SAU Honors College

The SAU Honors College was founded in 2003 by Dr. David Rankin, president of SAU. Dr. Lynne Belcher served as founding director and is retired from SAU. The Honors College seeks and admits qualified students who seek to pursue a serious academic program with equally gifted peers and committed teachers. Honors classes are small and provide academically enriching opportunities for students and the faculty who teach them. Currently, SAU enrolls nearly 170 honors students and graduates about 66% of admitees in four years or less. Anyone interested in applying to the Honors College or seeking further information should contact the director, Dr. Edward P. Kardas at epkardas@saumag.edu or at 870 904-8897.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Thomas, Valerie: My Bucket List

Life is too short to spend it worrying about trivial matters, passing matters, and material possessions. Although everyone gets wrapped up in trials and distractions, I believe that we all need to find a way to experience what we truly want out of our lives. I do not want to die unfulfilled, so what follows is a small portion of my bucket list.


I would love to go scuba diving before I die. I am fascinated with the ocean and its dark depths. I would really like to come face to face with a shark in the “cage of courage.” On my scuba adventure, I’d like to visit a coral reef and see the kaleidoscopic environment of color and life.


The second thing on my list is to travel all around the world. I’d like to see different cultures and see the festivals they hold. For example: the festival of the dead in Mexico, Oktoberfest in Germany or the Hinamatsuri in Japan. I also want to see the remaining wonders of the world, and imagine ancient cultures.


I would like to learn a foreign language before I kick the bucket. I would like to learn Japanese, because above all other places I want to travel there. Their culture has always fascinated me, and I would love to experience it on authentic terms, not just as a tourist.


Donating blood will have to be the fourth thing I would like to do. My fear of needles has always stopped me from donating (I literally need to be held down for shots.) I want to confront my fear someday, and give blood so that it might help save a life.


If at all possible, perhaps in my retirement years, I would like to run an animal shelter. I’d like to create a sanctuary for the unfortunate animals of abuse or abandonment. It always affects me when I see helpless animals, and I always feel powerless to help them, so someday I want to help every single one that I find.

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