Jon Kotinek, Associate Director

Jonathan Kotinek, Associate Director of Honors & Undergraduate Research, has been selected as one of twenty individual staff members  to receive a 2011-2012 President’s Meritorious Service Award.

The President’s Meritorious Service Awards began in 1986. Currently, these awards are presented to recognize 20 outstanding staff employees and one outstanding team for their meritorious service to the University. Nominations are typically called for during the fall and an anonymous committee appointed by the President selects the recipients.

Kotinek began working in the University Honors Program office in 2003 and was promoted to Associate Director in January. He holds both a B.A. and M.A. in English from Texas A&M University and is completing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Kotinek was elected to a three year term as a professional member of the Board of Directors of NCHC in 2010. He is co-editor of the NCHC monograph Setting the Table for Diversity and authored a paper in that book entitled “Passing for Black: White Privilege and Black Identity Formation.” Kotinek serves as Immediate Past President of University Advisors and Counselors,  and as co-chair for the Diversity Issues Committee of the NCHC; as President of the St. Silouan Orthodox Church parish council. In 2007, he was selected as a Fish Camp namesake, and in 2010 was selected for the President’s Award for Academic Advising. Kotinek was also named as the “Best Beard Champion 2011″ by Beard Nation.

The President’s Meritorious Service Awards Program is sponsored by the Office of the President and The Association of Former Students. The program is coordinated by Texas A&M Human Resources.

For questions about the award program, please contact the Recognition and Reward staff emplrecognition@tamu.edu or 845-0379.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program is the United States’ premier undergraduate scholarship program for math, science, and engineering students.It recognizes approximately 300 students each year for their achievement and potential for significant contributions to their respective fields of research. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to an annual maximum of $7,500.Goldwater Scholars go on to prestigious research careers in math, science, and engineering, and many later win such prestigious awards as the Rhodes Scholarship and Marshall Scholarships, as well as fellowships from the Hertz or National Science Foundations.

Since 2000, Texas A&M has produced 22 Goldwater Scholars. In the 2011 competition, Genetics and Biochemistry double-major Matthew Grunewald was selected as Goldwater Scholar.Other recent notable Aggie Goldwater Scholars include Rhodes Scholarship finalist Andrew Matteson ’08, Hertz Foundation Fellow Luke Hunter ’08, and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship recipients Brian Sedio ’07 and Agustin Mohedas ‘07.

For more information, please contact Jamaica Pouncy at 845-1957 or jamaica.pouncy@honors.tamu.edu.

In addition, students can learn more about the upcoming changes to the University Honors Program, current undergraduate research programs such as University Research Scholars, and opportunities for prestigious fellowships and study abroad.  This event will be an excellent opportunity to meet the executive director of Honors and Undergraduate Research, Dr. Sumana Datta, as well as the rest of the HUR staff.

The Marshall Scholarship is tenable for two years of graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom; the well-known Rhodes Scholarships are tenable for two to three years of graduate study at Oxford University.  Among the most competitive scholarship competitions in the world, only about 4% the nationwide pool of over 1,000 university-nominated applicants receive either award.

Rhodes and Marshall Finalist Bianca Manago

A 2011 recipient of the Brown-Rudder Award, Bianca Manago is from Lansing, Kansas.  Nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, Bianca graduated with a double-major in Sociology and Philosophy in May, 2011.  As a student at Texas A&M, she co-founded the social and environmental justice groups One Love and One Aggieland. She has since gone on to be an advisor for One Aggieland and has developed a special topics course on Global Social Justice Leadership.  As an Undergraduate Research Scholar under Dr. Jane Sell, she completed a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Social Dilemmas Conference 2010 and the Southwestern Sociological Association Annual Meeting 2011.  Bianca currently works for the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture as the program coordinator for the Global Coffee Quality Research Initiative, responsible for project development, finances, communication, marketing, social media, and research proposal development and management. A former high school Academic All-American soccer player, Bianca has competed in several half marathons, duathlons, and triathlons. Through the Rhodes Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Oxford, and if awarded a Marshall Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Essex.  In the long term, she hopes to become a philosophy professor.

Finalist interviews for the Marshall Scholarship took place at the British Embassy in Houston on November 8.  Manago will return to Houston to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship on November 18 and 19.  Taking place at the Federal Circuit Courthouse and at the home of former Rhodes Scholar and federal judge Keith P. Ellison, the two-day selection process will include a luncheon, a “cocktail hour,” and a 30-minute interview.

Of the 20 finalists in the Houston region, five Marshall Scholars will be selected.  For the Rhodes, only two scholars will be chosen from the district.

