Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.
—Aristotle
Congratulations to the College of Letters & Science Honors Program graduates!
On this page, you will find commencement remarks from L&S Dean Eric Wilcots and L&S Honors Program Faculty Director Sabine Gross as well as student speaker Claire Evensen. You can also view pictures of Honors events during students’ first years on campus, a few pieces of trivia, and Honors memories and reflections from the graduating class. Links to our commencement program and other campus commencement activities can be found in the website menu and at the bottom of this page.

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Read remarks from L&S Dean Eric Wilcots
I want to start by thanking Sabine Gross, Sara Stephenson, and Matt Kohlstedt, our faculty and staff colleagues who make the L&S Honors program so special. It is truly a pleasure to work with them.
This is, of course, not the commencement celebration we all anticipated. Yet, while our necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires this virtual celebration, please do not let that take anything away from the truly remarkable accomplishments of our Honors graduates. Today we celebrate this university’s best and brightest students. I don’t mean to embarrass all of you, but having served as a faculty mentor for several Honors students over the years, I know firsthand that you are curious, eager, determined, focused, and above all—willing to think out of the box. That is what it takes to achieve great things and fulfill big dreams, and our Honors students go on to do just that.
So, in a very personal way, it is a joy to congratulate you today. I hope you are able to share this moment of celebration with friends and family, even if that means doing so remotely. Graduates, your journey to this point could not have happened without the love and support of your family and friends. Please let them know how much that has meant to you.
Graduates, let me ask you to think back to the moment you joined the Honors program as freshmen. You were looking for a challenge. You were prepared to pursue excellence. During your time here, each of you has discovered and nurtured what one recent graduate of the Honors program called “a perpetually-learning mindset.” I like to call it a “lifelong love of learning.” In pushing yourselves to take the harder course, run the complex experiment, take on the long-term research project, and rise to the challenge of a senior Honors thesis, you have developed and nurtured a hunger for knowledge.
You have been part of a tradition of excellence: L&S Honors was officially launched in 1960 and today serves approximately 1,200 students per year; more than 800 students apply as incoming freshmen; and our Honors students regularly receive the nation’s highest accolades and awards.
I hope, and I believe, that your decision to join the L&S Honors program will count as one of the great decisions of your life.
The Honors program has encouraged you to be passionate about acquiring knowledge on issues close to your heart, as well as important ones in the world at large. You have gained unique skills, including: critical thinking (or, as we call it at UW-Madison, “sifting and winnowing”); communication—across cultures and in different languages; problem-solving, whether in the lab or in a humanities seminar; and the ability and willingness to open your mind to different perspectives and points of view.
In no small measure, I am sure that your experience as an Honors student helped ignite a passion for learning that will continue throughout your lifetime. If so, then you will leave here with the greatest gift of all: a joyful curiosity that will power all your endeavors and decisions from this day forward.
The very meaning of the word “commencement” signifies a beginning. You are beginning the next chapter of your lives, as you go forth from UW-Madison into a very uncertain world. There are many more questions than there are answers about our world and how we interact with each other in the months and years ahead. In that uncertainty we will need, more than ever, leaders who understand critical thinking, who can communicate across cultures, and who have a passion for learning. We will need you, our Honors graduates.
We are incredibly proud of you. We are grateful for the chance to know and teach you. You have shown resilience to complete a challenging course of study. Take that resilience, your spirit, your knowledge and wisdom as you go forth as Badgers into the world.
Again, everyone: thank you for the opportunity to celebrate with you. Congratulations and ON, WISCONSIN!

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Read additional remarks from L&S Honors Faculty Director Sabine Gross
Dear Honors graduates –
Let me add a few remarks to my video congratulations, as you think ahead and reflect on your time at the UW-Madison. While the L&S Honors Program offers opportunities and invites you to take up challenges, none of us could have foreseen the unanticipated challenges that marked your final semester: you have done splendidly under very difficult circumstances. Honors students are characterized by their willingness to embrace challenges, and we know you will bring that willingness to everything you set out to do.
While “graduation” sounds like a form of closure – the completion of your degree and your work here – “commencement” marks a beginning. You’ll be shaping your own future, but also that of your larger surroundings, perhaps of the world, in years to come. You are taking your Honors degree into that world with you, and there are two sides to that degree, two meanings of the term “honor.” On the one hand, Honors is conferred on you publicly and officially, on your transcript: it is an external validation and acknowledgment of your outstanding work and ability to challenge yourself. But “honor” does not only refer to the outward respect and esteem from others that you have earned through high achievement. It is also an inner and personal commitment independent of public validation. A person who has honor has integrity, can be trusted to do things right, and to do the right thing. Being honorable means following that moral compass independently of external rewards or praise (although they may follow).
For the Honors Program, both meanings of “honor” are important. We promised you opportunities that added up to a rich, fulfilling educational experience and we expected you to develop that inner yardstick of integrity in everything that you do – in your intellectual and civic engagement, in taking on leadership roles to support others and make the world better.
For us in the Honors Program, it has been a pleasure and a privilege to watch you progress through your studies at this university and in the Honors Program. We are proud of you, especially after a final semester marked by a collective Covid-19 response that brought so much adjustment and uncertainty. We think of you and your family on graduation weekend and we thank all those who supported you on your educational journey. We hope you will continue feeling connected to the Honors Program; we’re looking forward to hearing from you in the future; we wish you success and happiness. On, Wisconsin!

