The Honors Program

designed to challenge highly motivated students with an emphasis on research, leadership and community engagement

Enhance your educational experience

 

With an emphasis on research, leadership, and community engagement, motivated and intellectually curious students participate in classes and self-designed mentored projects that encourage intellectual risk-taking, personal growth, and transformation.

 

The Honors Program aims to graduate confident, compassionate, and globally-minded leaders that are able to offer creative solutions to the world’s challenges.

 

Click here for more information!

 

Honors Program Highlights

Honors Class 2023

Honors Class 2023
  • Honors Designated Courses
  • Priority Registration
  • Community Service Projects
  • Discussion-Based Classes
  • Honors Housing
  • Mentored Thesis Project

The Bach Family Honors House

Interior Bach Family Honors House

Interior of Bach Family Honors House

The Bach Family Honors House opened in January 2006. The 6,000+ square-foot facility includes a conference room—with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment—for seminars and Honors core courses; a residence for eight Honors students per year; a 24-hour study space for all Honors students; and meeting, lecture and movie space.

Alex Kiepert, Honors Program Graduate '22 Finance & Business Analytics Double Major

“The Honors Program has allowed me to grow in my leadership skills and field by pursuing projects both in my major and outside of it through my thesis and directed readings.”

—Alex Kiepert, Honors Program Graduate '22 Finance & Business Analytics Double Major

  • HNRS101
    Introducing Honors: Leadership, Research, and Community Engagement (3 credits)

     

    MUS310H
    Music, Wellness, and Conscious Life Design (3 credits)

     

    WRIT102H

    Research Writing (3 credits)

     

    RLST105H
    Franciscan Goals for Today (3 credits)

     

    HNRS250
    Sophomore Leadership Seminar (2 credits)*

     

    HNRS331

    Directed Readings (2 credits)*

     

    HNRS335

    Thesis Prep (1 credit)*

     

    HNRS444

    Thesis Project

     

    * Only five extra credits outside of the student’s major.

  • The Honors Program seeks motivated and intellectually curious students.

     

    Accepted seniors wishing to be part of the Honors Program are required to complete the honors program application

     

    Please note, SAT or ACT are not required for entrance into the program. The Honors Program looks beyond test scores and seeks individuals with grit and character who have a drive to do more.

  • An honors thesis is required of all students within the Honors Program. It can be a traditional research-based project, creative endeavor, or community service project. Here are some examples of past thesis projects:  

     

    Kelsey Donoughe
    Kelsey Donoughe, Honors Program Graduate '21 Biology, attending West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Kelsey Donoughe

    "The Synergistic Effect of Metformin and Dexamethasone on HeLa and SiHa Cells: A Comparison of Cervical Cancer Cell Lines from Different Races"

     

    Madison Wright

    "Genetic Frequency of the MDR1 gene in Dogs in Central Pennsylvania"

     

    Alana Recktenwald

    "Review of Treatment-Resistant Depression and How Neurometabolic Deficiencies May Be Involved"

     

    Hayler Mesmer

    "Body Composition and Resting Metabolic Rate: Comparing the Accuracy of Various Predictive Methods"

     

    Nathan Moore

    "Effects of Technology in the Classroom"

     

    Trisha Keller

    "Comparing Business Models of Western Boy Bands to Korean Idol Groups"

     

    Megan Wood

    "Human Health and the Climate Crisis"

     

    Sarah Zakrzwski

    "Beyond the Bonnet: Understanding the Appeal of Amish Fiction"

     

    Sarah Zakrzwski, Honors Thesis

     

    Featured Thesis

    Honors Student
    Honors Student Kei-shon Graham presents his thesis titled "Uniquely Generic"

     

  • Contact the Honors Program Director Irene M. Wolf, PhD at honors@francis.edu

     

    Be sure to follow us on social media!

    Find us on Facebook and Instagram

Irene Wolf

Irene Wolf, Honors Program Director 

Phone: 814-471-1173  
Email: iwolf@francis.edu
Location: Science Center 111

Art

Arthur Remillard, Associate Honors Program Director 

Phone: 814-472-3339  
Email: aremillard@francis.edu
Location: Scotus Hall 225B

Honors News and Features

Blog
Veronica

Honors Program Profile Veronica Crum

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 04/22/2025
Profile: Honors Student Veronica Crum is a communications major with a passion for creative writing and mental health advocacy. Her thesis is a fantasy novel exploring themes of psychology, generational trauma, neurodiversity, and self-discovery through a protagonist grappling with a powerful prophecy.
Toby Cree Honors student

Honors Program Profile Toby Cree

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 04/01/2025
Profile: Honors Student Toby Cree is a chemistry major with a passion for Green Chemistry. Toby’s thesis explores sustainable approaches to nanoparticle synthesis, specifically focusing on gold nanoparticles and fluorescent carbon dots.
Ava Rhoads, Saint Francis University Honors Student, smiling profile photo

Honors Program Profile Ava Rhoads

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 02/28/2025
Profile of Honors Student Ava Rhoads, a double major in Aquarium and Zoo Science and Psychology, with minors in Biological Diving and Animal-Assisted Healthcare and Education. She has a full plate, but she thrives on the challenge.
Gavin Ross Honors Student

Honors Program Profile Gavin Ross

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 02/10/2025
Profile of Honors Student Gavin Ross, a chemistry major pursuing minors in history, mathematics, and Spanish. For his thesis project, he is exploring the sustainable use of mechanochemistry in metalation. He enjoys engaging with peers in the program who bring diverse perspectives to the table.
Natalie Vogt, Honors Program Student at Saint Francis University

Honors Program Profile Natalie Vogt

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 01/28/2025
Profile of Honors Student Natalie Vogt, a junior biochemistry major with a pre-veterinary concentration, who is currently researching the effects of caffeine on cataracts in cow eyes. Last year, she completed a directed readings course, exploring the ethics of mortality and cancer’s impact on patients and families, presenting her findings at a research symposium.
Isabella Swindell Saint Francis University Honors Program

Honors Program Profile Isabella Swindell

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 12/02/2024
Profile of Honors Student Isabella Swindell: Isabella wants to become a teacher, specializing in early childhood and special education. She credits the honors program for giving her the confidence to realize this dream.
Matthew Hall Saint Francis University Honors Program

Matthew Hall's Journey through Honors

Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 11/25/2024
Profile of Honors Student Matthew Hall: As student manager for two of the university's athletic teams, softball and basketball, Hall's had the chance to research and report on NCAA transfer portal data, a topic he carried into his Honors thesis.
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