Your monthly newsletter highlighting some of the important announcements and opportunities within the Honors College. 

Dear Student,

Welcome to the second issue of Honorable Mentions, a monthly newsletter that will catch you up on some of the important developments within the Honors College. This newsletter is written by honors fellows Emerson Tully and Matthew Kelley.

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS, Volume 1, Issue 2

 

Registration for Spring Classes

Registration is now open for our the spring semester. Should you have questions about your honors pathway, be sure to schedule an appointment to speak with your Honors Specialist. You can find the list of our specialists here: https://www.uml.edu/honors/people/honors-advisors.aspx

Among other things, they can assist you with what honors requirements you still need to satisfy. One of which might be the H3 requirement, which can only be satisfied with an HONR 3000-level Honors Signature Seminar.

 

Honors Signature Seminars

The Honors College’s Signature Seminars are interdisciplinary inquiry-based courses that encourage students to push beyond the boundaries of their respective majors. HONR 3000-level Honors Signature Seminars are open to honors students from any major at any level. These seminars can be used to satisfy honors and graduation requirements.

By way of example, Professor Finch’s course, Experiencing Philanthropy, plays many incredible roles in our community, from alleviating crisis situations to encouraging strategic, systematic change. Working with a grant from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Honors College, students have the opportunity to practice philanthropy by serving as a grant-making board member to award $10,000 to local nonprofits in the Lowell community! By taking this course, students will obtain knowledge about nonprofit organizations, different styles of philanthropy, and effective nonprofit management. This class is created with the purpose to encourage students to learn together through discussion, videos, podcasts, nonprofit visits, and projects!

Professor VanderVeen will offer Coming of Age in America. This class explores the transition from adolescence to adulthood, through 20th and 21st century literature and popular culture: novels, short stories, poems, and film, with words from authors Sandra Cisneros, Sylvia Plath, Langston Hughes, John Updike, Julia Alvarez, James Baldwin, Sherman Alexie, Alison Bechdel, and Tobias Wolff.

This year is the first year that the Honors College is offering a Dance Seminar thanks to Professor Kowalik, who has over fifteen years of experience and knowledge in the dance world. There were a lot of questions from UMass Lowell students regarding how to fit dance in their busy schedules; what better way than an honors course? This course will dedicate a few weeks of study on each of the main styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, etc. There will be discussion on the historical origins of the dance styles, as well as how it fits in with the historical time periods of what was happening in the world.

 

Honors Fall Activities

As thrilled as the Honors team is that we have been able to offer such a variety of student activities thus far, we are even more overwhelmed that they have been so well attended. The level of student engagement this academic year has been wondrous to behold.

This past month consisted of Spooky Pumpkin Paint Night, which was an extreme success, as was Murder Mystery Night, which had over 50 honors students in the Allen House attempting to solve who killed the Allen House’s namesake. Along with these, there was the Honors Trivia night, with the winning team taking home Honors College sweatshirts!

Honor Yourself Week also contributed to the great number of activities we were able to put on this month for our students.

Honor Yourself Week

Honor Yourself Week was a grand success this year! Every Honor Yourself event across both campuses was well attended. From Genesis Be’s workshop on how to turn heated debates over polarizing issues into healthy conversations, to the Sun Salutations on the Allen House’s deck, to the Board Games Afternoon in the Spinola Gallery—honors students showed the greatest level of engagement we’ve yet to see for Honor Yourself Week! Thank you to all who participated in our many events this year.

Also, a reminder that using the Suitable app to sign up for events gives the Honors team a much-needed estimate on what to expect concerning student attendance. Make sure to stay on top of your app so you don’t miss any events that may spark your interest! 

 

ROTC and Veterans Day

As we approach Veterans Day on November 11th, we would like to celebrate UMass Lowell’s Air and Space Force ROTC, along with the Army ROTC. UMass Lowell has been home to the Air Force ROTC’s Detachment 345, the Fighting Dogs since 1951!  UMass Lowell is also home to the Army ROTC.

The university is a host school within the Bay State Battalion (headquarters for Army ROTC in Central Massachusetts). Other schools that participate in the Army ROTC program are Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Framingham State College, and Fitchburg State College.

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Community is designed to support students who are involved in the ROTC program. Initiated by students, this community was created to bring a residential component to those who are currently enrolled in the Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC programs at UMass Lowell. There are scholarship opportunities for those who qualify.     

