FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE HONORS COLLEGE
seasons-greetings-texture.jpg
Kent State University Honors College 
Parents & Friends Newsletter
December 14, 2021
Photo Above: Honors College students and staff spent a fall day exploring Beckwith Orchards on a recent field trip to the local apple orchard.
A Message from the Dean
Fall 2021


Dear Parents and Friends of Honors College Students,

Season’s Greetings! Soon our students will be headed for home for a well-deserved winter break. I expect they will be tired yet full of news about successes they had, new friends they made, and new pathways they have discovered for themselves. This fall, in direct contrast to last fall, we were able to have many in-person events and many opportunities to socialize and build that sense of belonging we wish for all our students to experience.

In this newsletter, you will find pictures of different events we offered throughout the semester, from apple orchard walks to bingo (yes, bingo! – a big hit!) to movie night to hot chocolate & puppies day… we are happy to be able to roll out these events again after last year’s hiatus.

Perhaps in your discussions over the holidays you might ask your student if they are planning on, or thinking about, a summer internship. Many of our students are engaged in summer internships, and some of those internships have January application deadlines. Here are some paid internship programs in a variety of federal agencies, in case your student might be interested!


Some federal summer paid internships with early application deadlines:

NASA - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Summer Internship Program

NOAA - National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Student Opportunities

U.S. Fish & Wildlife - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Internships

And for those students with permanent residence in Cuyahoga, Geauga, or Lake Counties, visit the Cleveland Foundation website for internship opportunities.


Of course, we continue to look for ways to improve both the academic and mental wellness of our students. Our new Peer-to-Peer Support Program has developed a good start, and we plan on expanding that program in the Spring semester to provide more student events.

Please talk with your students about ways to cope with challenges, remembering to tell them how you managed challenges yourself. Every story you have is an opportunity for your student to build self-assurance.

The Honors staff and I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and all the best for a wonderful New Year!


Best regards,

Alison J. Smith, Ph.D.
Honors College, Dean
Kent State University
Kent State Student Resources
Fall 2021


Here are some services the university offers, and that you may want to remind your students about:

First and foremost: Staying healthy - mentally, physically, financially, environmentally. Where can students find assistance with…


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.

The Honors College offers Honors College Student Commuter & Off Campus Special Events - tell your student to keep an eye out for our next 'Cookies & Registration' event during the Spring semester!


Where do I go for Financial Aid Questions?
 



Where can I find information about Kent State's coronavirus safety principles and the Flashes Safe Eight?
 
Click the image above, scan the QR code or visit this link for more information!
Frequently Asked Questions about the new
Honors Peer-to-Peer Support Program:

  • Are the students in this program counseling other students?
No. Their role is to be an accessible, listening peer that can direct a
student to the appropriate campus professional help.

  • How do the students in this program know how to do this?
Training and Mentoring. These students receive training (how to be a
good listener, how to know where to direct students) and year-long
mentoring from licensed counselors in the College of Education, Health
& Human Services.

  • Where are these students deployed?
They are on the Kent Campus in Honors Living-Learning Communities
(LLC), and also in other parts of campus to be available for commuter
students.

  • How can my student find out about this program?
They have received announcements in their eNews and in the Living-Learning Communities, there are posters up with a QR code for them to access information.
Pictures Above: Honors College students pose for a photo while attending ice skating in downtown Kent with the Peer-to-Peer Support members earlier this month. They enjoyed food trucks and entertainment, along with free ice skating and dinner at Belleria Pizza & Italian Restaurant afterwards!
Hot Cocoa & Puppies!
Gearing Up for Finals Week!
Pictured Above: Honors College students enjoy a break from studying, while snuggling with some pups.
This fall, the Honors College hosted our annual Hot Cocoa Bar, where students were served up with a hot chocolate bar complete with assorted toppings, healthy snacks, and even Dunkin Donuts! The event was held throughout the day in the Honors College lobby, so that both on-campus residents and commuters would have the opportunity to attend and enjoy the festivities.

Students had the chance to take a break from studying to relax and chat with classmates and get some stress relief while coloring festive winter scenes at our impromptu coloring station. In the afternoon, our fluffy 4-legged friends from 'Paws for a Cause' visited the Honors College library, along with their handlers, and students enjoyed an afternoon of snuggles and pups!
Pictures Above: Two Honors College students pose for a photo after checking out the hot cocoa bar, along with donuts and Honors College mugs!
Salvation Army
of Portage County

Honors College students and staff volunteered at the Salvation Army last week, alongside the Kent State women’s soccer team, packing 125 food boxes for the local Portage County community! Thanks to all who volunteered their time and efforts!

Photo Above: Photo of Kent State Honors College students and staff volunteering their time at the Salvation Army of Portage County, located in Ravenna.
Honors College Movie Night
Fall 2021

The Honors College students and staff experienced a night at the movies earlier this fall, where those in attendance received a complimentary movie ticket and a free popcorn at Kent Plaza Cinemas!

Attendees had the opportunity to view two showings, 'Eternals' or 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'. More events are being planned for the spring 2022 semester, so please encourage your student to attend. Special thanks to Honors College graduate assistant Kaylee Volpe for planning this fun night for our students!
Pictured Directly Above: Nearly 60 Kent State Honors College students and staff enjoyed free movies at the Kent Plaza Cinemas, complete with reclining lounge chairs and complimentary popcorn!

Pictured Top Right: Honors College students gather for a photo with their popcorn prior to movie start times.
Honors Leadership Academy
A Successful Fall Semester!

The college's Honors Leadership Academy (HLA), now in its fourth year, is comprised of 16 freshmen honors students who have dedicated themselves to a year of leadership, learning and civic engagement during their first collegiate year at Kent State. Students completing the leadership academy class program will receive 2 honors credits in the fall and 2 credits in the spring to count towards the total 24 required honors credits for graduation.

The academy members have become familiar with many community organizations and leadership connections both on-campus and off, including visits to the Kent Historical Society and the Ben Curtis Family Foundation.
 
Pictured Above: Freshmen Honors Leadership Academy members enjoy cookie decorating, courtesy of Sunshine Cupcakes in Ravenna, during the last weeks of the fall 2021 semester.
United Way of Portage County
School Supply and Book Donations

The Honors College is thankful for our partnership with the United Way of Portage County. With the gracious donations of school supplies and books by this year’s Honors College freshmen class collected during freshmen move-in, we were able to assist the United Way with students’ school supply needs across Portage County this fall!

The United Way of Portage County has been serving the local community since 1967. According to their website, there are approximately 26,861 households in the county that have trouble affording basic needs or live in poverty. The United Way addresses these issues by providing meals, food pantries, emergency shelter, school supply drives, reading role model opportunities, literacy kits and more to the local community.

Photo Above: Honors College marketing coordinator Stephanie Moskal (left) and coordinator of community engagement Erin Ahrens (right), pose with school supplies and books donated by this year’s Honors College freshmen class to the United Way of Portage County.
BINGO Night!
In the Honors College

Throughout the fall 2021 semester, the Honors College has hosted a variety of activities, both in-person and virtually, to engage students while also providing a relaxing and entertaining atmosphere for students of all majors and backgrounds. The month of November included BINGO Night, where students were invited to sign up for BINGO cards and play virtual rounds of the game against other Honors classmates and friends. Students were awarded with gift cards and prizes for the winners!

Special thanks to our Honors College graduate assistant Cameron Booth, for planning this fun event.
Photos Above: Honors College students enjoy a night of Bingo, hosted by one of our Honors College graduate assistants, Cameron Booth (featured top left square of screenshot).