A Letter from the Honors Program Director

Aloha kakou,

E komo mai! Welcome, in the language of my ancestors, Hawaiian. From my first day as Interim Honors Director at AWC, my goal was to create a welcoming environment for the Honors community of learners to network, feast, socialize, vegetate, study and most importantly call their home away from home. Through purposeful furniture arrangement and open floor planning, a sanctuary, affectionately coined the “Honors Center,” emerged.

I believe the Honors Program at Arizona Western College is primed for tremendous growth not only in membership but more importantly, within innovative programming facilitated by notable faculty. Under my guidance, I plan to explore expanding the Honors Program to reflect the population of AWC, extending participation of services to students meeting the minimal qualifications for membership:

• engaged within highly prescribed degree programs (ie. Education)
• international students completing ESL coursework
• highly motivated part-time students (enrolled for less than 12 credits per semester)
• declared majors of career and technical programs (ie. nursing)

I will incorporate the spirit of service learning within Honors core curriculum focusing upon student-guided research (facilitated by faculty advisors), followed by meaningful volunteerism and encapsulating in self-reflection. Membership within the Honors Program will promote the ideals and values of teamwork and the responsibility of leadership.

I will create opportunities to forge life long friendships through possible study abroad programs, fellowship field trips, and informal social support group gatherings.

Honors students will lead by example and directly influence the material, color, patterns and designs of the global cloth. Honors students shall be the elements of change today and tomorrow. Honor students will remember their roots and spread their wings and soar.

I am privileged to serve as your Interim director of Honors at Arizona Western College.

Malama pono i kou kino, (take care of yourself in Hawaiian)

Liz       

Liz Renaud
Faculty, Early Childhood Education
Honors Program, Interim Director