Third-year Honors College student Samira Zantout is co-president of the Honors College Student Association (HCSA). The organization meets every other Wednesday from 3:00-4:00pm in Cherry Hall, room 415. All honors students are welcome to attend!
- In your own words, how would you describe HCSA as an organization, and what is its primary mission within the Honors College?
I would describe HCSA as the aspiring Social Chair of the Honors College. HCSA is the student platform for change and social networking: it is through HCSA that any student can voice their opinions and ideas and turn those ambitions into reality.
- What is your role in HCSA, and how long have you been a part of the organization?
I am the Co-President of HCSA, alongside my fellow Co-President Deena Essa. This is my third year in the Honors College, and my first year as an active member of HCSA.
- What is an exciting project that the organization currently has in place?
The most recent project we are very excited to put together is the Thanksgiving Potluck coming up before thanksgiving break: who doesn’t love free food and Gates BBQ? Our spring semester will be packed with ice skating nights to de-stress the start of the semester, movie and picnic nights under the stars, a Student Speaker Event to give our students a professional platform to spread their ideas, hangouts at Chipotle and outings at Yogurtini, etc.!
- Why did you decide to be involved and run for leadership in this organization? What is advantageous about taking part in the group?
The Honors College is always evolving and growing, with the most recent changes shifting HCSA’s platform from being curriculum-oriented to student-oriented. Deena and I saw an opportunity to give HCSA a new identity that will better serve and unite our Honors students. We ran for office to bring that vision to life! Taking part in HCSA has been particularly eye-opening to the diverse interests that exist in our program. It is extremely satisfying to know that I’m taking part in serving and uniting all of those different voices!