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Kent State University Honors College
Parents & Friends Newsletter
November 22, 2022
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Photo Above: Scenes of fall outside of the Honors College main entrance and Stopher Residence Hall.
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A Message from the Dean
Fall 2022
Dear Parents and Friends,
I hope this e-letter finds you doing well. We are on the eve of Thanksgiving break, and our students are looking forward to having some relaxing days with family and friends. As I type this on a chilly November morning, students are bundled up and walking to class, some with coffee, others on their phones... the leaves are gone from the trees, and the wind is high, but there is brilliant sunshine in an almost cloudless sky. It seems idyllic, and in some ways it is, but we also need to acknowledge students’ worries and fears which are particularly magnified this time of the academic year.
As your student arrives home for Thanksgiving break, you have a great opportunity to provide some support and encouragement. As you listen to their triumphs and their challenges, you might take a moment to share with them some challenges you faced at their age, and how you solved things. Is your student coming in from their first fall semester at college? They will be especially tired because really being on their own day-by-day is a tiring experience that first semester. It will be good to assure them that the rest of the year will move more smoothly because of all they have learned about the way college “works”.
You might want to have a conversation about managing their health, including their mental well-being, and how the university offers lots of support for them. They receive this information from us, but sometimes it makes more of an impact when parents discuss this topic with them. You can help us with this “bookend” approach. Some important links to share are here:
Where can I find Health and Wellness Resources?
Don’t forget about that flu shot! Students call 330-672-2322 to schedule an on-campus flu shot or visit the website for more information at University Health Services webpage.
How about Residence Hall Questions or Issues?
What about Commuter Students?
Kent State has a Commuter Student Organization entitled “COSO”, which stands for Commuter & Off-Campus Student Organization; view more information at www.kent.edu/coso.
Where do I go for Financial Aid Questions?
Where can I find information about Kent State's coronavirus updates and safety principles?
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Internship Time!
We are about to enter the season to apply for summer internships! It's definitely not too early to start thinking of the possibilities - paid, unpaid, within the university, outside the university, in the U.S., outside the U.S…there is a lot to choose from. Here are just a few ideas:
Kent State’s SURE Program:
The Kent State University Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE Program) - paid summer research internship with a faculty member on campus - sciences, humanities, arts - lots to choose from. The application window opens December 1, 2022 and stays open through Feb 17, 2023. Visit the SURE Program website for more information and to apply.
Federal Reserve - Cleveland:
For the economics or finance major, or possibly a student interested in these areas and studying computer science or related topics - The Federal Reserve in Cleveland offers paid summer internships; their deadline is sometime in December. Visit the Federal Reserve website for the Cleveland location for more information and to apply.
NASA:
NASA has paid summer internships around the country - deadline to apply is March 1, 2023, but don’t wait! These internships fill fast! Apply to NASA now.
NOAA:
Weather and all things meteorological – a paid summer internship with NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) known as the Lapenta Internship - applications due by January 5, 2023! Visit the NOAA website for more information.
I am wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving - enjoy your time together!
With Best Regards,
Alison J. Smith, Ph.D.
Honors College, Dean
Kent State University
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Honors College Boasts Largest Freshman Class, Population Ever
College Welcomes 587 New Students to Campus
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Pictured Above: The fall 2022 freshman class stands for a photo during the Honors College ice cream social, which took place outside of Stopher and Johnson Halls during move-in.
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In an impressive start to the academic year, the Honors College welcomed the largest incoming freshman class in its history. With this freshman class, the college has also grown its student population to the largest total it has ever seen. Currently, one in seven first-year students is a member of the Honors College.
The Honors College accepts students who have demonstrated the potential for significant academic and creative ability in high school by taking rigorous coursework such as AP, IB, honors or college credit, along with other activities and leadership experiences.
With this freshman class of 587 students, the total student population of the Honors College has grown to 1,943, the largest total student population ever in the history of the college.
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Balancing on the Beam at
Kent State University
Honors College Student-Athlete Shares Her Habits for Success
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Pictured Above: Junior Honors College biology and pre-medicine major Kyndall Gilbert poses for her gymnastics team professional headshots for Kent State University's Division I women's team.
