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.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Fall 2024 Honors Graduates

 Congratulations to the Honors College Fall 2024 graduates! 

L to R: Ong, Trejo, Payne, Tipton
L to R: Henderson and Lok

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Kaylie Tipton Bucket List

 

I’ve never thought before about what I want done before I die. That seems kinda morbid to me. But if I absolutely had to decide something I would say maybe a well paying job in my dream career. I want to make a game that people love and play all the time. 
 
That’s one of the few things I'm absolutely sure on. I also wouldn’t mind honing my art skills more and becoming more skilled and able to draw things I’m not able to right now, or at least what I’m not good at drawing right now like hands. 
 
There are several stories I’d love to either write or draw out in a comic at some point. But before I do that I want to get better at drawing things so it looks better. 
 
Same for writing, I need to improve before I decide to write any of my stories, especially in a setting where others may read it.
           
 I want to be able to work in a place where I can achieve my dreams of making video games for people to play. That’s all I’ve wanted to do since 7th grade just about. I have ideas for games I’d love to make a thing but I have to learn more before I can make them a reality. 
 
Because while I know some coding, it’s not near enough to be able to make an entire game from scratch. Nor do I have the art skills required to make it good looking as well as functional. 
 
Hopefully it can be achieved in the future because I am learning and I look forward to it greatly.

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

3D Printers

 

 

SAU Honors College staff deliver 3D printers

One of our new full honors courses is 3D Printing. Naturally, you cannot teach course without printers.

We are looking forward to offering this innovative course.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Kayla Duke Bucket List

 

The first item on my list would be to travel. I love going places and seeing things, especially if I get to learn while sightseeing. My first time on a plane was when I was 5 years old, going to Disney World for the first time. I have been traveling much of my life, getting bored if I spend too much time in one spot. When the world shut down during COVID, it really emphasized for me how much I love the "going" part of trips and vacations.
      The second (and probably largest) item on my bucket list is to graduate with my bachelor's in psychology. Psychology has always been something I love learning about, and I enjoy helping others and navigating large or stigmatized subjects with them because, if I don't, who will?
      Another item would be all the thrill items. I've always been an adrenaline junkie for most of my life. I love roller coasters and shot towers. Anything that gets my heart racing. I think two big thrills for me would be sky diving and bungee jumping. Also, that zip line in Vegas that you get to do Superman-style, on your stomach. I have also always wanted to go to a monster truck show, so that is another big one on the list.
      One more item for me would be to have a family of my own, no matter what it looks like. Family has always been really important to me, and I cannot wait to have one of my own that helps others and shows them support, love, and care.
      I hope to cross off many, if not all, of these items in 10-15 years, but some goals might take longer than others.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Bucket List David Barlow

 Academic Goals 

1. Join a Study Group: Collaborate with classmates to enhance learning. 

2. Attend a Guest Lecture: Take advantage of speakers from various fields. 

3. Grades: Pass all my classes with at least a B Social Experiences 

4. Make New Friends: Connect with people from different backgrounds. 

5. Attend a Campus Event: Go to a concert, festival, or cultural event. 

6. Join a Club: Find a student organization that matches my interests. Personal Development 

7. Volunteer: Get involved in community service or campus initiatives. 

8. Learn a New Skill: Take a workshop (cooking, photography, coding). 

Adventure

 9. Explore My Campus: Visit all the important spots and hidden gems. 

10. Take a Weekend Trip: Explore nearby cities or nature spots with friends. 

11. Go Hiking or Camping: Enjoy the outdoors and recharge. Fun Activities 

12. Host a Game Night: Bring friends together for board games or video games. 

13. Try a New Restaurant: Explore local eateries and cuisines. 

14. Attend a Sporting Event: Cheer for the Muleriders. 

Health and Wellness 

15. Physical: Start going to the gym regularly. 

16. Establish a Self-Care Routine: Prioritize mental and physical well-being. 

17. Cook a Healthy Meal: Experiment with nutritious recipes. 

Unique Experiences 

18. Attend a Cultural Festival: Experience diversity on campus or in the community. 

19. Try a New Hobby: Whether it’s pottery, dance, or coding, give something new a shot. 

20. Capture Moments: Take lots of photos to document my journey. 

Bonus Challenge 

21. Go a Week Without Social Media: Focus on real-life connections and experiences.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Hunger Summit 2024

On October 24th Dr. Kardas attended the 2024 Hunger Summit along with three honors students. The three students gave a presentation on surveys given to fellow SAU students regarding food option preferences on campus. 

From left to right: Jada Bell, Jasmine Lopez, Kayla Duke

Kathy Gean (right) takes honors students to Hunger Summit

Monday, October 14, 2024

Bucket List Ranaiya Kirkindoff

When I was told to come up with a bucket list my mind went blank. Growing up I would always hear about people's bucket lists on TV and social media. I would never hear that people I know in real life have one.

The first thing on my bucket list is traveling to all seven continents. My first time traveling on a airplane was on a family trip to Florida when was in the 10th grade. Ever since then I’ve loved traveling by airplane. Also, learning about the different cultures around the world and their traditions would be pretty fascinating.

Being a business owner has always been a dream of mine. I would really like to open up a Beauty Shop because hairdressing has always been a passion of mine. I’ve been doing hair since I was little, but I didn’t start doing others hair and having clients until I was in the 10th grade. In Black culture the beauty shop is a place where we can vent, laugh, cry, and connect with other people all through hair.

Getting my doctoral degree in music has recently been something added to my bucket list. Music has been in my life since I was born. My whole family sings and plays instruments. Music has always been something that I gravitated to more than anything else. Music is healing in a way, when you don’t have the words you have music, the sounds, the lyrics, the way the music makes you feel. Being able to teach others the ins and outs of music and being able to connect with them is important to me.

Ever since I was little I’ve always had big dreams and aspirations; I have accomplished many of them. Hopefully, I can push myself to cross more things off of my bucket list in the next ten years. To many it might seem impossible and intimidating but I love a good challenge.