Annual Scholar Day attracts top students and their families

Each year, the Honors College collaborates with the Office of Admissions to welcome nearly 350 prospective Honors students and their families to campus for Scholar Day. This one-day event is an opportunity for our guests to learn more about Bowling Green State University and what it means to become a part of the Honors experience at BGSU. We’re excited to welcome students again this year at the end of January.

Prospective students are invited to participate in a mock Honors College class experience with Honors faculty and current student peer facilitators. Not only does this give future Honors students an opportunity to meet some of our exceptional faculty members, but it provides a sense of what an Honors class is actually like. There are also countless opportunities for these talented prospects to interact with current students, tour the Honors Learning Community in Founders and talk with Honors College staff members. In addition, family members and guests have a chance to hear from the parents of a current Honors student.

In addition to a great day on campus, 60 of the highest achieving students get to interview for two of our top scholarships: The Alumni Laureate Scholarship and the Presidential Scholars Award.

The Alumni Laureate Scholarship (ALS) is a distinctive, prestigious scholarship program funded by our most generous alumni in order to provide recipients with four years of support from caring alumni mentors. The scholarship is a unique program that provides scholars with exceptional opportunities and experiences, as well as access to mentors who challenge students to broaden their perspectives, prioritize their goals, network with alumni and professional contacts, and frame their success through the values of leadership and service. The students meet as a group on a monthly basis with the scholarship program coordinator, while participating in community service as well as professional development and leadership activities. ALS currently covers the cost of any education expenses — up to the cost of full-time in-state undergraduate tuition — for eight uninterrupted fall and spring semesters, and includes a $1,000 book award each year. This scholarship is given to up to six incoming first-year Honors students.

The Presidential Scholars Award is a four-year, full-tuition, cohort-based program comprised of about 80 students (20-22 in each cohort). The curriculum is varied and progressive based on the students’ year in school. During the first year, the focus is community development, goal setting and degree planning, with an emphasis on problem solving. In the second year, the goal is the application of critical thinking skills, while year three emphasizes personal leadership. The goal for Presidential Scholars during their senior year is the integration of critical thinking and a personal leadership plan. There are also social events and an informal mentorship program.

We are excited to welcome the Class of 2022 to BGSU and the Honors class this fall, and to meet so many of them at Scholar Day at the end of this month!