Students in the ROTC Community are part of a unique experience where they go through a rigorous training program with their peers, while also living together and experiencing all college has to offer. Living with other ROTC students in this community can assist in an increased sense of belonging and academic success.

UMass Lowell will honor veterans on Veterans Day with their annual Flag Ceremony at University Crossing on November 14th at a11:00 a.m. The ceremony includes the unfurling of a three-story-tall American flag, and is attended by current and former military members, student veterans, university leadership, and elected officials.

 

London Study Abroad

The Honors College is again offering our 3-credit spring semester course that will take honors students once again to London, England, on May 15-25, 2024. There are scholarships for honors students that range from $500-$1500.

This immersive study abroad experience in London invites students to explore the vibrant theatre scene through a civic engagement lens. Students will explore the rich tradition of British theatre while examining how performances reflect, shape, and challenge social issues. Through a combination of live theatre performances, workshops with local artists and activists, and guided explorations of London’s diverse neighborhoods, the course will investigate the role of theatre as a tool for community building and social change. Students will also examine why “voice” matters and explore how theatre can be used as a platform for advocacy and resistance.

With this spring semester course, students can earn three credits and satisfy an honors requirement and an Arts & Humanities requirement and two of the four needed to earn the River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) in Global Engagement.

Please contact studyabroad@uml.edu for all financial questions. For other questions pertaining to the program, please contact Erin_Maitland@uml.edu.

Apply to the program today: https://viaumasslowell.via-trm.com/client/program_brochure/24312

Erin will also be hosting another London info session on November 20th at 4:00 pm on Zoom. You can find the Zoom link in your Suitable app.

This, like all of our other HONR study abroad programs, can satisfy your H3 requirement.

And should you have other questions pertaining to your honors requirements and honors pathway, do know that the HIPs are here for you!

Honors Informational Peers

The Honors Informational Peers (HIPs) lead enrichment activities for fellow honors students, answer questions about course scheduling and honors requirements, and help create a stronger sense of community for the nearly 2,000 honors undergraduates currently enrolled at UMass Lowell. Don’t be hesitant to reach out to the HIPs. They are here to help you and guide you! Now, let’s meet some of the team!

The Honors Information Peers (HIPs) at the UMass Lowell Honors College host After Hours events in the Allen House on Monday through Thursday from 5–9 PM. During these events, students can meet with HIPs to ask questions about honors classes, schedules, and more. HIPs also work to bring new programs to the Allen House and build connections. Stay tuned!

And now we would like to introduce you to several of this year’s HIPs. We will be featuring several HIPs in each Honorable Mentions newsletter this year.

 

Get to Know Your HIPs

Name: Sebastian Hutchison

Hometown: Andover, MA (originally from Worthing, England)

Major: History

Year: Senior

Hobbies: Treasurer of History club, Plays guitar and bass in 2 bands, Engineer at the university radio station.

Favorite thing about UML: The countless opportunities provided in my major and honors college.

Clubs and Organizations: History club, WUML 91.5, Emerging Scholars, International relations.

Future goals: Get into grad school, Finish my book.

Favorite things about honors: The opportunities for fellowships and study abroad.

Fun Fact: “I have 3 albums on Spotify, Apple Music and Other services!”

Name: Carolina Cabral

Hometown: Lowell, MA

Major: Criminal Justice

Minor: Psychology, sociology

Year: Senior

Hobbies: Sports, Playing the guitar and singing

Favorite thing about UML: The diversity and the amount of opportunities we have to get involved on campus.

Clubs and organizations: Student advisory council for the criminal Justice department.

Favorite thing about honors: Allen house and the events, Study abroad opportunities.

Future Goals: Mental Health counseling

Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Portugal.

Name: Suhani Karki

Hometown: Andover, MA

Major: Applied Biomedical Sciences

Minor: Psychology

Year: Junior

Hobbies: Guitar, Reading and painting

Favorite thing about UML: The supportive and welcoming community

Clubs and organizations: Vice president of Pre-Dental Club

Favorite thing about honors: The variety of unique opportunities for honors college students.

Future Goals: Dentist

Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Canada

Name: Dang Nguyen

Hometown: Randolph, MA

Major: Biology

Year: Senior

Hobbies: Crochet, Bake, Research, Tennis

Favorite thing about UML: Research Opportunities

Clubs and organizations: Biology research club, Crochet club

Favorite thing about honors: The sunset view from the Allen house and teas and snacks.

Future Goals: Get PhD in Genetics

Fun Fact: I have died my hair 5 different colors.

Warm regards,

Your Honors Team