The Marshall Scholarships began in 1953 as a gesture of thanks from the British Government for the US assistance in rebuilding Europe after World War II. Former Marshall Scholars include Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas Friedman.  According to the Marshall Scholarship Foundation, as future leaders, Marshall Scholars are “expected to strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programmes contributes to their ultimate personal success.”  Only 40 Marshall Scholars are selected each year.

The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford.  The primary qualification for a successful candidate is intellectual distinction, although the selection committees also seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead.  Through the years, Rhodes Scholars have pursued studies in all of the varied fields available at the University of Oxford, where they are elected for two years of study, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. Notable Rhodes Scholars include former US President Bill Clinton, NBA Hall-of-Fame inductee and Senator Bill Bradley, and Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Kris Kristofferson.  Only 32 American Rhodes Scholars are selected each year.

Because of the fierce competition for these scholarships, the preliminary process to be selected as an official University nominee is quite rigorous.  Currently enrolled students and recent graduates should apply for selection in late April or early May, with the official deadline for the scholarships being in early October.  To be awarded the University’s nomination, a student must show strong scholarly potential, demonstrated through their academic record and letters of recommendation from faculty, leadership ability, demonstrated through their involvement in student and civic organizations, and excellent speaking and analytical skills, as demonstrated in a series of interviews.

Once approved, prospective nominees can expect to spend months developing their applications as they work closely under the advice and guidance of faculty and academic advisors.  The official announcement of university endorsement is made only after the nominees submit their finalized application to the scholarship foundations.

Throughout its history, Texas A&M University has produced seven Rhodes Scholars and five Marshall Scholars, the most recent being biochemistry and genetics major Nick Anthis for the Rhodes in 2005 and environmental design major Faye Hays for the Marshall in 2007.  In last year’s competition, Biochemistry and Genetics major Kristin Carter was selected as a finalist for the Marshall Scholarship, and in 2009, Biochemistry and Genetics major Ella Doerge was selected as a finalist for the Rhodes.  Since 2000, eleven Aggies have been selected as finalists for the Marshall Scholarship and four have been selected as finalists for the Rhodes.

For more information, please contact Mr. Kyle Mox, National Scholarships Coordinator in the Honors Programs office – (979) 845-1957 or kemox@tamu.edu.

The Marshall Scholarship is tenable for two years of graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom; the well-known Rhodes Scholarships are tenable for two to three years of graduate study at Oxford University.  Among the most competitive scholarship competitions in the world, only about 4% the nationwide pool of over 1,000 university-nominated applicants receive either award.

A Genetics and Biochemistry double-major from Madison, Mississippi, Matthew Grunewald has been nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship.  A University Scholar and a University Undergraduate Research Fellow, Matt’s research interests are in gene therapy. A recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the Astronaut Foundation Scholarship, he has conducted research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, at Essen University Hospital through the DAAD-RISE program, and at Texas A&M under Dr. Jean-Philippe Pellois.  An active member of the University Honors Program, Matthew has served as an Honors Housing Community Peer Advisor.  He is also active in the Biochemistry and Genetics Society.  Through these scholarships, he will have the option of studying at University College London, University of Cambridge, or the University of Oxford.  In the long term, he intends to pursue an M.D. /Ph.D. degree in cell and molecular biology and later conduct research in gene therapy and immunology.

Nominated for the Marshall Scholarship, Maria Elise Lopez, from Austin, is an International Studies major.  She is currently a volunteer with Communities in Schools, an AmeriCorps program, through which she mentors and tutors at-risk students in the Austin area.  She has previously served as a bilingual tutor with the Texas A&M Reads and Counts program and as an intern with College Forward, a non-profit organization that provides college access and college persistence services to motivated, economically disadvantaged students.  She has previously studied abroad in Monterrey, Mexico, and this past summer, she also worked as an intern with Centro de Acogida al Refugiado, an international refugee processing center in Seville, Spain.  Through the Marshall Scholarship, Maria will have the opportunity to pursue graduate programs in migration studies at the University of Sussex and refugee studies at University of East London.  Her long-term goals are to work for a non-governmental organization that promotes peace, diplomacy, and cultural learning or an international relief agency such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A 2011 recipient of the Brown-Rudder Award, Bianca Manago is from Lansing, Kansas.  Nominated for both the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, Bianca graduated with a double-major in Sociology and Philosophy in May, 2011.  As a student at Texas A&M, she co-founded the social and environmental justice groups One Love and One Aggieland. She has since gone on to be an advisor for One Aggieland and has developed a special topics course on Global Social Justice Leadership.  As an Undergraduate Research Scholar under Dr. Jane Sell, she completed a senior thesis and presented her findings at the Social Dilemmas Conference 2010 and the Southwestern Sociological Association Annual Meeting 2011.  Bianca currently works for the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture as the program coordinator for the Global Coffee Quality Research Initiative, responsible for project development, finances, communication, marketing, social media, and research proposal development and management. A former high school Academic All-American soccer player, Bianca has competed in several half marathons, duathlons, and triathlons. Through the Rhodes Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Oxford, and if awarded a Marshall Scholarship, she will study philosophy at the University of Essex.  In the long term, she hopes to become a philosophy professor.

