Honors Program Graduates 107 Impressive Seniors in a Return to In-Person Celebration
The Saint Louis University Honors Program celebrated the accomplishments of the 2022 graduating class as part of its Senior Recognition Banquet, marking the return of this joyous event for the first time since 2019.
Due to COVID protocols and social distancing requirements, the event was canceled
for the last two years, with virtual recognition events and socially-distanced graduation
cord distribution in its place. With the return of an in-person format, the event
featured a catered dinner for all guests, remarks celebrating the accomplishments
of the class from Dr. Robert Pampel, recognition of influential faculty members, and
photo opportunities for graduating students.
In his remarks to the graduating class, Dr. Pampel highlighted the impressive accomplishment of graduating with honors distinction from SLU. While acknowledging some of the common experiences students have in the Honors Program, Pampel noted that an honors education is largely about a student’s intellectual curiosity and personal initiative.
Addressing all graduates, he characterized graduation from the program as “a testament to your intellectual curiosity and humility, your openness to new ideas, and your desire to use your gifts in service to the various communities in which you live, work, play, and serve.”
He also implored graduates to treat their time in the program less like the completion of a task and more as the continuation of a life of thoughtfulness:
"As you leave the University to embark on your chosen careers, I hope that the spirit of the honors program continues to motivate you to solve complex problems facing our communities," Pampel said. "The more time I spend at SLU, the more I realize that our work here is desperately needed in a world where the truth and intellectual curiosity are increasingly maligned. Your work is important to sustaining the ideals on which the university, especially a university like SLU, is built. So please, carry on your good work, regardless of where you find yourselves in the years to come."
Many graduating students felt similarly about their time in the program. Here are a few thoughts about the honors experience from newly-minted SLU honors graduates:
Erin Stock (Neuroscience, ‘21)
“It’s hard to choose one greatest benefit from my time in the honors program. The friends I made in the Learning Community, the support and guidance I received from the Honors Program staff, and the knowledge and inspiration I’ve gained from my honors courses are of equal importance to me. The honors program is the greatest thing that has made my time at SLU unforgettable.”
Henry Jacobs (Biology/Spanish, ‘21)
“I think the greatest benefit that I have taken from the Honors program was that it helped me understand how to develop a structure and support system of fellow colleagues, professors, and friends that all want to see each other succeed. It was very hard for me to find my footing throughout the first year of college and the Honors program, Honors' Learning Community, and other aspects of the program allowed me to find a group of individuals with similar aspirations and work ethics to me, helping me succeed in college.”
Nick Faddis (Computer Science, ‘21)
"The honors program changed my view on how academics should be approached. I used to focus heavily on my grades as the be all end all, but I’ve since learned the importance of truly understanding the material taught and being curious to learn more rather than just worrying about a letter grade."
Tory Christian (Education, ‘21)
"The Honors Program has taught me what it means to be a reflective practitioner. I feel more connected to my values and the Jesuit mission because of my Honors coursework and the discussions that took place here."
Emma Pauer (Spanish, ‘21)
“My academic and personal trajectory would be very different if it were not for the Honors Program. Not only have I been challenged to think critically about who I am and what I ought to do in the world, but I have felt supported to seek those things out. I am incredibly proud of my ILEX project and even more proud to be a Fulbright recipient; neither of those things would have been possible without the support of the honors staff.”
The postgraduate outcomes for the Honors Program class of 2022 features top-ranked graduate/professional schools, businesses and non-profit organizations, and service organizations around the country.
See a Full List of Graduate Outcomes
About the Saint Louis University Honors Program
The Honors Program at Saint Louis University, established in 1938, engages intellectually curious and academically successful students in a community oriented towards the Jesuit ideals of holistic learning, academic rigor, and community engagement. Through a combination of individually tailored curricula, experiential learning opportunities, and developmental guidance and mentorship, the Honors Program prepares students to become citizens who engage in the process of inquiry and apply their knowledge in service to society.