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Read remarks from Claire Evensen
Hi, Class of 2020! I was honored to be asked to speak to you all today. My name is Claire Evensen, and I’m finishing up an Honors degree in biochemistry and applied math. I know this is not quite the ending we envisioned for our time at UW–Madison, but I hope you are finding ways to celebrate with your families, roommates, dogs, cats, and any other loved ones that can congratulate you on this major accomplishment.
Although this week is when we’re recognized for earning our degrees, in reality we’ve been earning them week by week and day by day for the past four years. By pursuing an Honors Program, we challenged ourselves to stretch our abilities, to find the willingness to fail sometimes, and to develop creativity as a writer, scientist, artist, and thinker. Through it all, we’ve found the things we love, we’ve probably found a couple of things we hate, and, most importantly, we’ve found that we don’t need to be defined by a singular passion or goal.
A liberal arts education and this Honors Program supports us throughout that exact process; it recognizes that we have a diverse range of interests and encourages us to pursue all of them. You wouldn’t know it from my degree or my career plans, but the humanities have been a central part of my experience at UW. I have been a member of the clarinet studio and Wind Ensemble, and had the opportunity to take classes ranging from 20th century Indian culture, to the rise of Internet infrastructure disparities, to African storytelling traditions. Some of these classes are mainstays of a UW liberal arts education and connect generations of Badgers; my mom took that same African storytelling course!
Unfortunately, liberal arts educations are facing challenges right now as some universities shift their focus towards preparing students for particular career paths. I think this kind of shift ignores one of the most important aspects of a college education: exploration and flexibility. If there was ever a prime time to support the love of learning, college is it; when else will an aspiring programmer have the chance to read a wide range of Asian American literature, or a future psychologist have the chance to take a class on climate change? Once we have moved on from UW, we will have to work much harder to find the same diverse learning opportunities, so a liberal arts education can quite literally be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
In a time when universities are shrinking or eliminating humanities departments, it is important that leaders in STEM make a conscious effort to fight this trend by drawing attention to the very concrete ways in which the sciences and the humanities strengthen one another. This is an issue I’m personally very passionate about; I am a big proponent of STEAM, the effort to add the Arts into traditional STEM initiatives. Work in this area is exciting; recently, I’ve seen articles on how we can use mathematics to model the origins and diversification of human language, and how linguistics are an essential tool for designing AI machine learning programs. As we go forward into our careers, I hope we all remain advocates for the aspects of liberal arts we are most invested in, so future students are afforded the same opportunities that we were.
Now that we’re at the end of our time together, it’s only natural to look back — we’ve gotten through O chem, so many walks up Bascom Hill, all-nighters writing midterm papers, and now, thanks to Zoom, getting acquainted with all of our professors’ and classmates’ homes. I know that we will all get through this uncertain transition together, and I’m excited to hear about where your Honors degree takes you in the future! From my family to yours — congratulations, Class of 2020!

Medallion for Comprehensive Honors graduates

Pin for L&S Honors Program graduates

Welcome message at Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) in 2016

Honors students attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) in 2016

Group advising during SOAR 2016

Honors students' owl drawings from SOAR 2016

2016 Fall Kick-Off outside of Washburn Observatory

2016 Fall Kick-Off outside of Washburn Observatory

Honors director Sabine Gross and Honors students at the First-Year Dinner in 2016