Nominated for the Marshall Scholarship, Meteorology major Ethan Nelson is from Carlsbad, New Mexico.  As an Undergraduate Research Scholar, he has already completed a thesis, “Testing Linear Diagnostics of Ensemble Performance on a Simplified Global Circulation Model,” and is continuing his research on ensemble predictability under Dr. Istvan Szunyogh.  In July, Ethan was the sole undergraduate in attendance at the Advanced Mathematical Methods to Study Atmospheric Dynamical Processes and Predictability summer school at the Banff International Research Station in Alberta, Canada.  He has worked repeatedly at the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a Student Forecaster Intern. Active in campus life, Ethan is the Student Senator for the College of Geosciences, also serving in the Student Senate Caucus Leader and a member of the Constituency Affairs committee overseeing Senate interaction with the student population. A talented musician, he weekly serves as a pianist at the A&M United Methodist Church.  If awarded the Marshall Scholarship, Ethan will study for a PhD in Atmosphere, Oceans, and Climate at the University of Reading.  In the future, he plans to become a professor and at some point move over to a scientific advisor position for the government.

A native of Arlington, James “Cory” Perkins studies Physics, with minors in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics.  A University Scholar and a Mechanics Scholar, Cory has been involved in significant materials science research throughout his undergraduate education.  Through his work as an undergraduate researcher under Dr. Kolomenski, he has been co-author on two conference abstracts.  He has also conducted classified research through the National Security Agency, through which he learned quantum optic experimental techniques by characterizing optical equipment.  In terms of service and community involvement, Cory has been involved in Fish Aides and has played for the Texas A&M men’s club volleyball team. Cory has also been active through the church, organizing a spring retreat and working as a counselor at Sky Ranch, a Christian summer camp.  He has also had the opportunity to participate in mission trips to Latvia and Jamaica. If selected for either the Rhodes Scholarship or Marshall Scholarship, he will study for a doctorate in Photovoltaic or Semiconductor Materials at the University of Oxford.  His long term goals are to conduct research in energy storage and solar power collection, perhaps as a university professor.

The nominees will hear of their selection as finalists in the next one to two weeks.  Finalists will then participate in regional or district interviews in November.  The announcement of scholars will be announced by the foundations shortly thereafter.

The Marshall Scholarships began in 1953 as a gesture of thanks from the British Government for the US assistance in rebuilding Europe after World War II. Former Marshall Scholars include Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas Friedman.  According to the Marshall Scholarship Foundation, as future leaders, Marshall Scholars are “expected to strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programmes contributes to their ultimate personal success.”  Only 40 Marshall Scholars are selected each year.

The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford.  The primary qualification for a successful candidate is intellectual distinction, although the selection committees also seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead.  Through the years, Rhodes Scholars have pursued studies in all of the varied fields available at the University of Oxford, where they are elected for two years of study, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. Notable Rhodes Scholars include former US President Bill Clinton, NBA Hall-of-Fame inductee and Senator Bill Bradley, and Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Kris Kristofferson.  Only 32 American Rhodes Scholars are selected each year.

Because of the fierce competition for these scholarships, the preliminary process to be selected as an official University nominee is quite rigorous.  Currently enrolled students and recent graduates should apply for selection in late April or early May, with the official deadline for the scholarships being in early October.  To be awarded the University’s nomination, a student must show strong scholarly potential, demonstrated through their academic record and letters of recommendation from faculty, leadership ability, demonstrated through their involvement in student and civic organizations, and excellent speaking and analytical skills, as demonstrated in a series of interviews.

Once approved, prospective nominees can expect to spend months developing their applications as they work closely under the advice and guidance of faculty and academic advisors.  The official announcement of university endorsement is made only after the nominees submit their finalized application to the scholarship foundations.

Throughout its history, Texas A&M University has produced seven Rhodes Scholars and five Marshall Scholars, the most recent being biochemistry and genetics major Nick Anthis for the Rhodes in 2005 and environmental design major Faye Hays for the Marshall in 2007.  In last year’s competition, Biochemistry and Genetics major Kristin Carter was selected as a finalist for the Marshall Scholarship, and in 2009, Biochemistry and Genetics major Ella Doerge was selected as a finalist for the Rhodes.  Since 2000, eleven Aggies have been selected as finalists for the Marshall Scholarship and four have been selected as finalists for the Rhodes.

