Electric Guitar Making Showing and Concert

The students from Electric Guitar Making, one of the full Honors courses that was offered this spring, will be hosting an exhibition of their electric guitars created during the semester, as well as a concert on  May 5th, 2025. Below are some photos throughout the semester, exhibiting the students' hard work in creating each of their guitars. Each student worked hands on throughout the entire process, from brainstorming the design they wanted, to creating the name for their final piece. 

William Ashcraft 

"The Astronaut"

"Taking this class, I learned how much I enjoy woodworking; cutting, sanding, and routing the body was easily my favorite part of the course. It was so relaxing."

Lakken Caffey

"The Fabricator"

"Taking part in this Guitar-building course has been a great opportunity for me! As a graphic designer, much of my work takes place in a 2D space, so having the chance to get my hands on a 3D medium has been a lot of fun and a good change of pace."

Monet Coppersmith

"Scintilla"

"My favorite part was installing the hardware and electronics. In the past I did robotics, and this brought back fun memories for me. Soldering the electronics and installing the hardware is when I really felt the bass come to life, and you see your vision and hard work pay off."

Alyzia Devereaux 

"Hope"

"My guitar is my baby. I started this class wondering what I would do, and if I could really accomplish this, but I did it! All of us did it! The research phase, and before we had our guitars, was interesting."

Jade Dillard

"The BUG!!!"

"The BUG!!! did genuinely go beyond my expectations. It plays, it turns a rich orange-brown at certain angles and a pretty emerald green at others, and it makes for a fantastic art piece. When something comes out as good as my guitar did, all of the mess seems worth it."

Lilly Henry

"Glitoris"

"Guitar building is a skill that not a lot of people can say they’ve practiced, and it was an amazing opportunity to be a part of this class."

Rory Lowther

"Alma Cósmica"

"At the start, I set my aspirations atmospherically high with pages of ideas and artists to look up to, which made some of the simpler aspects of my guitar feel like they didn’t measure up. However, whenever I took a step back and looked at the process it took to get to this point, I realized that the path—full of learning opportunities and challenges—was the most important aspect of this class, not just the guitar itself."

Mtende Moyo

"The Daydreamer"

"The Daydreamer. I look at it and am reminded of my time in class this semester, but also all the thoughts that ran, and still run, through my head. An opaque mirror. Creative or exhausted, optimistic or uncertain, regardless of the myriad of emotions and memories, they’re all parts of myself."

Gabrielle Nelson

"Leto"

"The overall outcome of the design is my favorite part of the guitar. I love how what started as my hand drawing later came to life through the engraving. Now that I have my own guitar, I want to learn how to play it."

Gavin Nussey

"Belle"

"I would absolutely build another guitar. This project has made me more interested in learning to play and I would not mind making another one."

Allison Parker

"Icarus"

"The longest part of the journey was definitely the shaping and painting, and the fastest part was putting in the guts and getting it to be play-worthy. It was very cool seeing it turn from a couple slabs of wood into a working, playable guitar that you guys can see now."

Jonathon Parker

"If someone ever asked me about making a guitar I would highly recommend it. While it looks intimidating, if you have the right tools, it is not a hard process. It requires a bit of patience, but the end result is very much worth it."

Madeline Reynolds

"The Amoeba"

"I have learned so much in only a few months of class. Even outside of the classroom, I have gained knowledge in an area I’ve never really poked my nose into. I’ve become more appreciative of the time and energy it takes to build such beautiful and intricate instruments."

Lilly Smutz

"Lucifer"

"The latin saying around the edge is, Audaces fortuna juvat, or fortune favors the bold; I felt that this phrase kind of embodies my experience through the class and how it made me feel."

Emily Stanich

"Gobstopper"

"If I had one piece of advice for anyone making a guitar, it would be to take your time. Don’t rush the process. There are so many details that make a difference in the final outcome. Overall, I’m really proud of Gobstopper, and I had a lot of fun bringing this idea to life. I will definitely do this again!"

Each one of these guitars is truly a work of art and really exemplifies the creativity and dedication our honors students offer. We really appreciate the willingness of the course professor, Professor Nathan Lambert for making this class available for honors students to take. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some of these students, and we're very proud of each student's final product. 

Marsh, Daly: Bucket List

As a freshman in college I am now realizing who I want to be for the rest of my life. I am defining myself by my interests and my hobbies. Within these interests, there is a list of things I want to do before I die. This is my Bucket List!

             

Starting at number four, I’ve always wanted to go cliff diving. Similar to sky diving, cliff diving consists of jumping off the top of a cliff and pulling a parachute rip cord. I believe this would put a little fun in my life. Just the idea of putting my life on the line in a controlled “death fall” is kind of new and cool to me. 

