Perspectives and Praise from UHP Alumni

"All of my instructors in UHP were wonderful! I enjoyed all of my courses, and loved the instructors' passion.  My UHP experience has been amazing.  The classes pushed me to think beyond my own curriculum's boundaries.  I was able to study many different fields and I think, all in all, that made me a much more rounded person, open to new experiences.  I hope to pass that along to the students that I teach. " Miranda Carman '08, Bremerton, Washington, English

"I cannot imagine my life at the University of Idaho without the Honors Program. In freshman Honors Chemistry I met friends who I would not only share the rest of my undergraduate experience with, but who, I believe, will be friends for a lifetime. University Honors Program classes excite and stimulate. They have defined my university experience and helped me see the world from new and varied perspectives." Dr. Melanie Coonts, Goldwater Scholar, Microbiology, Molecular Biology/Biochemistry, and English, Boise, Idaho

"I think that it's great for UHP to provide vouchers for the music series; I always enjoyed the enriching performances and felt like more of a member of the community afterwards. One major strength of the curriculum is that it provides an "overall education" - one that a student would not receive taking just classes in his/her major. I will graduate with a civil engineering degree, but I credit some of my honors classes (such as Contemporary American Experience, Philosophy, Economics, and Geography of Conflict) for preparing me to be a citizen of the world. My honors classes had excellent discussions, smaller class sizes, and enthusiastic professors... all aspects that aided in my thinking and learning. I have especially enjoyed my upper division seminar, which I feel has educated me a great deal about our battling world and how it came to be.  I was grateful for the opportunity to be involved in creative thinking NOT involving math and science.  The UHP experience has made me a more well-rounded world citizen, and that knowledge provides me confidence for future opportunities in my field and the world." Zach Dobroth '08, Eagle, Idaho, Civil Engineering

"The trips were the best because they provided an opportunity to get out of Moscow and explore another city with our peers. The fact that they were cheap was another huge plus. I loved the free tickets for movies and chamber music.  UHP strengths: The small classroom sizes, the opportunity to conduct research in class, teachers that really care about their students and the course material, and the emphasis on discussion amongst peers in the classroom.  All of my instructors were amazing.  Instructors truly cared about their students.  They wanted to involve us and transfer the passion they had for their subject to us.  They fostered an environment of mutual learning where we learned from our peers as well as the professor, and they were open to learning from us.  It allowed me to actively take part in my education and to collaborate with wonderful professors.  I loved being in classes where the students were motivated to learn and willing to express their ideas. Being a part of the UHP allowed me to have more of a small liberal arts education at a large public university." Diana Duncan '08, Tekoa, Washington, Interdisciplinary Studies

"My four years in the Honors Program were absolutely transformative. I received an education from inspired, challenging, and caring teachers in a variety of fields—the kind of undergraduate education that would be hard to surpass anywhere. To a large extent, my decision to become a professor has been an attempt to pass on a part of the thrill of learning I experienced in the Honors Program at Idaho.” Dr. Gregory Eiselein, English and History, Manhattan, Kansas

"The Honors Program provides exciting classes, good friends and great fun; it's what makes a state university education the equal of any in the nation." Bryan Fullerton, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Moscow, Idaho

"The UHP gave me the opportunity to learn about ideas far beyond my declared major from blood sucking bugs to the state of modern Africa.  I'm grateful for the diversion and for the chance to broaden my horizons with students who are prepared and like to engage and professors who really push you to think in new ways and spaces." Melinda Giacalone '07, Public Relations, San Francisco, CA

"I can't ever describe how thankful I was for the scholarship I got through the Honors Program--it might not have been possible for me to go to college without it.  It was also great to be in classes full of other serious students who really wanted to be there.  I really enjoyed all of my Honors classes." Tertia Gillett '08, Lewistown, Montana, Microbiology

"The best class that I took at this university was an honors seminar on the Geography of Conflict.  I see the world differently because of this class.  It was a great experience."  Meagan Rose Gleckler '07, Soil & Land Resources, Malad, Idaho

"My honors program courses were instrumental in preparing me for graduate school and, looking back, they provided some of the most engaging and exciting experiences during my time at the University of Idaho. Thank you for providing a program that facilitated and encouraged my desire to learn for learning's sake." Peter Leman, Javits Scholar, English, Irvine, CA

"I have become a member of a community that values learning. The University Honors Program has raised my awareness of intellectual discourse, expanded my academic interests, and motivated me to pursue my studies with greater vigor." Jessica Lipschultz, Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, English and American Studies, Boise, Idaho

"Great teachers, interesting and unique classes, a well-rounded interdisciplinary approach to learning--I feel like I was given more personal attention through smaller class sizes and professors taking interested in my progress.  I would recommend the Honors Program to others; I feel my time was well spent." Anna Makowski '08, Beaverton, Oregon, Foreign Languages-Spanish, and Political Science, Fulbright Scholar

“I have loved being a member of the UHP.  My classes have been outstanding and I really enjoyed the focus on discussion.”  Christine Meyling '07, Economics, New Plymouth, Idaho

“I loved each honors class that I took and I learned so much from the men and women who taught them. I benefited greatly from the UHP and I cannot imagine my undergraduate experience without these courses.” Kelsey Nunez, Biology, Malibu, CA

"The Honors Program covered anything I would have ever wanted.  The diversity of the students within the classes and the class curriculums themselves were amazing.  The allowed me to completely step out of classes [in my major] and let me focus attention on subjects that I had never paid any attention to previously.  UHP basically taught me how to have a perspective outside of the Engineering World.  If it wasn't for UHP, I would never have learned to analyze stories, learn about Africa, or read into Sex and Culture in today's society." Sarah Oman '08, Moscow, Idaho, Mechanical Engineering

"I would have to give tremendous credit to the honors courses at the University of Idaho . . . they were some of my most challenging courses while I was there and played a large part in where I am now." Susan Bruns Rowe, Rhodes Scholar, Finance, Eden, Idaho

"My experiences with the University of Idaho Honors Program have been overwhelmingly positive. From the beginning, honors classes helped me develop critical thinking and writing skills that I now find invaluable in my senior English classes. I also appreciate the broader focus that honors courses have given me. I have been introduced to the history of chemistry, the philosophy underlying math, and the cultural ramifications of "Women in Westerns," one of my upper-division honors seminars. In addition to these unique perspectives not found in the mainstream curriculum, honors program courses and events such as theatre trips and foreign film nights have given me the chance to meet an amazing and diverse group of people. In general, the professors in the program are much more involved with students and genuinely care about our success, while the students enrich class discussions with their wide variety of interests and backgrounds." Sarah M. Thompson, English and Spanish, Rigby, Idaho

More Quotes from UHP Alumni

To Alumni!:

We look forward to learning from your experiences to enhance the program's offerings. We invite you to reflect on your honors education and to let us know what you are up to: please send an informal note/update to honors@uidaho.edu

We hope that your response provides a welcome opportunity to reconnect with the honors community. We look forward to your perspectives and appreciate your support for excellence in honors undergraduate education. Let us know about your interest in remaining connected to the program and to its development.

Examples of Student Achievement 2008

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