Honors students at the First-Year Dinner in 2016

2017 Welton Research Apprentices before their retreat to Spring Green, Wisconsin

2018 Welton Research Apprentices during their retreat in Spring Green, Wisconsin

Students awaiting the 2017 solar eclipse outside Washburn Observatory
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What prompted UW-Madison to create an Honors Program?
A student petition in 1958 urged for a more challenging and enriching curriculum and led to the creation of the Honors Program. Read the text of the student petition.
How many students are being recognized with 2019-20 L&S Honors degrees this commencement season?
194 students!
How many students are graduating with Comprehensive Honors (both Honors in the Major and Honors in the Liberal Arts)?
34 students!
How many majors and certificates have this class of Honors graduates completed?
194 L&S Honors students have completed a total of 321 majors and 116 certificates!
What were the most popular majors among this year's graduates?
- Mathematics: 38 students!
- Neurobiology and Psychology (TIE): 31 students
- Computer Sciences: 25 students
How many total Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees were earned by this graduating class?
60 Bachelor of Arts degrees!
How many total Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees were earned by this graduating class?
122 Bachelor of Science degrees!
Honors graduates were given the opportunity to share a memory or brief reflection about their Honors experience. Graduates can submit their photos and memories for this page by completing our Google form.
Meet Our Graduates
Sheila Rozalia Abdul Rashid
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Geology & Geophysics | Certificate: Environmental Studies
It was indeed a challenging but yet worthy experience to write your honor’s senior thesis. You are not considered as honor’s student if you don’t experience a sleepless night at the end of your writing due date 😀
Ziyad Alghunaim
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Computer Sciences
Receiving a key to the graphics lab.
Andrew Allen
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificate: Global Health
Isabel Allen
Credentials: B.S.-CMPE (ENGR) with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Engineering, Computer Sciences, Mathematics
Eve Alterman
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Political Science | Certificate: Educational Policy Studies
My honors experience taught me how to cultivate and maintain individual relationships with professors, and use those relationships to help myself be a stronger student and a better individual altogether.
Olivia Anderson
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Gender & Women's Studies, Sociology (Honors)
Samantha F. Ausman
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major(s): Chemistry (Honors)
Jordan Bain
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Computer Sciences, Philosophy | Certificate: Digital Studies
John Balis
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
The Honors experience was a worthwhile opportunity to take a few graduate classes and gain familiarity with the process of research in the field of Human Computer Interaction. I am very grateful to my advisor, Dr. Bilge Mutlu, for supporting me through this process, to the Trewartha family, for sponsoring my thesis through the Trewartha senior thesis grant, and finally, to my joint senior thesis co-author Andrew Geng.
Aaron Barenbaum
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Neurobiology, Psychology (Honors)
One of the most rewarding experiences in my time as an undergraduate at UW-Madison was the conduction of my Senior Honors Thesis. Being given the opportunity to design and conduct my own original research project and see some of the interesting results that were found was a rare moment of genuine pride.
Hunter Batjer
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biology, Economics | Certificate: Global Health
Lily Beckers
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders | Certificate: Education and Educational Services
My Honors experience allowed me to get to know my professors in new ways. It was such a wonderful learning opportunity to collaborate with my Honors professors throughout several semesters. Giving a lecture on universal newborn hearing screenings and studying and researching more specific topics were great experiences to have as an undergraduate student.
Brianna Benson
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Computer Sciences, Mathematics
Abra Berkoff
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: History | Certificate: Integrated Liberal Studies
I am incredibly grateful for my time in L&S Honors. One of the most valuable aspects of my Honors experience was having discussion each week with my professors. I appreciated getting to know my professors outside of lecture and delving deeper into the content they were very passionate and knowledgable about. I am very thankful for my time in Honors and at UW-Madison, and I am excited to see what the future holds!
Hope Beyer
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Biochemistry | Certificates: Biocore, Global Health
Chloe Billstrom
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Sociology, Spanish | Certificate: Global Health
Rachel Brightman
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Art History, English | Certificate: Education and Educational Services
Greta Brown
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Neurobiology | Certificate: Global Health
In the Spring 2017, my Honors advisor suggested looking into the Welton Sophomore Honors Summer Apprenticeship program. I was fortunate enough to earn a spot in the program and became associated with the Chang Lab at the Waisman Center. While I was able to get involved with cutting edge research investigating gene mutations as a cause of Rett syndrome, I was also able to develop lasting and respectful relationships with my mentors. This apprenticeship led to an invitation to join their team as an undergraduate research assistant which then led to an expansion of my network into other research labs on campus. It also positioned me to provide training and mentoring opportunities of my own as a trusted senior member of their team.
Jonas Brown
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Astronomy-Physics, Physics (Honors)
John Brunn
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Chemistry | Certificate: Mathematics
Having small and personable classes that engaged me in new and surprising ways within subjects outside of my major opened my mind to the incredible array of study at the University and helped me make a diverse pool of friends and peers.
Kesong Cao
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Economics
Anna Cash