             

At number three, I would love to teach myself how to play the guitar. I’ve always loved country music, and the guitar is one of the key elements in this genre. Being able to just sit down one day and play the guitar would be a real accomplishment for me.

            

 My number two item on the bucket list would be to find the love of my life. I want a woman that I could spend the rest of my life with. Someone that I could take back home and my family would love to be around her. My hope is that she will be everything that I ever dreamed or hoped for in a woman.

             

Finally, the number one thing I want to do before I die is become a pilot. It has been my dream to fly a plane for as long as I can remember. The thought of me actually being the pilot of a jet blows my mind.

             

From number four to number one I hope to tackle my bucket list one by one. Therefore completing my life with everything I want to do.  

Ban, Pujan: Bucket List

Like many people, I have a bucket list of stuff that I want to do in my life. Here are some of the personal achievements that I want to attempt before I die.

• 1. To become a successful engineer
• Since childhood, I have been deeply interested in scientific topics; they attract me. During my high school days, I actively participated in science activities including quizzes, experiments, and exhibitions.
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• 2. Learn to play guitar
• Everyone loves music and I’m no exception. But mostly I love playing guitar. I have always wanted to learn to play the guitar but because of studying I had no time for it.
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• 3. Open an orphanage rehabilitation center
• Back in Nepal, many children are parentless. Their life is so miserable that they don’t even have a proper house to live in or food to eat. Few care about such children. So, I want to create an environment for them which will make their life easier and more meaningful.
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• 4. Make a tour of The United States
• Before I die, I want to tour parts of United States. I want to visit and watch the Geysers at Yellowstone National Park, explore the Carlsbad Caverns, and tour the Boston Harbor, Brooklyn Bridge, The Liberty Tower, and Liberty Bell. I want to experience all the natural and man-made wonders of the United States and to remember them always as a part of my life’s happy memories.
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• 5. Experience bungee jumping
• Watching others bungee jump is fun. I want to share that fun too. I want to experience the thrill, fear, excitement; one can get from this sport.

Haydel, Emily: Bucket List

When I first heard the term "bucket list," I was clueless as to what it meant.  My dad explained to me that a bucket list was a list of things you wanted to do before you died.  Three things that I want to do are:  learn how to hula dance, sing in a Christian band, and learn to play an acoustic guitar.

         
The art of interpretive dance has always interested me.  Hula dancing incorporates complex hand motions, specific movements of the feet, costumes, and instruments to tell myths, legends, and prayers.  Hula dancing is much more than what people generally envision.  It can be fast or slow, and it is performed by both genders, not just girls swaying in grass skirts.  Hula dancing is a beautiful way to express oneself.

        
I love to sing, and I enjoy using my voice to praise God. To be part of a praise band would be an extraordinary experience. Being part of a band would be more meaningful to me than singing alone, especially if the band were leading others in praise. Also, when you sing on your own it is much easier to mess up, but when you sing with a band the other band members are there to back you up.

         
I love making music with my voice, but I also enjoy making music with instruments.  I want to play the guitar because it is a popular instrument in modern music.  Also, guitars are portable and easy to harmonize with. Playing guitar would allow me to do one of the two things I enjoy most, express myself through music.  Singing is fun, but it is much more fun to sing and be accompanied by an instrument. A musical accompaniment not only enhances my sound, but it also reduces my mistakes and helped me remember where each verse is.

         
I believe that my bucket list is perfect for me. It is not filled with unobtainable goals. Also, it contains things that are compatible with my God-given talents, making it easier to fulfill.

Electric Guitar Show

The Electric Guitar Show was a hit! The students got to show off their guitars for the first portion of the event, then a jam session followed. 

The early crowd for the event

The Brinson Fine Arts lobby was full as soon as the event started, everyone excited to see what the students had been working so hard on all year.

The jam session group

Various people played for the jam session including some of the honors students, SAU faculty, and even SAU's President Hicks!

President Hicks played his acoustic guitar

Honors student Jonathan Parker played saxophone

Bucket List: Gavin Prothro

1. Start another successful business.

2.Make a podcast with my friends.

3. Play electric guitar and sing in a successful band.

4. Publish a book.

5. Learn to play all the movements of Moonlight So nation Piano.

6. Fly an airplane.

7. Play the link sat St. Andrews.

8.Win an amateur golf tournament.

9.Graduate college with a doctorate.