For more information, please contact Mr. Kyle Mox, National Scholarships Coordinator in the Honors Programs office – (979) 845-1957 or kemox@tamu.edu.

Honors and Undergraduate Research is now accepting applications for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.  To apply for these competitive awards, students must first be nominated by the University.  The deadline to submit completed applications to Honors and Undergraduate Research is November 2, 2011.

The Goldwater Scholarship was established to foster and encourage excellence in science and mathematics in the United States. Awards are made annually, each scholarship providing a maximum of $7,500 per year for tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Sophomore applicants are eligible for two years of support; junior applicants are eligible for one year of support. Two hundred and seventy-eight scholarships were awarded for 2010-2011.  In the past year’s cycle, biochemistry and genetics major Matthew Grunewald was selected as a Goldwater Scholar.

Application may be made by current sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens with stated intent to obtain U.S. citizenship. Students’ ultimate educational goal should be the Ph.D. in math, science, or engineering; the competition is not appropriate for students intending to go to medical school or to stop their education at the master’s level.

Suitable applicants must have high academic achievement (3.7+ GPR) and ongoing research experience.  For further information, visit http://honors.tamu.edu/Fellowships/Application%20Procedures.html#Goldwater.

The Truman Scholarship provides funding for graduate school as preparation for a career in government or public service. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate studies. In addition, they participate in leadership development programs and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government. About 60-65 scholarships are awarded each year.  Business Honors major Omar El-Halwagi was selected as a Truman Scholar in last year’s competition, the first Aggie to win this award in 17 years.

Application may be made by U.S. citizens and nationals who are full-time students in the junior class with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Successful applicants typically have an exceptional record of leadership and public or community service.  A wide variety of fields can lead to public service careers: traditional fields such as education, economics, or public policy as well as less obvious ones such as engineering, environmental management, or agriculture. However, some priority is given to candidates proposing to enroll in graduate programs specifically oriented to careers in public service such as public administration, public health, government, or education and human resource development.

For further information, visit http://honors.tamu.edu/Fellowships/Application%20Procedures.html#Truman.

For further information about these and other scholarships, visit http://nationalfellowships.tamu.edu.  or contact Kyle Mox, National Fellowships Coordinator at kemox@tamu.edu.

For the past several years, Kracht has served as executive associate dean, the Byrne Chair for Student Success, and professor of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education and Human Development, as well as professor of geography in the College of Geosciences. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M in 1974. Previous leadership responsibilities have included chair of elementary education, chair of graduate programs, coordinator of professional development school programs, director of teacher education, assistant department head, and department head in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture.  He has supported development of several new degree programs in the College and was instrumental in developing the Byrne Center for Student Success.

Kracht’s accomplishments earned him recognition for his work in teacher preparation and social studies education, including a 2002 Dean’s Roundtable Award for teaching, the Texas A&M International Excellence Award for contributions to international efforts, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Council for the Social Studies.   The Governors Center for Geographic Education named Kracht a Fellow in 1998, and in 2002 awarded him a medal for leadership in research and development. He is also a recipient of the Extraordinary Service Award from the College of Education and Human Development.

“We are excited to have a scholar like Jim join the Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies,” says Young.  “His faculty expertise, administrative skill, and years of experience will enhance our efforts to ensure excellence among undergraduate studies at Texas A&M.”

In addition to officially presenting Grunewald with the award, Crippen will share his experiences of piloting the first space shuttle and spending over 23 days in space throughout his missions. The lecture is free and open to the public.

“Matthew is a clear leader in biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M,” said Crippen. “He is a prime example of everything an Astronaut Scholar is supposed to be: intelligent, perseverant and destined for greatness. I am honored to have the opportunity to present this award to such a worthy A&M student.”

Astronaut Scholar Matthew Grunewald '12

Grunewald is a senior majoring in biochemistry and genetics. He plans to make studying medical sciences his life and earn advanced degrees in immunology and cell biology, with the hope of finding new ways and mechanisms to cure genetic and immunological diseases. A University Scholar, Grunewald is an active member of Texas A&M’s Honors Program and has also been the recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and a DAAD-RISE grant for study in Germany.   In the near future, he hopes to study for a joint MD/PhD degree.  When not inside the lab or classroom, he can often be found with camera in hand, expanding his photography skills.