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Psychology | Certificates: African Studies, Global Health
Austin Castleberry
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Computer Sciences, Mathematics | Certificate: Japanese Professional Communication
Ruth Cesar Heymann
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Economics (Honors), Mathematics | Certificates: Computer Sciences, Environmental Studies
Joseph Cesare
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: English, Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, Zoology | Certificate: Education and Educational Services
Tianhao Chai
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
Junda Chen
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
This was the first time I come to Lake Mendota. I came here because I didn’t just want to learn about math or just computer science. I wanted to learn more about the world, this broader existence that I shall have the ability to appreciate it and live with it. I didn’t want my major to restraint my eyesight. I wanted to be liberally educated. Comprehensive honor program gave me the drive to spend my day and nights on subjects that I could never thought of learning: French literature, philosophy, astronomy, biochemistry, rhetorics, architecture, and design. It also gave me the opportunity to connect and learn with amazing people. It gave me the inclusiveness to fail, and the capacity to grow. The program also helped me the dive deeper into computer science. To my parents who love and support me for my dream in Madison, to all the professors who have taught me to become the person I am today – Thank you! I will remember what I had learned here, and try to make our world a better place.
John S Chlystek
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Philosophy, Biochemistry | Certificate: Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society
Anisa Ciaciura
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Psychology, Neurobiology | Certificates: Global Health, Leadership
I have enjoyed engaging in the content through intimate Honors sections throughout my degree and developing strong relationships with faculty. The Honors experience has allowed me to meet and learn from diverse peers and professors beyond my majors in psychology and neurobiology. One of my favorite Honors sections included Population Health 370 which inspired me to pursue Public Health post-graduation. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to become involved in multiple parts of campus including serving as the Honors Student Organization Communication Chair.
Olivia Coleman
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Political Science, Communication Arts
Zoey Colglazier
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Cartography & Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Studies, Geography (Honors)
Emma Collins
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Psychology, Spanish
I always felt very comforted and supported any time I was having an advising appointment.
Emma Lynn Cooper
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: English
Lucas Coury-Ortiz
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Spanish, Political Science
Zhaoqing Cui
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Economics, Mathematics
As an Honors student, I feel very fortunate to take a graduate-level course and to do year-long research with Professor Mark Craven. I believe both experiences gave me opportunities to explore more in Computer Science.
Katie Danforth
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Gender & Women's Studies, Political Science
Giovanna Danna
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Italian, Psychology | Certificate: European Studies
Being an Honors student at Madison definitely changed my college experience for the better. The relationships I got to form with my teachers through honors only courses were pivotal to my college career. I enjoyed being in smaller classes and enjoyed the extra challenges that came with that!
Kelsey Davis
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Neurobiology, Spanish
I really enjoyed attending the Honors Welcome Party my first week of Freshman year. It was one of the first activities I did on campus and even though I didn’t know anyone I ended up sitting next to a student who happened to be in my FIG! It made the first day of classes less nerve-racking and shows how you can make a campus of 40,000 so much smaller and more of a community.
Suzanne DeGuire
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Classical Humanities, Latin (Honors), Political Science | Certificate: European Studies
Corbin Desautell
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Chemistry
I think the honors experience has provided me with an in-depth holistic understanding of my education and how it fits into not just my major but the world around me. Also, many of the honors classes I took were some of the more interesting classes that were outside of my direct field of study. I think the program contributed positively towards my experience at UW-Madison.
Tanvi Dhariwal
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Art History (Honors), Italian | Certificates: Art Studio, Classical Studies, Archaeology
Elisebeth Doty
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: French, Religious Studies (Honors)
Laura Downer
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: German, International Studies, Political Science
My Honors experience was a constant reminder to challenge myself to go beyond the assigned lectures and reading. Completing extra projects in Honors-designated courses somehow made me want to go beyond the syllabus in all my other courses. A lot of my Honors experience was in the German department, studying abroad and taking a couple of senior seminars, and I count among my top experiences at UW.
Jingqi Duan
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Mathematics, Statistics (Honors) | Certificate: Computer Sciences
Patrick Egan
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Computer Sciences | Certificate: Mathematics
Kaylin Ellioff
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Neurobiology