10. Owna1956ChevroletCorvette.

11. Break any world record.

12. Sail down the Nile in Egypt.

13. Create an area in Genesis MUD.

14. Find an arrowhead.

15. Drive a car at 150mph.

16. Live for a month hunting and gathering my own food.

17. Own a Blue Heeler.

18. Finish renovating my trailer.

19. Build an acoustic guitar.

20. Make an art piece and have it in an art gallery.

21. Act in a movie.

22. Have a child.

23. Finish rebuilding my car.

24. Design some clothing.

25. Grow a beard.

26. Do something in politics.

27. Keep a journal.

28. Learn how to make my great grandmother's rolls.

29. Befriend a wild animal.

30. Learn falconry.

31. Visit every country.

32. Have a pet axolotl.

33. Go to a convention.

34. Compose a piece of classical style music.

35. View a meteor shower.

36. Use dynamite safely.

37. Try eating alligator.

38. Learn to skateboard.

39. Fish in the Mediterranean Sea.

40. Grow a bonsai tree.

41. Make a clock.

42. Take a DNA test to learn about my genealogy.

43. Make a terrarium.

44. Harvest honey.

45. Drive a 1964 Aston Martin DB5.

46. Make paper and ink.

47. Paint a self-portrait.

48. Carve a statue.

49. Befriend a goose.

50. Get married.

51. Go inside a pyramid in Egypt.

52. Walk through Jerusalem in Israel.

53. Learn to speak fluent Spanish, and improve on my Latin, koine Greek, and Biblical Hebrew.

54. Go magnet fishing and find something worth keeping.

55. Scuba diving in a coral reef.

56. Throw a paper air plane off the top of a skyscraper.

57. Win a game of pool through denial, (winning before the opponent gets a turn)

58. Learn to dance.

Shaw, Ehvan: Bucket List

                  Dying is on the very bottom of my list. If I could avoid death all together that would be even better! But, seeing that it probably will not happen, death it is. But before I am buried in my cold grave, there are five things that I would love to try: sky diving, bungee jumping, learning to play three instruments, start dancing again, and visiting every state in the good ole United States of America.

                  I love going on rollercoasters and doing things that get my adrenaline pumping. Going sky diving would be just another thrill chasing activity for me. Plus, I have never been on a plane so it would combine two things that I have never done into one.

                  Bungee jumping is one more thrill ride that I think would be epic fun. Not only would I be jumping from a high place, but I'd hanging upside down while doing it! That may seem a little crazy to some but then again I never considered myself to be the sanest person in the world.

                  I am in love with music and listen to all types of it- from hip-hop to alternative. The three instruments that I want to master are piano, guitar and saxophone. I have played sax before and currently own a guitar but I am not very mastered in either. Hopefully I’ll get serious enough to learn before I get too old to do so.

                  I used to dance when I was younger. I loved dressing up in my costumes and makeup and putting on recitals for people. My two favorite events where tap and jazz. I enjoyed listening to my tap shoes click-clack across the floor as I did my routine and the feeling of the jazz cushions on my feet as I leapt into the air. Dancing was a true passion and I hope to one day to do it again.

                  The last thing I would want to do is to visit all fifty states in the U.S. I have currently been to Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, and Alabama. The United States has so much character and history displayed in each state and one never knows what kind of awesome or quirky things one may come across.

                 

Ibinola, Daniel: Bucket List

Expectation is the mother of fulfillment when determination is present. In response, the things that I plan to do on my bucket list are more like goals that I am determined to fulfill. Therefore, the first five things that I plan to do before I die are making a significant impact in the field of medicine as a cardiologist, owning a medical hospital, learning to play the guitar, visiting six of the wonders of the world, and having a family of my own.                                                                                                

          The human heart is an organ in the thoracic part of the body necessary for life. Because of how vast the study of the heart is, I am driven by awe to research it further.                                                                                                                                                                    

          Growth is an essential part of life. Owning my own hospital demonstrates growth and progress in making an impact.                                                                                                                                               

          The word, “wonder” instinctively makes the human race curious about the subject it is used on. It is my heart’s desire that I am able to see six of the wonders of the world which include Mount Everest, Victoria Falls, Grand Canyon, Pyramids of Egypt, Great Wall of China, and the leaning Tower of Pisa.                                                                                                                                                         

          Stringed instruments have always inspired me by the sound and melody they make. Learning how to play the guitar like a professional is one thing I would want to do before I die.                                 

          A popular Nigerian saying in direct translation says, “Home is where family is and family is a where home is.” I don’t want to leave this place called earth without having an heir to carry the good name and reputation I have worked all my life to achieve.                                                                                                      

 I would gladly wait for the arms of death to take me from earth when all of these expectations of mine have been met.

