CONNECTING OUTSIDE CLASS
Honors Ambassadors foster community during COVID-19 By Maria Hite and Gabriella Morin Honors Ambassadors sponsored an outdoor painting social activity.
How can community be created amid a pandemic? This was the challenge that MTSU Honors Student Ambassadors faced in 2020–21. In the past, the ambassadors hosted events ranging from Halloween-themed escape rooms to health and wellness workshops focused on nutrition and meditation. Like millions of students around the world, MTSU students saw the COVID-19 pandemic change the ways they learned and connected. Instead of walking to classes and talking with friends and classmates, students often found themselves staring at computer screens. The pandemic presented a particular challenge for planning events. The ambassadors’ goal was to create events that encouraged student engagement while also prioritizing the safety of all involved. For 2020–21, while pandemic protocols were in place, this meant primarily creating virtual events. The Honors Ambassadors kickstarted the Fall 2020 semester with a “socially distanced” scavenger hunt. Students were encouraged to get outside,
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ARETÉ MAGAZINE | Fall 2021
solve riddles, take photos, and explore MTSU’s campus and traditions. Bonus points were given for mask selfies. Later in the semester, Honors students tested their knowledge of history, science, and Disney in a virtual Quiz Bowl. The ambassadors also helped decorate the Honors College for Halloween and hosted an event featuring a costume contest and True Blue pets. There is something about food that brings people together, so the ambassadors created a recipe book that featured recipes from the Honors College community. From Kabsa Arabian Rice to Pumpkin Mochi, the recipes reflected the cultural diversity present at MTSU and the Honors College. In the Spring 2021 semester, the Honors Ambassadors created new activities that were enhanced through collaboration. They partnered with MTSU’s Career Development Center to host virtual escape games, which consisted of solving riddles and puzzles to help MTSU’s resident winged
