Honors stories
Our community does some amazing things. On this page, you'll find news and features that take a close look at the developments and accomplishments of our program and the people tied to it.
Featured stories
Honors alumna shares AI law scholarship with honors students
University Honors Program alumna Margaret Hu’s authorship of the first law textbook on artificial intelligence wasn’t just groundbreaking — it was grounded in an unshakeable belief in democracy.
Seeing the whole elephant: Mary Klayder and a career centered on students
Mary Klayder's decades-long career, which concludes this May, has touched thousands of lives, most notably through her student-centered approach that has redefined what mentorship can mean in a university setting.
2025 cohort of University Scholars announced
The 22 selected students to be part of the program's 44th cohort receive a scholarship, are assigned a faculty mentor to support their academic endeavors and engage with a topic of contemporary interest as part of an interdisciplinary seminar course.
First mentors, friendly faces
Seminar assistant and honors ambassador roles give honors students a chance to represent the program and lead among their peers.
Honors Alumni Voices
Annette Becker
"The welcoming environment, smaller class size, and mix of underclassmen and upperclassmen set me at ease, and in that ease I started finding my voice as a scholar."
Adam Hupp
"Working in challenging environments and reacting to unexpected changes ... helped prepare me for my current work."
Kit Leffler
"My practice spans drawing, printmaking, and performance — all grounded in a deep curiosity about the natural world and how we move through it."
Achal Patel
"The honors program helped me develop a mindset grounded in curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to engage with perspectives beyond my own."