During my time as an L&S Honors student, I not only had the opportunity to work on an exciting neurobiology research project leading to a future publication, but also work with and train fellow students. This picture was taken the day before Erica (left) and Amanda (second from right), returned to Puerto Rico after their summer research programs concluded. Hawra (second from left), who recently joined Dr. Corinna Burger’s lab, also had the chance to get to know our group throughout the summer. In between running Western blot gels and performing the Morris Water Maze with our rats, Erica and Amanda had me try a variety of Puerta Rican cuisine like tostones (YUM) and cheesy hot chocolate (also YUM). Getting to know these girls was such a highlight in my honors research experience and I am looking forward to seeing them again at conferences in future years. Apart from that summer, the honors program allowed me to attend the annual Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago and present at a few of its satellite meetings. Here I had the opportunity to network with neurobiology students and faculty from all over the world. I cannot thank the L&S Honors Program, the Trewartha family, Corinna Burger (my research advisor), and so many others enough for all the training and opportunities I have been afforded during my time here. On Wisconsin!
Heather Erickson
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: English (Honors), Philosophy
I am particularly thankful for the experience of completing a Senior Honors Project under Professor Elizabeth Bearden. Under her guidance and freedom, I explored multiple disciplines, such as philosophy, early modern literature, and disability studies. Further, I wrote my longest argument which advocates for counter eugenic logic and disability gain. I am so grateful to have learned from such a wise scholar, brilliant lecturer, and caring mentor. I will carry this experience with me forever.
Claire Evensen
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Biochemistry (Honors), Mathematics | Certificate: Biocore
I’m so glad I pursued an Honors degree at UW! I would like to give special thanks to Janet Batzli, Michelle Harris, the whole Biocore teaching team, and Susan Brantly — each of these fantastic professors challenged me to become a creative scientist, writer, and thinker.
Echo Dianna Fatsis
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Criminal Justice
Benjamin Fordyce
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Chemistry (Honors), Mathematics
Mario Fregoso
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Legal Studies | Certificates: Art History, Criminal Justice
Kyle Fruhling
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Astronomy-Physics (Honors), Mathematics, Physics
Madelyn Funk
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Education Studies, Psychology
My favorite part of the honors experience was getting to know my professors on a more personal level and learning things more in-depth by taking discussion sections taught by the professor rather than a TA.
David Furlan
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Economics | Certificate: Business
Dasong Gao
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics | Certificate: Physics
Andrew Geng
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Mathematics, Computer Sciences (Honors)
Leah Gerlach
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificate: Global Health
My Honors courses have been some of the most memorable throughout my undergraduate career. They have given me the opportunity to study topics far outside my major and gain knowledge in a wide variety of topics. I have also met some great friends and mentors through the Honors program, and I will always look back on it as an important part of my time at UW.
Nicholas Girardi
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Biochemistry | Certificate: Biocore
Selin Gok
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Global Health
Elizabeth Haberland-Ervin
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Chemistry; History of Science, Medicine, & Technology (Honors)
I loved any visit up to the Washburn Observatory — the view was amazing.
Rebecca Hanks
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: International Studies, Political Science (Honors) | Certificate: African Studies
I’m so fortunate to have been part of the L&S Honors community for the past four years! This program allowed me to take on an enriching and diverse course load, to develop lasting connections with peers and professors alike, and to attend a wide variety of interesting events and workshops. It gave me so many amazing memories and experiences here in Madison, all of which I will bring with me as I start new professional and personal journeys in the years to come.
Leighty Hanrahan
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: German (Honors), International Studies, Political Science | Certificate: European Studies
Lauren Hartman
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: English | Certificate: Business
Throughout my four years at Madison, I have loved the opportunities and relationships that being a part of the Honors program has given me. When I took smaller Honors courses that were led by professors, attended Honors academic advising appointments with advisors who actually knew my name, and recognized fellow Honors students in my classes, I felt like more than just another number at a massive university. I will miss being a part of the Honors community!
Mostafa Hassan
Credentials: B.S.-CMPE (ENGR) with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Engineering, Mathematics
Sarah Heinze
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders
I am truly grateful for this experience. I had an amazing opportunity to do research and work with some amazing minds. The research that I completed further solidified why I love what I do. I am excited to further pursue my education in this area by getting a Master’s degree from UW-Madison starting Fall 2020.
Annika Hendrickson
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Art History
Helen Heo
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Molecular Biology (Honors), Neurobiology (Honors) | Certificate: Biocore
The L&S Honors Program gave me many opportunities to further explore my interests inside and outside of the classroom.
Alexa Herskowitz
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Major | Major: Journalism | Certificate: Digital Studies
My experience at UW was greater than I could have ever imagined. A highlight of my academic journey took place this past year, where I had the opportunity to work alongside one of my favorite professors while conducting research for my senior thesis. I absolutely loved having the opportunity to explore a topic I am very passionate about.
Nathaniel Hilliard
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Astronomy-Physics (Honors), Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics
Many thanks to all the support from the friends, family, and faculty that have kept me going throughout the years, with special thanks to the D’Onghia and Schmidt groups for the invaluable mentoring, generosity, and opportunity that they have provided outside the classroom. And a big thank you to the Honors program and numerous L&S professors who collaborated with me to expand my education beyond the standard course material, affording me the agency to personally direct my own curriculum and all of the fulfillment that has come with it.
