Welcome to the seventh - and last - issue of Honorable Mentions for the '25-26 school year! Honorable Mentions is our monthly newsletter that will catch you up on some of the important developments within the Honors College.

This newsletter is written by honors fellow Abby Comstock.

The Honors College will be running a new Spain & Morocco study abroad program this coming January for the winter term, building off the successful 2024 spring break program in Seville, Spain. The program will be based in Seville and include a multi-day excursion across parts of northern Morocco.

“Spain and Morocco’s histories are wed, their cultures inform and inspire and expand each other’s,” said Julian Zabalbeascoa, who will be leading the program. “I’m excited to explore these connections with Honors students this winter.”

Express interest for this program. Students who do so will be the first to be notified when applications shortly open. 

Additionally, the Honors College will be offering a course that allows students to continue their research in Taiwan. The trip is projected to run January 3 to 15, 2027. Students will stay in Pingtung, Taiwan, and work in rural elementary schools, collaborating with student teachers to plan activities for the children. Additional excursions, such as a trip to Taipei, will allow students to immerse themselves in Taiwanese culture. This program is a great opportunity to engage with and provide a service to children, extend global competence, network, and improve communication. It is open to all students and majors, especially those interested in working with elementary students interested in STEM subjects. Express interest for this program. 

Upcoming programs are currently being finalized, so keep an eye out for updates on UMass Lowell’s Honors Study Abroad page. Please note that many programs have yet to be announced on this website.

This Fall, there are many great Honors Seminars that still have space available. These include Game Gambit, Energy and the Developing World, Contemporary African American Fiction, and Power, Culture, and Organizations. Not only do these upper-level seminars satisfy multiple graduation requirements, including the H3 requirement, their small class sizes allow for an exciting and collaborative exploration of a topic that aims to enrich the student’s time in the Honors College by making them more than their major.

RHED, the River Hawk Experience Distinction, is a program unique to UMass Lowell that offers students distinctions in leadership, entrepreneurship, global engagement, community engagement, and sustainability. There are currently over 500 active students in the RHED program, of which approximately 40% are Honors students. RHED gives students the chance to discover and receive recognition for pursuing experiences beyond the classroom. The program has been steadily growing over the years. It follows students throughout their time at UMass Lowell and can be completed at any pace, although students are encouraged to join sooner rather than later.

The Global Engagement Distinction is especially accessible to Honors students, due to the various study abroad opportunities offered by the Honors College. Students develop a global mindset, learning how to adapt and collaborate across differences. They also increase independence, build confidence, and develop a stronger sense of purpose and perspective. “It gives Honors students the opportunity to slow down for a moment and think about what they’ve learned, so they know who they’re going to be,” said Wendy Hyatt, Associate Director of Experiential Signature Programs. “Not what they’re going to do, but who they’re going to be.”