Honors College Hosts Successful 2024 Honors Weekend

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Feb. 20, 2024) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Honors College welcomed more than 160 highly accomplished potential students, along with their parents and guardians, to campus for its Honors Weekend on Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17.

The annual invitation-only event is designed to engage high-achieving and exceptionally motivated finalists, who also interviewed for the Cheatham-White, Dowdy and February One scholarships – the four-year merit-based full scholarships housed in the Honors College – in an immersive on-campus experience.

These potential Aggies, who hail from locations across the country and around the world, learned about academic and campus life and met with current students, faculty and staff members throughout the weekend.

Friday began with greetings from Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., Joseph Montgomery, associate vice provost for Enrollment Management, Mister Honors Malcolm Doster and Miss Honors Joyane Longmire, followed by an overview by Honors College Dean Margaret I. Kanipes.

After finalists split into academic disciplines to explore specific colleges and programs, they toured the campus and enjoyed lunch with Honors College student ambassadors.

The afternoon consisted of a session on the Cheatham-White, Dowdy and February One scholarships as well as an Honors College student and faculty panel discussion. The day concluded with a finalists’ reception with members of the Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet, college deans and current scholars.

Finalists’ parents and guests participated in an information session on the Cheatham-White, Dowdy and February One scholarships that morning, followed by presentations from the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and Center for Academic Excellence on Friday morning.

After lunch with A&T administrators and campus partners, they joined finalists for the Honors College student and faculty panel discussion and evening finalists’ reception.

The finalists’ scholarship interviews took place throughout the day at various campus locations Saturday.

“I have undoubtedly enjoyed the relationships that have been formed within being in the Honors College, especially with being an out-of-state student,” said E’mori Thompson, a first-year February One Scholar from Lexington, Kentucky, who is studying kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science. “Being accepted with honors has changed my college experience thus far simply by wanting to go expeditiously above and beyond, not only for myself but because I uphold a legacy of those before me and those coming after me.”

Thompson, who aspires to work in pediatric physical therapy or occupational therapy, always knew she wanted to attend an HBCU and “surround herself with many other goal-driven individuals who refuse to let the world’s stereotypes limit their reach.” Participating in last year’s Honors Weekend validated her choice to become an Aggie.

“Automatically the environment here at A&T altered my decision,” she said. “The welcoming smiles and the sense of greatness within the air amongst African Americans was not an experience I wanted to miss!”

The Honors College, formally established Oct. 1, 2022, offers student-centered learning experiences that promote intellectual growth, cultural appreciation, professional focus, leadership development and civic participation. It transitioned from the University Honors Program, which was launched in 1998 at the request of Martin, who served as vice chancellor of Academic Affairs at the time.

Students in the Honors College have the option to live in the Honors Living and Learning Community. The Honors College also houses NCAT Extraordinary Opportunities, which helps all enrolled A&T students and alumni pursue more than 60 prestigious and nationally competitive programs such as the Rhodes Scholarship.

Incoming first-year students apply for Honors College admission separately from their university admission materials. This year, the Honors College received a record of nearly 2,500 applications for about 200 spaces. Fifty-five full ride scholarships will be awarded.

Students and alumni selected as Cheatham-White, Dowdy and February One scholars have gone on to become tenure-track professors, published authors, entrepreneurs, veterinarians, physicians, attorneys and other leading professionals.