Oliver Hitchcock
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Astronomy-Physics, Mathematics, Physics (Honors) | Certificate: Computer Sciences
The Honors Program at UW-Madison allowed me to get the most out of my undergraduate education. Honors allowed me to explore rich coursework, attend smaller classes, and form connections with the brightest minds at UW-Madison.
Nathan Holly
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Biochemistry | Certificate: Biocore
Hudson Horn
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Molecular Biology | Certificate: Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society
Rachel Hunter
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: International Studies | Certificates: African Studies, Global Health
Kayla Huynh
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Journalism | Certificate: Asian American Studies
Ethan Hyland
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Chemistry (Honors), Religious Studies
Natasha Ignatowski
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificate: Biocore
Marshal Jahnke
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Neurobiology, Philosophy (Honors)
Megan Janssen
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Journalism, Spanish
My junior year I had the opportunity to take an Honors history seminar on a personal topic of interest, which would turn out to be one of my favorite classes I took at UW. The course is History 600: Baseball & Society Since WWII, co-instructed by MLB Commissioner Emeritus Allan Selig. Learning from a great professor and the former Commissioner of MLB was an incredible experience, which is the definition of bringing the classroom to life. I am so glad I was able to get into this very popular class and receive Honors credit. We capped off the class with a trip to Commissioner Selig’s Milwaukee office and to Miller Park. This was definitely a highlight of my Honors experience.
Margaret Johnson
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: English (Honors), Environmental Studies | Certificate: American Indian Studies
I wrote my English Honors Thesis this past year and ended up traveling to Canada to conduct that research on Anishinaabe traditional stories. It was a solo trip and really pushed me academically and personally.
Megan Johnston
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Global Health
I am very grateful for my Honors experience here at UW. It both challenged me and allowed to me to thrive during my 4 years here. I have gained valuable knowledge that I will carry with me in my future career and life experiences. My honors experience allowed me to get to know my professors at a deeper level than I would have in my large lectures. I have been able to form meaningful connections and gain a deeper understanding in my courses. In addition, the Honors advisors were instrumental in helping me find my path. They were always eager to help and offer resources.
Kevin Jones
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biology, English | Certificate: Biocore
Samantha Jones
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Major | Major: Journalism | Certificates: Development Economics, Environmental Studies
I had such a great experience working on my senior honors thesis! I challenged myself by working with a J-School professor I had always wanted to take a class with, and was able to curate my own project based on my interests. By analyzing some of my favorite protest novels, I have been identifying the trajectory and characteristics of narrative in social justice movements — a topic I wouldn’t have been able to study in-depth otherwise.
Yochana Kancherla
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Psychology, Neurobiology (Honors) | Certificates: Biocore; Health and Humanities
By completing Honors in the major I was able to dig deeper into course materials and further reflect on my learning.
Yuzhuo Kang
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Statistics (Honors), Economics
Kamila Kazimierczuk
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Environmental Studies, Geography | Certificates: Archaeology, Engineering for Energy Sustainability
Jiwon Kim
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders | Certificate: Education and Educational Services
The ability to do an honors thesis was incredible!
Abigail King
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: History, Political Science (Honors)
The honors college connected me with amazing, driven people that became my best friends. It challenged me and made me into a better student, person and leader. I am so thankful for the resources and connections it brought me.
Alex King
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Legal Studies, Political Science | Certificate: Criminal Justice
Benjamin Kinzer
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Computer Sciences, Mathematics | Certificate: Studio Art
I always remember tricking other honors students into climbing trees with me at picnics and gatherings. Many fun times, many fun trees.
Hayden Kolowrat
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: History (Honors) | Certificates: Southeast Asian Studies, European Studies
Nicole Koshevatskiy
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Business
I thoroughly enjoyed the honors classes I took at UW-Madison because of the close relationships I established with distinguished professors. I was also able to expand my leadership capacities beyond the classroom through my position as the activities chair for the Honors Student Organization.
Logan Krishka
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Anthropology; Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies; Portuguese (Honors)
Aditya Easwaran Krishnan
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Geology & Geophysics | Certificate: Scandinavian Studies
Between the people, experiences, and resources, joining the University of Wisconsin and the Honors program was without a doubt one of the best decisions of my life. My experience of taking honors classes is unparalleled. They felt like an infusion of fresh ideas and perspectives. As graduating senior reflecting back on this whole experience and remembering certain more challenging classes, I am left with a bittersweet feeling. From advisors who go above and beyond to help you to professors that want you to succeed, this program has allowed me to make the most out of my college experience and excel at life.
Emma Langer
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biology, Psychology
Working for the Honors Program, I was provided a family of incredible people – students, faculty, advisors and administrators. I will never forget the laughs and memories we shared, and could not imagine my time as an undergraduate without them!
