Honors, Reimagined

The Honors Program creates VALUE for students through leadership, research and reflection.

By Joe Tougas ’86

For first-generation college student PQ Vu, academic success carries deep cultural meaning. In Vietnamese culture, she said, educational achievement is a way of honoring parents and others who have sacrificed on a student’s behalf.

Vu was raised in a single-parent household that faced significant financial challenges, including periods of homelessness. Through it all, her mother remained a source of encouragement, reminding Vu that she could become anything she set her mind to.

At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Vu not only became the first in her family to attend college, she also joined the Honors Program, an experience she credits with shaping both her academic journey and her future goals as a dental hygienist.

Through the program, Vu received a scholarship to support her education and career plans.

“It has changed my life,” Vu said. “To say I’m grateful is an understatement.”

“The Honors Program has given me the confidence to try everything,” she said. “This year alone, I’ve mentored first-year Honors students, worked with people from ethnicities other than my own, engaged with international students for whom English is not their first language and completed my own independent research.”

Over six decades at MSU, the Honors Program has evolved from a traditional, academically elite model into a more inclusive, experience-based program open to any motivated student. Today, it centers around three core competencies: leadership; research, scholarly and creative activity; and intercultural engagement (formerly Global Leadership).

“It’s very different from what people traditionally think of as an honors program,” said Ginny Walters, director of the program. “Any student who is curious, open to growth and interested in these competencies is welcome.”

Rather than focusing solely on coursework, Honors students are encouraged to seek out meaningful experiences—on campus and beyond—and then reflect on how those experiences shape who they are becoming.

“We talk a lot about ‘meaning-making,’” Walters said. “Students ask themselves: What did I learn from this experience? How did it change me? How will it help me in my future career?”

Vu’s involvement spans multiple areas of campus life. She has served as vice president of the Mavs United team, secretary of the Hmong Student Association and a student researcher focused on the Hmong student population at MSU.

The program’s impact is felt across disciplines. Abril Flores Chacon, a double major in French and aviation with aspirations of becoming a pilot, said the Honors Program strengthened both her academic mindset and professional development.

“The Honors Program pushed me to become the best version of myself during my time at MSU,” Chacon said. “It encouraged me to take initiative, step outside my comfort zone and really reflect on my experiences—not just academically, but personally.”

The program requires three one-credit courses that guide students from exploration to reflection. An introductory course helps students define leadership and identify experiences they want to pursue, while a 300-level Portfolio Development course asks them to reflect on real-world experiences such as research projects or campus employment.

The program culminates with a 400-level course, typically taken in a student’s final semester, where students present a digital portfolio to a committee of faculty and staff.

“They have to articulate what they’ve learned and why it matters,” Walters said. “They connect their experiences to their future careers.”

Honors students represent every college within the University and include a strong international student presence. About half of participants discover the program after enrolling at MSU.

“People often ask about GPA requirements or prerequisites,” Walters said. “But what we’re really looking for is a willingness to learn, to grow and to reflect.”