Five year anniversary of Honors 300

YASMINA IDRIS
PHOTOGRAPHER

FILIPPOS MOURIKIS
STAFF WRITER

2/3/2025

Five years ago, the Alma College Honors Program set out on an ambitious journey to integrate community engagement into the student experience. What emerged from this vision were two groundbreaking courses, Honors 200 and Honors 300. 

Now, as this year marks the five-year anniversary of Honors 300, students and faculty alike are celebrating the lasting impact the program has had on the local community and the college itself. Honors 300 is a course designed for students to apply the skills they develop in Honors 200, which focuses on responsible community engagement, project management and effective relationship building. 

Through Honors 300, students take on real-world projects that benefit the Alma community. Over the years, these projects have spanned a wide range of initiatives. Students have been able to be creative and bring their own ideas into their projects, which has led to them being able to develop skills that will assist them in their future success. 

One example of the innovative projects developed through Honors 300 is social media management for local nonprofits, where students have assisted nonprofit organizations in developing and managing their online presence to improve outreach and engagement within the Gratiot County community. 

We have also seen sports clinics for elementary school students, in which Honors students have organized and led sports programs to encourage physical activity and teamwork among young students. Additionally, through mentorship and tutoring Programs, the Honors students have provided academic support to younger students attending high schools around the local community. Some more highlights of the Honors 300 program have been environmental initiatives, promoting sustainability and conservation efforts in the community of Alma. 

 “My honors students have been continual inspirations to me because they work so hard to accomplish their projects and always engage with the community in a respectful, productive way,” said Dr. Benjamin L. Peterson, Co-Director of the Alma College Center for College and Community engagement. 

The success of Honors 300 can be attributed to the dedication of both students and faculty members who have fostered its growth over the years. “Dr. Dougherty deserves credit for the structure of our Honors Program, and Dr. Fonley deserves credit for having stewarded it into its full form. That being said, what I have tried to accomplish through the program is providing a constant stream of innovation in community engagement where some of our best students really apply their unique skills to important problems,” said Peterson. 

As the program celebrates its five-year milestone, the impact of Honors 300 continues to grow. Students are gaining real-world experience, building meaningful community relationships, and leaving a tangible mark on the organizations they serve. For faculty and students alike, the anniversary is not just a moment to look back but also an opportunity to envision how the program will evolve in the years to come.

With ongoing support from Alma College and its faculty, Honors 300 is focused on continuing to make a difference, both in the classroom and in the Gratiot County community. As the program moves forward, the spirit of innovation and engagement that defined its early years will undoubtedly shape its future, ensuring that Honors students remain a force for positive change in the Alma community for years to come.