Honors Showcase Highlights Student’s Final Projects

Whether looking into the future of fire science or how to use meditation to overcome math anxiety, QCC Honors Program students had a chance to present their final projects at the recent Honors Showcase.

Susan McPherson, an English professor, and Jean Kennedy, a Human Services professor, co-taught the Honors Capstone Course, which honors students are required to take to graduate. It is a seminar-style course, each student works on a research project for the semester with the goal to create a scholarly writing project and presentation. This is one of the requirements of the Commonwealth Honors Scholars program, and helps students prepare for the four-year college experience.

“All of the presentations were really great,” Professor McPherson said. “Some of our students also participated in the UMass Amherst undergraduate research conference.”

She explained the theme this year was “Emerging Paradigms” and students were researching how the world will likely change in the next 100 years. Some students paired their research with their major, such as exploring emerging technologies in fire science and emergency medical services, while others researched topics such as transhumanism and evolution or environmental topics.

Each student is paired with a research librarian who serves as a mentor and works with student during the semester.

Professor McPherson said 14 students were in the course this semester. Each year the theme changes, previous years have had topics such as pop culture, human rights, food scarcity.

The Honors Program at QCC is accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education as a Commonwealth Honors Program. It is are part of an integrated, collaborative system-wide network of honors programs in Massachusetts public higher education.

Students participating in the Honors Program:

• Complete selected courses on an Honors level.
• Participate in an Honors Colloquium.
• Participate in cultural and social events.
• Receive personal guidance and peer support.
• Increase their transfer and scholarship opportunities.