Mary Grace Larson
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Political Science, Spanish | Certificates: Environmental Studies, Gender & Women's Studies
The Honors experience gave me a unique opportunity to engage more closely with professors and think more critically about my courses. I am very grateful that I had the chance to get such individualized attention and feedback throughout my education. A particular highlight was a Spanish course that was only the professor, two other students, and myself. I never thought I would get that chance at a huge university.
Alexander Latham IV
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Psychology
Getting to write one of my longest honors-optional project papers on the social psychology of Kendrick Lamar.
Harry Lees
Credentials: JBA with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Journalism (Honors), Political Science
Finally completing my Honors Thesis was an incredible moment.
Dustin Lemke
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Anthropology (Honors) Zoology | Certificates: Archaeology, Global Health
Researching and writing a senior honors thesis this year was one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences I’ve had at UW.
Ketzel Levens
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
The research that I have conducted as a part of my senior thesis has allowed me to follow my curiosity and dig deep into a greater understanding of atmospheric sciences, leaving me with a well-rounded understanding of my major and a greater appreciation for the work it takes to understand atmospheric phenomena.
Anna Li
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Neurobiology, Psychology (Honors)
The honors experience has allowed me to learn from and work with world-class faculty. I am appreciative of the knowledge I have gained and look forward to taking what I have learned into my future.
Huanran Li
Credentials: B.S.-EE (ENGR) with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Electrical Engineering
Yunxuan Li
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Astronomy-Physics, Mathematics (Honors)
Makayla Liebeck
Credentials: BSW with Honors in the Major | Majors: Psychology (Honors), Social Work
Elaine Liu
Credentials: B.S. (CALS) with Honors in the Major | Majors: Biochemistry, Neurobiology (Honors)
Alyson Long
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Major: History | Certificates: European Studies, French
Julia Lucey-Arneberg
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: International Studies | Certificate: Educational Policy Studies
My Honors experience allowed me to cultivate deeper relationships with professors-Honors, and non-Honors! The Honors Program made me more comfortable reaching out and interacting with professors which has been invaluable.
Zelin Lv
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
Yuan Ma
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Economics (Honors), Mathematics, Statistics (Honors) | Certificate: Computer Sciences
Maiya Macalpine
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Psychology, Neurobiology (Honors) | Certificate: Specialist in Gerontology
My honors courses have been a great way to experience small class sizes with distinguished instructors within a large university.
Yogesh Mahendran
Credentials: B.S.-CMPE (ENGR) with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Engineering, Computer Sciences (Honors)
Sarah Marowski
Credentials: B.S. (CALS) with Honors in the Major | Majors: Biology, Religious Studies (Honors)
Tyler James McCarthy
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: English, Psychology | Certificate: Italian
Cameron McDowell
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Mathematics, Physics | Certificate: Computer Sciences
Meghan McGrogan
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Legal Studies, Political Science | Certificate: Criminal Justice
Makena Meyers
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Criminal Justice
Alexa Miller
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Journalism
Some of my favorite classes were Honors seminars and Honors optional classes. They provided a smaller academic experience that allowed students to connect with professors and the class material on a deeper level. I am so happy I had the Honors Program as part of my undergraduate career at UW!
Julia Miller
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Neurobiology (Honors) | Certificate: Art Studio
Amelia Moore
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Legal Studies, Political Science, Psychology | Certificate: Criminal Justice
The honors only classes have always been some of my favorite courses. I have always felt that these were where I gained the greatest depth of knowledge and have forced me to think critically and on a more in-depth level. Additionally, I met one of my best friends in an honors only class first semester of freshman year. I am always grateful that the honors program allowed my friends and I to meet and ultimately helped shape my college experience.
Christopher Murphy
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biochemistry, History
My Honors experience has offered me a deeper and more comprehensive education and experience. It has not only allowed me to research topics that I would not have otherwise been able to study and to better get to know professors but also introduce me to other driven undergraduates. The Honors College, in total, has provided me richer and more intimate experience at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Anusha Naik
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Anthropology, Molecular Biology | Certificate: African Studies
The L&S Honors program pushed me to appreciate breadth in my education. As a member of this program, I took courses on obscure topics and gained unique perspectives on the world surrounding me.
Mikhail Nedbai
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Computer Sciences
I remember running my first batch of experiments on the CHTC computing cluster. The thrill of launch a large scale computing job, and getting back huge batches of results, being able to analyze them and relaying the results back to my mentor was really exciting.
Lily Oberstein
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Art History, Journalism, Legal Studies | Certificate: Criminal Justice
I loved being able to take large lecture classes and debrief about the material with a more intimate group in an honors section. This style of learning really helped me not only learn the content of my classes, but let me engage with the material in a way many others don’t get the opportunity to.
Hadar Ohana
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
Abby Olivieri
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders | Certificate: Education and Educational Studies
