On behalf of the Honors College, I am thrilled to welcome you all back this fall! As you have probably noticed, we had a lot of activity over the summer and into the first couple of weeks of this semester. Our Grand Opening and House Dedication was an absolute success due to our hard working staff (thanks Reyna, Grace, Eric, & Sam!) and it was great to see students in the house. Please know that the Achauer House is your space now. We currently have it staffed from 8am-5pm and you are more than welcome to come study, eat your lunch, or have me absolutely destroy you in Scrabble (challenge accepted?).
Speaking of Scrabble, our next event is the Honors College Student Association-led Game Night on September 14th from 5:30-8:30pm at the Achauer House. Please come by for some pizza and laughs. I look forward to seeing you all there! We will also be hosting a Family Weekend tailgate for your families on October 1st from 11-1pm at Achauer House. I have it on good authority that those wings from the spring open house will be making a reappearance.
My best wishes for a great start to the academic year!
Your Honors Director, Jennifer Varriale Carson, Ph.D.
The Achauer House was a gift to the UCM Alumni Foundation in 2009 from longtime Warrensburg resident, Maurine Achauer. Maurine was passionate about education and earned many degrees in her lifetime, including a doctorate in Educational Psychology and Measurements from the University of Nebraska. Her work earned her many accolades, including UCM's Distinguished Service Award in 1994. Maurine challenged herself and others to pursue their passion, and The Honors College hopes to honor Maurine's legacy by continuing to help students reach their goals.
On August 17, 2022, the Achauer House was officially dedicated to The Honors College. You can read more about the dedication in UCM News, as well as Warrensburg's Star-Journal.
"Anything I have came from this community, and I like the idea of giving back. But it takes more than one person to make it work. It's people working together who make it better for everyone."
Allina Robie, 2017 UCM graduate, spends her days learning another language and building a life for herself in Western Ukraine while also caring for orphans.
Robie graduated with a degree in English literature and minors in marketing and creative writing.
“My college years were very impactful on the woman I am today, not just because of the classes I attended, but because of the life experience I gained through campus life and involvement,” Robie said
While being an honors student, Robie also worked in the Honors College office and at Muddy Creek BBQ, and she was an active member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority.
“I was very involved in Panhellenic activities and learned so many practical ways to live life with a purpose through philanthropy events and personal development opportunities,” Robie said
After Robie graduated, she participated in The World Race, an 11-month mission trip.
During the trip, Robie worked with vulnerable children around the world and visited Ukraine in the ninth month of her journey. Robie said that her time on the mission trip gave her life a purpose that she had never felt before.
“After my year with The World Race, I did go back to the States for a year and worked in marketing for a non-profit,” Robie said. “[I] really worked on getting myself to a healthy place in life and started dreaming about how I could set myself up to have a life serving vulnerable children.”
Robie said that Ukraine also captured her heart during her travels there, and Ukraine faces an orphan crisis that many people do no’t know about.
“I really considered working within the foster care system in the States, but the need in Ukraine spoke to me so specifically,” Robie said.
Robie moved to Ukraine on Feb. 1, 2022. She now works with a state-run toddler orphanage in Western Ukraine, which houses nearly 80 children, ages zero to five.
"Allina, we are so proud of your philanthropic efforts! It is special for us to be able to feature you in a newsletter you once edited. You are clearly leaving a legacy of service and love. Keep up the good work!" - The Honors College
- Graduating Spring '25
Eric joined The Honors College team in March of this year. His tech skills and hardworking nature have made him an indispensable part of our office.
Eric is working on double major in Computer S i ith f i S ft D l t
"I have learned that making connections is no harder than being in a room and saying you're interested in something. My advice is to just jump into it and see where you are in a year, and if you don't like it, then change directions." - E. Price
Graduate Assistant - Graduating Fall '23
Sam started his journey with The Honors College this fall. His skills and hardworking nature have made him an essential asset to our office.
Having completed his undergraduate degree at th U i it f Il i Ni i i Ph i d
"College
S. Akande
"WELCOME ERIC AND SAM! WE ARE EXCITED FOR YOU TO JOIN THE OFFICE, AND WE KNOW YOU WILL DO AMAZING THINGS FOR OUR PROGRAM." - THE HONORS COLLEGE
is one of the most important steps in shaping your future; have fun, network and position yourself for a great future. " -
We had an event-filled and graduate-heavy Spring! From the start of the semester, we kicked off with an alumni engagement event, had breakfast with Dr. Best, hosted an open house, bowled with the student association, and sent off our graduates at our commencement dinner. We enjoyed engaging with all of our brilliant students, and we look forward to ramping up involvement with our fall events!
We want to send a big thank you to everyone who attended our events, helped spread awareness about our program, worked on the HCSA board, mentored our students, taught Honors courses, and, of course, to all of our fantastic graduates. The Honors College is not just a university office, we are a community. We could not accomplish all we do without people like you.
Joshua Boster
Colby Crowder
Anna Furney
Isabella Hadden
Devin Johnson
Colin Levins
Sarah Lindsey Miranda Lockey
Catherine Maynard
Claire Myers
Gretchen Perlinger
Caleb Ross
Grace Southern Jessica Strathman
Briana Ward
Matthew Younce
Bottom:
Top: HONR 3000 students at an Comic Book museum in Ohio
Use the HC Study Abroad Grant and this could be you.
On top of educational value and unique experiences, there is great food!
Summer '22 faculty-led trip to Israel and Germany!
Study abroad photos from HC student, Grace Kennedy.
A Publication of: The Honors College
University of Central Missouri James C Kirkpatrick Library, Suite 1450 Warrensburg, MO 64093
Phone: 660-543-4633 Email: thehonorscollege@ucmo edu Website: www ucmo edu/thehonorscollege Facebook/Instagram: @UCMHonors
If you are interested in becoming a part of the Honorably Speaking staff or have an article you would like placed in the next issue, please email Grace Kennedy at gkennedy@ucmo edu
The opinions expressed by the columnists do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Honors College, The Honors College Student Association, or the University of Central Missouri.