The Astronaut Scholarship is the largest monetary award given in the United States to science and engineering undergraduate students based solely on merit. Twenty-six of these prestigious awards were dispersed this year through the ASF to outstanding college students majoring in science, technology, engineering or math. More than $3 million has been awarded in scholarships to date. Since 1986, ASF has distributed $190,000 to Astronaut Scholars at Texas A&M University. These high-achieving students exhibit strong drive and phenomenal performance in their field, as well as intellectual daring and a genuine desire to positively change the world around them, both in and out of the classroom.

Robert Crippen was selected as a NASA Astronaut in September 1969. After serving as a member of the astronaut support crew for Skylab 2, 3 and 4, he was named Pilot for the first space shuttle flight, STS-1, and served as the spacecraft commander for STS-7, STS-41C and STS-41G. The STS-1 orbiter Columbia was the first spacecraft to launch with wings using solid rocket boosters, as well as the first winged reentry vehicle to return to a conventional runway landing. Crippen, a retired Navy captain, later served as director of Shuttle Operations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and as KSC Director from 1992 to January 1995. He then served as president of Thiokol Aerospace Group in Utah and now resides in Florida. Crippen serves on the Board of Directors for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on November 10, 2001.

For further information about the event, contact Mr. Kyle Mox at (979) 845-1957 or kemox@tamu.edu.

“Although this may seem like a major paradigm shift, moving to an application will allow the office to better focus its resources on students who truly wish to engage in all that Honors has to offer,” says Assistant Director Jon Kotinek.  “It may seem cumbersome at first, but I’m confident that all students will find that it will result in a more satisfying educational experience for everyone concerned.”

Honors Students admitted to the University Honors Program or any one of the college and departmental honors programs will have exclusive access to benefits such as Honors Priority Registration, the Honors Housing Community, Honors Course Contracts and Independent Study, and priority access to honors and fellowships advising and special programming.  All students who maintain a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPR will be able to enroll in Honors courses.

“One of the biggest changes will be that all incoming freshmen who are accepted into Honors will be required to spend their freshmen year in the Honors Housing Community,” Kotinek adds.  “In this way, we’re actually moving to a sort of ‘residential program.’  I think it will give us a real opportunity to develop some incredibly ‘high impact’ programming.”

Incoming freshmen can access the incoming student application via the ApplyTexas application.  The continuing student application opened August 28, 2011 and close February 24, 2012. Students are encouraged to meet one-on-one with an Honors advisor to help determine which distinction(s) best fit their academic and curricular needs.  A number of open briefings will also be offered; the schedule of these briefings is posted on the Honors and Undergraduate Research website.

“The application process itself will be relatively simple,” Kotinek says.  “Students will have to answer three fairly short essay questions, and our review process will be holistic, taking into account not only the student’s academic preparation but also his or her personal vision, passion for learning, commitment, and risk-taking, not to mention curiosity, self-awareness, and creativity.”

The move to an application process opens a new chapter in the long and storied history of Honors at Texas A&M. Opportunities for Honors study at Texas A&M University were initiated in the mid-1960s in what was then the College of Arts and Sciences. Subsequently, the Colleges of Liberal Arts, Science, and Geosciences co-sponsored an Honors Program, and by 1968 all of the academic colleges had joined in the endeavor.

In 1978, the University Honors Program offered a modest thirty honors sections of twenty different courses, with only three upper-division (300-400) courses available. Ten years later, the number of honors sections jumped to 148 in 117 different courses but the number of upper-division sections available was still relatively small at thirty eight. Annual enrollments had climbed from 650 to over 2,000.

In recent years, the growth of Honors study opportunities has been dramatic – for the 2010-2011 academic year, over 300 sections of Honors courses are offered, and in the fall 2010 semester alone, approximately 3,000 students engaged in Honors study at Texas A&M.

Questions about the application process can be directed to Honors and Undergraduate Research, (979) 845-1957 or honors@tamu.edu.

This ceremony serves as the official “Howdy” from the University Honors Program to new and returning Honors students.  Speakers will include Dr. Sumana Datta, Executive Director of Honors and Undergraduate Research, Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young, newly appointed Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies, and Ms. Rika Mallepally, University Scholar ’12.

At this ceremony, speakers will discuss the future of Honors study at Texas A&M and its place in undergraduate education as a “high impact” educational practice.  The ceremony will also feature the induction of the new class of University Scholars, the official student ambassadors for the University Honors Program.

Following the Honors Welcome Ceremony, Freshman Honors students are also invited to then attend Freshman Convocation, which begins at 2:30 p.m. in Reed Arena.  Freshman Convocation is the official beginning of a new student’s entry into Texas A&M University’s Community of Learners and Scholars.