12th Annual Honors Convocation: 2017

This is the first time we've had a drum corps!

This is also Dr. Pierson's first march as ECU's President!

Honors seniors voted Honors Student Association Faculty Sponsor Dr. Sarah Peters (that's her, in the middle, in her maroon gown) as the 2017 Honors Faculty member of the year.

Above: Elsa Moseley, Brayden Battershell, Robby Grotts, and Keegan Moore. Brayden's super power is his ability to walk around campus with his eyes closed without bumping into anyone or anything.

At Convocation, sophomore Biology major Kate Draper talked about the marine and estuarine science internship she completed over the summer at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore,through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

Senior Education major Jessica Petty spoke about her life-changing summer experience at the Isla Mujeres Ethnographic Field School on Isla Mujeres in Mexico

In the reception following the convocation, Robby Grotts had some questions for Kate about her experience in Maryland.

Elsa Moseley (on the left) talked to Jessica and to Sierra Rankin about Elsa's junior year abroad in Limoges, France.

Dr. Carl Gilbert, Dean of the College of Health and Sciences, showcases his Biology humor with Brandi Trujillo and Noah Deering.

Kassie Batt gets some quality time with President Pierson while Chance Zernicek ponders a future as the President's clarinet-wielding bodyguard.

Megan Green and Dr. Mark Klippenstine, chair of ECU's Department of Psychology, reflect on

Skye Norman and Dr. Errol King dig in with Convocation keynote speaker, Dr. Kate Lang, the new dean of ECU's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

2017 Honors Kickoff

Survival Books

White Paper Q & A with the HSA Officers

Never Have I Ever Seen Such Honorable Chaos

An Honorable Tradition: Playing Chicken

Speed Friending

Destination: Massachusetts

From left to right: Madison Camp (Accounting), Lyndsie Beesley (English), Dylan West (Business Administration),  Sidney Lewis (English), Allyson Gregory (English), Talor Stewart (Biology).

Thursday, March 9th, six ECU Honorables joined me at 2 a.m. to embark on a five-day, four-night adventure in Massachusetts.  For all these Honorables, it was a first-time visit to New England, though three (Madison, Sidney, and Talor) also joined me on an Honors Trip to New York City in 2015. When we got back, I asked everyone three questions:  What was your favorite experience on the trip? What was your favorite food? And did you experience any memorable firsts?  Here are their answers:

FAVORITE EXPERIENCE
Madison: The Old Manse (especially the piano playing); Lyndsie: Concord to Lexington trek; Dylan: The Freedom Trail; Sidney: Walden Pond; Ally: Walden Pond and the Old Manse; Talor: The MIT Museum (especially the holograph section).

FAVORITE FOOD
Madison: goat cheese and baby spinach panini at Helen's cafe in Concord; Lyndsie: clam chowder and ribeye hash at Sonsie in Boston and salmon salad at Border Cafe in Cambridge ; Dylan: Cubano sandwich at Sonsie's in Boston and pepperoni pizza at Sorrento's in Concord; Sidney: panini at Helen's Cafe in Concord; Ally:  cheese ravioli at Via Lago in Lexington; Talor: cheese pizza at Sorrento's in Concord.; 

MEMORABLE FIRSTS and MOSTS
Madison: UberPool, clam chowder, hotel room with full kitchen, and coldest walk; Lyndsie: geocache search and hotel room with a dishwasher; Dylan: clam chowder and coldest walk; Sidney: Uber ride, clam chowder, coldest walk, geocache drop-off; Ally:  cross-country trek (Concord to Lexington); Talor: shrimp.

Lyndsie at a replica of Thoreau's desk (in the same room with the real thing) at the Concord Museum.

Starting our walk through Minute Man Park between Concord and Lexington, where Colonial rebels attacked a retreating British Army on April 19, 1775. We ended up walking all the way to Lexington. Before our trip, several of us read Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick, which offers a blow-by-blow account of the battle.

Paul Revere was captured not far from this spot. According to my cell phone, we walked 9.24 miles on the first day of our trip!

Click the link below to see more pictures from our Honorable adventure.