As always, many Honors students spent the summer immersed in academic explorations, including the PRISM program, Brock Experiences, and study abroad. Their PRISM pursuits included monitoring mosquitoes in rainwater harvesting systems, creating circuits using molecules, evaluating exercise regimes, and exploring matrix factorization and Heisenberg groups. More than 30 Honors scholars added passport stamps for Spain (through three different programs), Ecuador, Germany (through two programs), Greece, Denmark, Italy, Thailand, Croatia (and its neighbors), the Turks and Caicos, and the Netherlands.
Faculty also invested important time in academic pursuits. The Honors College supported the participation of four faculty members (English, Biology, and the Greenwood Library) in a National Collegiate Honors Council professional development program focused on place-based teaching and learning, one faculty member in the Honors International Faculty Institute, and one faculty member in the Summer Institute on Scientific Teaching.
Two weeks prior to the start of fall term classes, the third cohort of 14 LIFE STEM Scholars arrived on campus. This program, which provides financial and wrap-around academic support to a cohort of students in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, and physics, was founded with National Science Foundation grant funding but continues with a third cohort thanks to university support. LIFE STEM is a partnership among the Cormier Honors College, the Cook-Cole College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry and Physics.
The LIFE STEM Scholars spent the first week of their Longwood careers in the field, exploring the complex stewardship issues of the Chesapeake Bay with a cadre of exceptional faculty. On the Bay, they were joined by seven LIFE STEM Mentors from the first and second cohorts (and additional LIFE STEM Mentors for the second week on campus).
One week later (i.e., one week prior to the start of fall classes), the Cormier Honors College's incoming class joined them on campus, and the full group - 174 students strong (118 Honors first-years (11 of whom are also LIFE STEM Scholars), the one additional LIFE STEM Scholar, one Honors transfer student, and 55 Honors and LIFE STEM Mentors) - participated in the Honors Leadership Retreat. Highlights from this year's four-day program include:
- Challenge course at Sandy River Adventure Park
- Professional networking dinner with faculty and staff
- Sunset Hike led by Mr. Daniel Jordan on High Bridge
- StrengthsQuest workshops by Dr. Edwin Barea Rodriguez of the University of Texas San Antonio
- Academic sessions that provided introductions to campus engagement, study abroad opportunities, national scholarship competitions, and more
- Understanding Yourself and Others workshops facilitated by Dean Larry Robertson, Mr. Cainan Townsend (Director of Education and Public Programs, Moton Museum), and Mr. Kevin Napier (Honors)
- A four-day community service project at Heartland Horse Heroes, an organization that provides "equestrian activities for individuals who have mental, physical, emotional, social challenges, or learning disabling conditions"
- Fun community-building activities, including zombie tag in Chichester, a special Longwood Traditions presentation in the Rotunda by Dean Larry Robertson and Ms. Paula Clay Prouty, and Dine Around Downtown outings facilitated by Ms. Jennifer Cox, Director of Local and Community Relations