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Kyndall Gilbert is a junior Honors College student studying biology and pre-medicine at Kent State University. Along with completing her school work and preparing for medical school, she is a crucial member of the Kent State Women’s Gymnastics team, where she primarily competes in the vault bar and floor events.
As a student-athlete in the Honors College, Kyndall handles a more challenging course load. She says, though, that joining the Honors College was a no-brainer. “Since adding the extra load of Honors, not only am I getting a deeper understanding of the things I’m learning, but also when I do finally take gymnastics out [after graduation], I think that it will be a lot easier for me to manage my time.” And while Honors courses help teach her valuable skills, they also introduce her to more classmates.
As a STEM student, Kyndall is mostly in science classes; however, most of her Honors classes are more arts and humanities-based. “It’s helped me get a completely different perspective of people who go to Kent State,” she said.
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Honors College Kent State Experimental Archaeology Students Earn Full-Rides to Graduate Schools
Two Members of Honors College Receive Scholarships
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Pictured Above: Nicholas Gala, an Honors College student, will attend the University of Tulsa this fall on a full-ride scholarship after serving as a member of the Kent State University Experimental Archaeology lab.
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The Kent State University Experimental Archaeology lab recently boasted the success of five members of the lab and their stories, as all five lab members have received full-ride scholarships to graduate school this fall.
The Honors College is thrilled to announce that two of these five archaeology students are graduates of the College. Honors alum Nicholas Gala pictured in the photos above, is a native of Geneva, Ohio and earned his bachelor’s degree from Kent State and is now pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Tulsa. Grace Conrad of Medina, Ohio, who was also an Honors College member, earned her bachelor’s degree at Kent State and is currently pursuing a doctorate at The Ohio State University.
The lab group is led by Metin I. Eren, Ph.D., associate professor and director of archaeology in the College of Arts and Sciences and also, Assistant Professor Michelle Bebber, Ph.D.
“We’ve had a banner year,” Eren said. “I don’t think we’re ever going to have another year where we have five people get full rides to top graduate programs. That’s a testament to just how special this group of hard-working and brilliant students are, and all of Kent State should be proud of these archaeology students."
“Not only are they all successful, but they did it during the worst time to be in college ever (during the COVID-19 pandemic),” Eren continued. “They all essentially lost a full year in the lab. Despite that, we haven’t had as many students publish as much. So, that is just a testament to how much they’ve worked outside the lab to pursue their dreams, so their success is their own.”
Kent State is ranked as an R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which is the highest recognition that doctoral universities can receive, affirming Kent State’s place as an elite research institution along with Yale, Harvard and the University of California-Berkeley.
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Women in Engineering Club Builds Organization from Ground Up
Honors College Students Establish New Club
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Pictured Above: Members of the newly established Women in Engineering Club pose for a photo during 'Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day'.
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As an aerospace engineering major, Ruth Miller knew that Kent State didn’t have a women in engineering club on campus, but she didn’t become discouraged, she became determined.
She rolled up her sleeves and got to work with sophomore Autumn Ohl and junior Haley Dees to build a brand-new chapter at Kent State.
The KSU Women in Engineering Club was founded in October 2021. Miller, a sophomore Honors College student from Pittsburgh, is the group's president. Ohl, who is also an aerospace engineering major and Honors College student from Sarver, Pa., is vice president of the club.
“I wanted to be the person to bring the opportunity that I knew other universities had for women in engineering to Kent State,” Miller said.
The group is not affiliated with any external organizations, but members are working toward becoming an official chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, said Dees, the club’s event coordinator, from Lisbon, Ohio.
“We hit the ground running,” said Dees, an Honors College student. “We went from five officers in October 2021 to 26 total members in May to 35 members in October. The growth has been incredible.”
Recently, the club and Kent State's College of Aeronautics and Engineering hosted 'Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day'. During the event, 18 girls and other gender minorities in grades 7-12 visited campus for a day of fun STEM and engineering-themed activities.
