Igniting a Passion for Learning
honors.umaine.edu
GREETINGS FROM
THE HONORS COLLEGE S
ince its founding in 1935, Honors at the University of Maine has provided enriching opportunities for some of the best students in Maine and beyond. The Civilizations core courses and the Honors thesis provide engaging academic experiences for over 800 students from all majors, guided by an interdisciplinary faculty. But as the following pages show, Honors is more than just coursework. It is a community. Engaged research and public service are hallmarks of UMaine’s Honors College. We encourage our students to explore the world through study abroad and internships, while also supporting them in research that affects their communities, the state and the nation. More information about Honors at UMaine is available online (honors.umaine.edu).
“I can say unequivocally that Honors was the most important part of my education at UMaine.” James P. Gibbs ’86 Professor of Vertebrate Conservation Biology SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
RESEARCH U Allyson Eslin Economics, Political Science, and Psychology ’17
For University of Maine student Allyson Eslin, one major was not enough. Neither were two.It took three majors — political science, psychology and economics — as well as being a student in the Honors College to fulfill her academic pursuits. Eslin conducted research in each of her majors, including projects focused on sustainability and the environment. In addition, Eslin spent time working in the Washington, D.C. office of Sen. Angus King. Her honors thesis is entitled “The Economic and Psychological Metrics of Political DecisionMaking.”
What extracurricular activities occupy your time? “Beyond academics and work, I typically write novels, play the flute, read and paint. Had I not pursued my legislative interests, I likely would have thought about becoming a novelist or poet.”
ndergraduate research, in any discipline, is centrally important to Honors. Many Honors students in the biomedical field take advantage of the college’s participation in a National Institutes of Health training grant that supports Dr. Sally Molloy’s Phage Genomics research course for first-year students, as well as a junior-level short course, offered at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor. Nearly a dozen research fellowships also are available through the program.
The Sustainable Food Systems Research Collaborative brings students together with community partners to address problems of food production, distribution and access. Honors research also includes creative projects. Want to write a symphony or paint a series of murals? Honors students do just that. Honors also supports research through fellowship opportunities in political science, study abroad, art and many other fields.
1,838
Honors theses 1935–2017
Undergraduate research fellowships 2012–17
186
197
Student conference presentations 2012–17
THE HONORS JOURNEY Amy Benoit Frappier Geological Sciences ’99 “Honors at UMaine was a crucial part of my development as a student and person. Honors encouraged me to start pushing intellectual boundaries sooner than I would have on my own.”
As a Student In 2006, Amy Benoit Frappier earned her Ph.D. in Earth and environmental sciences from the University of New Hampshire. Today, she is an associate professor at Skidmore College in the Department of Geosciences where she serves as the Charles Lubin Professor for Women in Science. Frappier was the 2014–15 Distinguished Honors Graduate Lecturer. She challenged the Honors community to respond to the consequences of our changing Earth by considering: “What does it mean to be one small part of a global force in the Anthropocene?”
“My understanding of what it means to be a scientist was shaped in important ways by my Honors thesis committee experience. It is not enough to trade jargon with other experts; the scientist must be able to explain in plain language 'so what?' 'who cares?' and 'how do you know?' to all kinds of people."
After UMaine
Taylor Cunningham
Isaiah Mansour
English/Anthropology ’16
Marine Sciences ’17
Honors English student Taylor Cunningham is fascinated by language. In spring 2015, Cunningham started a language and culture lecture series for students, faculty and community members. During her time as an undergraduate, Cunningham also presented on “Greening Honors,” won awards for her fiction writing, studied travel writing in Berlin, and conducted research on the importance of Maine hermits as folk characters in contemporary culture.
“It’s exciting to work with people who are passionate about their individual projects and open to new ideas. It consistently inspires me to explore more and take chances with my own thoughts.”
Isaiah Mansour followed his passion for marine biology to UMaine and the Honors College. Here, he has received three undergraduate fellowships to study giant keyhole limpets, which contain an ingredient important for mammalian disease vaccines. When he’s not researching, you can find him at Student Government meetings or performing poetry with his bass guitar at various readings around Maine.