Dhagouda, Sabin: Bucket List

             I   would  really  hate  it  if  in  my old age  I  would  regret  life  because  I  didn’t  do  more . That’s  where  the  bucket  list  comes  in. In  a  sense, if  our  life  was  a  test,  then  achieving  the  goals  from  the  bucket  list  would  be  like  getting  straight  A grades. I  don't  want  to  end  up  with  a  low  grade  in  my  life  so  I do  have  a  bucket  list  of  my  own.

               Unlike in the  movie,  I  am  pretty  sure  that  I  will  not  be  sharing  my  hospital  room  with  Jack  Nicholson, so  I  will  have  to  fund  my  bucket list  campaign  myself. So,  first  thing  in  my  list  would  be  to  complete  all  of  my  education,  get  a  nice  paying  job  or  own  a  profitable  company  which  would  help  me  pay  the  bills.

                The  second  item  on  the  list  for  me  would  be  to  play  guitar  for  The  Who  and  go  on  a  world  tour  with  them. Actually  I  would  like  to  go  on  a  music  world  tour  with  every  sensational  rock band  there  is  and  ever  was. Also,  I  get  really  nervous  when  I  play  in  front  of  a  crowd,  so  to  play  guitar  in  front  of  a  humongous  crowd  would  also  be  in  my  bucket  list.

                 Another  thing  that  I  would  like  to  do  is  to  save  someone’s  life  because  the  feeling  after  saving  someone  would  be  the  closest  feeling  there  is  that  can  be  felt  if  I  was  a  superhero. Well,  if  I  get  rich  enough,  maybe  I  could  become  a  crime  fighting  vigilante  like  Batman.  So,  next  time  you  see  a  crime  fighting  vigilante,  guess  what? That  could  be  me!

            These  are the items at  the  top  of  the  list  that  I  have  and  it  goes  on  and  on. In  fact,  there  is so much  stuff  that  I  would  like  to  accomplish  before  death,  things  that  makes  life  what  it  is.  Such as,  I  want  to  be  good  person  and  I  always  try  hard  to  be  one. I want to go  through  the  ups  and downs  of  life  and  stay  strong, travel,  start  a  family,  raise  good  kids,  and  eventually  grow  old  to  complete  my  bucket  list  without  any  regrets  before  I  kick  the  bucket.

Bucket List: Trinity Foster

 For my bucket list, my main goal is to be a good wife and mother. 

Next, I'd like to run for state Congress at least once; I've always loved campaigning, and as someone who wants to be a politician, I want to experience being the forefront of a meaningful campaign whether I win or not. 

I want to continue growing my relationship with God and spread the Gospel and love of Jesus in every action I make. 

I want to audition for a professional dance team like the Tennessee Titans and hopefully get to cheer for a season as a pro dancer since I love to dance. 

I want to overcome the responses of misfortune I've dealt with in my childhood and not let it impact my life. 

Lastly, I want to learn and get better at playing tons of instruments: clarinet, saxophone, bass guitar, guitar, viola, piano, drum set, trumpet, and French horn. 

Connelley, Cole: Bucket List

My name is Cole Connelley, and I was born on July 22, 1995, in Little Rock, Arkansas. I have a mom, dad, and one younger sister and currently live in the average-size town of Monticello, Arkansas. I love to hunt and fish and enjoy wakeboarding on the weekends with my friends. Playing college baseball has always been my dream and I am currently a middle infielder/outfielder for the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders. I give all the glory to God because I am a proud Christian in faith. There are a handful of activities I would like to experience in my life, and I hope I get the chance to do them. 

            To begin with, sky diving has always been on my top priority list. I want to experience the rush of jumping out of a moving plane and free-falling towards the ground underneath. I understand it is extremely dangerous and risky, but I will do it eventually one day. My next item on the list I would appreciate checking off would have to be scuba diving with sharks. I have been scuba diving plenty of times before but never with sharks nearby. This would also be another one of those dangerous desires with a high adrenaline rush, but that is what interests me and makes it more memorable. Thirdly, I would really love to visit a foreign country such as Italy or France. I believe there is so much to see in this world and those are two very unique places to go. Next, playing major league baseball would absolutely be a dream come true for me. I have always desired to play with the pros and have worked extremely hard to make my chances of getting there higher. Lastly, I think it would be amazing to play the guitar. I have always wanted to learn but have never had the time or chance to. It would always be something I could enjoy doing when I get older. 

            As you can see, I have a few desires to check off my list throughout the period of my life. I want to see everything life has to offer but sky diving, scuba diving with sharks, visiting a foreign country, playing major league baseball, and learning how to play the guitar are some of the things I would appreciate most. I hope the Lord will bless me with a long life so I may have a chance to live these awesome experiences.