The goal of 'Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day' was to “introduce these youth to the culture of respect and support that Kent State University and the College of Aeronautics and Engineering creates for women pursuing degrees in male-dominated fields, such as engineering.”
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High-Powered Rocket Team Competes for First Time in Spaceport America Cup
Two Honors Students Participate in the Award-Winning Team
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Pictured Above: Eight of the eleven team members traveled to New Mexico to compete in the competition, each providing knowledge and leadership instrumental in the success of the launch.
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On Saturday, July 16, the Kent State High-Power Rocket Team was recognized at the 2022 Spaceport America Cup Awards Ceremony for their 1st place win in the 10,000 ft AGL apogee student researched and developed (SRAD) solid rocket propulsion system, also known as the 10K SRAD Solid category. Amongst the eleven members of the high-powered rocket team were two Honors College students. Autumn Ohl, a sophomore Honors College aerospace engineering major and physics minor, served as an aerostructure leader and social media officer for the team. Sophomore cybersecurity engineering major and Honors College student Savannah Vinkler served as the safety officer for the team. Both Honors College team members traveled to New Mexico with their team members to assist with the successful launch.
One-hundred and forty-nine teams were invited to participate in the competition, and a total of 100 teams accepted the invitation. The Kent State High-Power Rocket Team earned the overall ranking of 8th place and this was the first year the Kent State High-Power Rocket Team participated in this international intercollegiate competition.
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The Spaceport America Cup is the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering conference and competition. Over 1,700 students and faculty typically gather in Southern New Mexico for the annual Spaceport America Cup. Drawn by the opportunity to collaborate and compete at a world-class spaceport facility, they represent the best and brightest from more than 150 institutions located all across the world.
“What we accomplished is no small feat. Our team faced a lot of struggles and persevered through each and every one of them,” said Benjamin Kwasa, Ph.D., assistant professor of aerospace engineering at Kent and Kent State High-Power Rocket Team 2022 advisor.
Read the full story about the award-winning rocket team.
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Haley Dees Appointed as Undergraduate Student Trustee
Term to Run Through May 2024
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Haley Dees, Honors College student of Lisbon, Ohio, to the Kent State University Board of Trustees as an undergraduate student trustee. Dees’ two-year term runs through May 16, 2024. She succeeds Honors College student Dylan Mace.
Dees is a junior majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in applied mathematics, who anticipates graduating in May 2025.
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Honors Student Receives Distinguished May 4 Honors Memorial Scholarship
Zalamea Receives Jeffrey Glenn Miller May 4 Honors
Memorial Scholarship
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Pictured Above: Honors College student and May 4 Honors Memorial Scholarship recipient Daniel Zalamea poses for a photo with his guitar.
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Honors College student Daniel Zalamea is a first-year Kent State University student studying chemistry. He is the recipient of the May 4 Honors Memorial Scholarship, awarded to one member of each entering honors freshman class. Having only been a Kent State student for a matter of months, Daniel is excited to start getting involved in a number of extracurricular activities and furthering his academic interests thanks to the financial support of the scholarship.
The May 4 Honors Memorial Scholarships were established in 1990, named for each of the four students killed on May 4th, 1970, on Kent State’s Kent campus. At any given time, there is always one student being funded with a May 4 Memorial Scholarship in each of the classes, freshman through senior, in memory of the four students killed. Daniel holds the Jeffrey Glenn Miller May 4 Scholarship. Since 1998, these scholarships have funded students with full in-state tuition for the four years of the bachelor's degree.
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Honors Student First to Receive Dr. Elizabeth Howard Scholarship
Olivia Eader is Memorial
Award Recipient
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Olivia Eader is a second-year Kent State University Honors College student from Bellefontaine, Ohio. She is the first recipient of the Dr. Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors Scholarship, the newly established fund for Honors students in memory of Elizabeth Howard, Ph.D., who was a prominent member of the Honors College community, as well as the Department of English.
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Fall Events & Activities
Pumpkin Painting in Clark Hall
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Honors College students and Global Village residents participated in a Pumpkin Painting event last month, held in the Honors College Living-Learning Community of Clark Hall.
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Follow us on our social media accounts for information on
events, programming and reminders!
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