For the past 30 years, Western Colorado University’s Honors Program has added value to the campus community by elevating, enhancing and supporting high-achieving students across all majors and disciplines. The Presidential Honors Scholarship offers students within the program the opportunity to deepen their academic pursuits.
Established in 2007 by The Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation, this award has been integral in bringing some of the best and the brightest minds to campus.
Promoting Intellectual Maturity and Personal Growth
According to Honors Program director Kelsey Bennett, Ph.D,
“[The scholarship] gives students the ability to focus more on getting the best of the liberal arts and sciences education that Western has to offer while complementing their specific area of study.”
She went on to explain the many benefits to getting involved with the program and the values that emerge from participating.
“By engaging Honors Program values throughout—including Citizenship and Community, Interdisciplinarity, Risk Taking and Autonomy, Social Intelligence, and The Good—students will emerge as global thinkers, strong communicators and creative problem solvers. These qualities ultimately embody Western’s mission to promote intellectual maturity and personal growth in its students and prepare them to assume constructive roles in local, national and global communities,” said Bennett.
How to Apply
All members of the Honors Program can apply for the Presidential Honors Scholarship. Incoming applicants should have a high school, transfer or college grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must also demonstrate leadership qualities or experience and a commitment to intellectual inquiry and academic challenge.
Continuing Honors students do not need to have been awarded a previous Presidential Honors Scholarship to apply. Five Presidential Honors Scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded to five continuing Honors Students in good standing in the program. Each Presidential Honors Scholar will serve in a leadership position on the Honors Student Advisory Board (SAB) for the coming academic year.
Contributing to Western’s Campus Culture
Bennett hopes that future recipients of the scholarship will continue to contribute to Western’s overall campus culture.
“It is my hope that this esteemed scholarship can continue to grow and expand its legacy of excellence far into the future,” said Bennett. “Current [Presidential Honors Scholarships] recipients are not only SAB officers but full participants in campus life, belonging to campus organizations from SGA to [national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa] to NCAA athletics, from SAAC [Student Athlete Advisory Council] to Wilderness Pursuits.”
Mountaineers Strive for Excellence
Striving for excellence is engrained in our Mountaineers. The Honors Program and Presidential Honors Scholarship is proud to help the next generation of students reach new heights.
Learn more about Western’s Honors Program.
Author Credit: Katie Mikesell
Photo Credit: Taylor Cull
