Prospective Students are Invited to Attend the Honors College Visit Day

Everyone is welcome to join the Honors College Visit Day!

Prospective students are invited to visit the UMKC Honors College on Thursday, March 16, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Learn about the Honors College experience including admission requirements, academic interests and exclusive Honors College scholarships.

During the event, you will take a tour of campus, meet with current honors students, shadow an honors course and eat lunch in the UMKC Student Union.

The agenda for the open house is listed below:

  1. 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Registration in the UMKC Student Union and Continental Breakfast
  2. 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Dean’s Welcome
  3. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – UMKC Admissions
  4. 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Academic Appointment
  5. 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Campus Tour
  6. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Lunch with Honors Students, Faculty and Staff/Honors Presentations
  7. 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. – Honors Anchor 298 Course: The Idea of Culture

To register, click here.

For more information, contact the UMKC Welcome Center in Admissions at (816) 235-8652 or welcome@umkc.edu.

The 2017 Lucerna Symposium Was a Success!

This year’s Lucerna Symposium was a success!

Four authors presented their research in front of the UMKC community on February 7th, celebrating the launch and publication of the 11th volume of Lucerna. Big congratulations to Claire Godfrey, Sydney Harvey, Alexander Peuser and Madison Lackey for their amazing contributions to undergraduate research! Read more about their research and the symposium here.

Read the 11th volume of Lucerna (PDF) or stop by 424 Cherry Hall to pick up a FREE copy!

 

 

 

 

Honors Student Going Places In UMKC… and China

“The Honors College is all about diversifying yourself and collecting new experiences,” says Honors College student Emily McIntyre, who is majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

McIntyre recently returned to UMKC from a trip to China with the UMKC Enactus team as part of the organization’s China Project, aimed at building and continuing relationships between Kansas City and China. Along with five other UMKC Enactus students, she had the opportunity to travel to China and present to students of Chinese universities about the culture of Kansas City, UMKC, and the business practices of organizations in Kansas City. She also had the opportunity to talk with several students about art, medicine, her opinions on social issues and more. “They were interested in you and your experiences and just wanted to have an honest conversation,” McIntyre explained.

Although results from the project are still forthcoming, McIntyre’s involvement in the China Project this year helped oversee the creation of several new agreements between Kansas City and China including the development of an exchange program with the UMKC School of Medicine and several exchange programs with the Bloch School.

McIntyre always wanted to travel to another country and going to China allowed her to experience a brand new culture unlike anything she is accustomed to. For her, one of the greatest opportunities was being able to exchange ideas and thoughts with new people. James McKusick, dean of the Honors College, also visited China with the Enactus team and talked with McIntyre. “It also helped that Dean Jim was on the trip, so I had opportunities to discuss with him the benefits of travel from an educational standpoint, as well as a personal one,” said McIntyre.

McIntyre credits the Honors College for her preparation for the trip: “My experience in the Honors College, especially with Honors Colloquium, helped broaden my viewpoints and helped me be more accepting of other cultures.”

 

 

Honors College Alumnus Explores Lincoln’s Influence on Music

Distinguished Honors alumnus and musicologist Thomas Kernan was featured in the Chicago Tribune for his doctoral exploration of former president Abraham Lincoln’s influence on music and evolution as a political symbol and hero over time.

Kernan graduated from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance with a Bachelor of Music in 2005. White attending UMKC, Kernan was also an active member of the Honors Program. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 2008. Today, he serves as Assistant Professor of Music History at Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.

Kernan has unearthed upwards of one thousand pieces of music that emphasize Lincoln’s influence throughout five generations – a period longer than previous research had suggested. These pieces illustrate Lincoln as everything from a classic American success story to a commander-in-chief rallying for victory. Kernan’s examination was exhaustive; he combed the Lincoln Presidential Library tirelessly for two weeks and made visits to various universities nationwide with his wife, Sarah Peters Kernan, a fellow UMKC and Honors Program alumna.

Kernan’s work earned him the $1,000 Hay-Nicolay Dissertation Prize from the Lincoln Library in February 2015. His goal is to have completed a searchable online database from his findings by April 2017.

Read more about Kernan’s scholarship on the Chicago Tribune.

Honors College Freshman Takes 6-Year Med Program By Storm

UMKC Freshman Emmanuel Madu’s passion in life is helping people.

“I want to be a physician…pediatrics or maybe emergency medicine,” Madu said. “Pediatrics because I like working with kids and emergency medicine, it’s the aspect of always having to think on your feet to solve problems that appeals to me.”

Madu is a six-year medical student majoring in Biology. Madu is excited about the complexity and various skills required for his future career in medicine.

“It (medicine) combines multiple things – I’m someone who gets, I’d say, bored easily – but with medicine there’s always something new to learn, discoveries each and every single day. Plus, you’re always helping people and a life dedicated to helping other people is a good one.”

Madu is currently one of the few Honors College students who is also a six-year medical student and hopes to encourage more of his fellow classmates to join him.

“If you are passionate about something then you can earn Honors credit with Honors contracts, and there are a lot of opportunities for you to succeed,” Madu said.

“Even in my classes right now, I wouldn’t say I have time to…take another class, but in Anatomy I could choose to do an Honors contract and earn Honors credit while furthering my knowledge in a class that will be applicable to me later on in life.”

When asked why he chose to join the Honors College, Madu responded, “Why not? It opens so many opportunities to me. The fact that I have the opportunity to try is what really appealed to me.”

Honors College Recognizes Fall 2016 Graduates

On Saturday, December 17, 2016, the University of Missouri-Kansas City held its annual Fall Commencement Ceremonies for 1,520 graduating seniors, among which were Honors College students Jesse Bihlmeyer (right), Haley Crane (not pictured), Julia Ehana (left), Tam Hua (not pictured), and Eliana Hudson (middle).

The Honors College recognized all six graduates with University Honors, and Bihlmeyer and Ehana were awarded the highest distinction UMKC offers as Honors Scholars.

Each graduating senior received a Recognition of Achievement and an Honors College medallion. Those graduating as Honors Scholars also received a blue cord to be worn at commencement.

Graduates at a Glance

 

Jesse Bihlmeyer

Jesse graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and University Honors. Jesse’s Senior Honors Thesis entitled, “At the End of the Sidewalk: A Philosophic Postured Poetic” also earned him the title of Honors Scholar.

Haley Crane (Not Pictured)

Haley graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in both Music Education/Music Therapy and Psychology, as well as University Honors.

Julia Ehana

Julia graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in both Economics and Psychology, as well as University Honors. Julia’s Senior Honors Thesis entitled, “Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis: Observing the Influence of Clinical Symptoms on Exercise Willingness” also earned her the title of Honors Scholar.

Tam Hua (Not Pictured)

Tam graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Finance, as well as University Honors.

Eliana Hudson

Eliana graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, as well as University Honors.