior Martin McKew, a history major who joined the HonorsLINK staff as a way to develop his own writing. A volunteer writer and editor, McKew has filled a variety of jobs for the HonorsLINK and is excited to continue his work this year.

“My favorite moment involving HonorsLINK was when a professor I knew called me out and complimented my part in the magazine” McKew said. “I chose to volunteer for HonorsLINK because I wanted to practice my writing in a way that didn’t put too much stress on my grades, so it was really nice to hear.”