“Honors has been my sunlight, unleashing and refining my poetic inclinations. Honors has been my water, supporting my interests via research grants, lectures and internships. Honors has been my nutrients, exploring the world via trips, and worlds past via texts. And I’ve only just breached the surface.”
CHANGE THE WORLD
WITH HONORS I nterested in getting involved in the Honors College community outside of the classroom? There are lots of opportunities here, too. Your experience at UMaine begins with the Welcome Weekend Day of Service, where you will pack meals for the hungry, make dinner for Ronald McDonald House residents, work with the local rotary on a parade float, or help spruce up our neighbors’ properties.
The Honors College provides opportunities for student involvement throughout the year, as well. Become a member of the Student Advisory Board. Volunteer to work with prospective students. Help host a visiting scholar in your field. Interested in having your voice heard directly? Become a student representative on the Curriculum Committee or Honors Council, a governing body in the Honors College. Interested in presenting at a conference? Each year Honors takes a group of students to the National Collegiate Honors Council conference, which meets in cities throughout the United States. Interested in seeing the world? The Stanhope Study Abroad Fellowship or the Rezendes Global Service Scholarship are available. There is a vibrant extracurricular life here at UMaine’s Honors College, and we look forward to your participation in it.
Aliya Uteuova Political Science, Journalism ’18 Aliya Uteuova is a fourth-year student from Astana, Kazakhstan, studying political science and journalism. Uteuova writes and edits for the school newspaper, The Maine Campus, hosts a radio show titled "Music of the World," works as a Resident Assistant in Honors Housing, and is currently working on her Honors Thesis that addresses issues of declining journalistic freedom. Uteuova is also the winner of the 2018 Dorothy Clarke Wilson Peace writing prize.
“Since coming to Maine in 2014, I truly fell in love with this state, its nature, atmosphere, and culture... I greatly enjoy reading poetry on the banks of the Stillwater river and identifying trees; my favorite is the red oak, for it can withstand the strongest of winds and turns the brightest of reds in the fall. ”
LIVING AND
LEARNING COMMUNITIES H
onors housing offers opportunities for students to immerse themselves in a living and learning environment. Approximately 300 Honors students reside in historic Colvin Hall or across the way in Balentine, Penobscot and Estabrooke halls. The Thomson Honors Center in Colvin Hall is open to Honors students 24 hours a day. The Honors journey continues in our Colvin and Estabrooke classrooms, creating a true living and learning community.
“At its best, Honors education is the vehicle for talented students to develop and excel as thinkers, researchers, artists, scholars and citizens. And if you ask this Honors preceptor, getting to watch that process unfold may be the most rewarding part of my job.” Rob Glover CLAS — Honors Preceptor of Political Science
The Student Advisory Board is a student-run group connecting Honors students, faculty and staff. SAB members serve as ambassadors at public functions, help prospective students, plan events and provide peer-mentoring. Students are invited or may join SAB based on their interest and involvement in the Honors College.
IGNITING A PASSION FOR LEARNING “The intellectual impact (of Honors) has not waned to this day. It broadened my horizon immeasurably, enabling me to commune with the substantial ideas from diverse ages and cultures. That early seeding of ideas has resulted in a sumptuous harvest, enriching my life to this day.” Bernard Lown, M.D. ’42 Zoology Co-Founder Emeritus International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Nobel Peace Prize 1985
“(Honors classes were) very small, informal and we chose the titles, rather than having them assigned. It was completely different from the typical structured undergraduate class.” Bettina Boxall ’74 Journalism 2009 Pulitzer Prize Winner Los Angeles Times Reporter
“The Honors College allowed me to step outside my comfort zone of biology and explore different disciplines. I was challenged to think in new ways, and believe I will continue to do so throughout the rest of my academic and professional careers.” Ashley Norum ’12 Biology Varsity Hockey Player
honors.umaine.edu Honors College Thomson Honors Center 5727 Estabrooke Hall | Orono, ME 04469-5727 facebook: UMaine Honors College | 207.581.3263 | email: honors@maine.edu