I enjoyed the smaller classes that were discussion based. I had classes with some of the same people throughout my college years and it was nice to see a familiar face from time to time.
William Ortola Leonard
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Mathematics, Physics (Honors)
Victoria Paige
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: English, History (Honors) | Certificate: Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies
I’m still surprised I was able to pass honors science classes.
Meghan Pallardy
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Legal Studies, Political Science | Certificate: Environmental Studies
Cynthia Papantonatos
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology
Because of the Honors program, I was able to participate in the Welton summer apprenticeship, where I met a great group of friends that plays ping pong and Super Smash Bros together.
Anna Patterson
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Neurobiology | Certificate: Global Health
I most enjoyed being creative through my honors projects for classes. I definitely feel that I’ve been able to develop a more in-depth understanding of course concepts through these projects.
Aaron Pawlinski
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Economics (Honors), Mathematics
Logan Pearlman
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Economics, Political Science
Honors gave me the opportunity to take classes and meet professors I wouldn’t have otherwise. That was great.
Emily Perez
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Economics, German | Certificate: Global Health
Elisabet Asplund Pietz
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Spanish | Certificate: LGBTQ+ Studies
My undergraduate experience would have been drastically different without the L&S Honors program. I particularly want to thank David Danaher and Marwa Shalaby for teaching extraordinary Honors-only courses. Their courses provided me with the space to question my own beliefs, develop a stronger understanding of the world, and push my mind to the limit. I will be attending UW-La Crosse as a member of their Doctor of Physical Therapy class of 2024, and hope to eventually become a bilingual, culturally competent, actively anti-racist physical therapist. Participating in the Honors Program here at UW-Madison has been a crucial step of my journey.
Annie Poggioli
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Psychology | Certificate: Business
The best part of my Honors experience was having the opportunity to develop personal relationships with professors. It was so great to have Honors only small group discussions with the professor after huge lectures. During these discussions, I learned to appreciate the subject matter and develop relationships with professors and my talented peers more than I would have without Honors. I feel so grateful to have been a part of this community and want to thank the Honors advisors especially who work so hard to help students like me.
Gretchen Poston
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: English | Certificates: Environmental Studies, Integrated Liberal Studies
Teddy Powers
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Neurobiology, Religious Studies (Honors)
Timothy Prestby
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Cartography & Geographic Information Systems | Certificate: Environmental Studies
Steven Queoff
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Environmental Sciences, Geology & Geophysics
Prachi Raina
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Economics | Certificate: Business
I actually met my college best friend through the Honors Program! She and I were sitting at SOAR together trying to figure out classes for freshman year and I remember we were so nervous and excited about what was to come. Little did I know she would be my best friend all through college! The Honors Program brought me people that are willing to go the extra mile with me while having a blast along the way 🙂 Thanks L&S Honors for all the advising, ice cream socials, and friends!!
Jiaan Rameshk
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: History, Political Science | Certificates: European Studies, Middle East Studies
Benjamin Rolsma
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Philosophy, Economics (Honors)
In my freshman year I took a philosophy seminar on a whim because it was an honors-only class. It turned out that I love philosophy and so it ended up becoming my second major. Further philosophy classes with honors sections, honors projects, and so on, have profoundly shaped my undergraduate intellectual journey for the better.
Maximilian Sanchez
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Anthropology | Certificate: Archaeology
Amanda Sarsha
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Economics | Certificates: Computer Sciences, Global Health
Eli Schlossberg
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences, Mathematics (Honors)
Chloe Schomaker
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Neurobiology (Honors), Psychology | Certificate: Biocore Curriculum Honors
Nicole Schreiber
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Political Science | Certificates: Integrated Studies in Science, Engineering, and Society; Public Policy
Xavier Schultze
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biology, Philosophy
Getting to know instructors better during special honors sections.
Katherine Scotty
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Political Science | Certificate: Business
Vienne Seitz
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Neurobiology, Psychology | Certificate: Biocore Curriculum Honors
Carlie Servais
Credentials: B.A with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Neurobiology, Psychology
Being an Honors student allowed me to meet and interact with so many amazing people. All of my Honors classes were lead by amazing professors and the Honors discussion sections were chances for me to meet classmates and peers that shared the same interests as me. Some of my best friends are people I met in Honors classes! Without these opportunities, I definitely would not have had the chance to experience so many different perspectives and personalities.
Perri Sheftel
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Journalism | Certificate: Entrepreneurship
Nathan Simon
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: History, Psychology
My favorite Honors experience was taking the Honors discussion component of child development psychology my freshman year with Dr. Seth Pollack. His passion for his research and teaching of how to analyze empirical articles was foundational to my ability to grow throughout college as a scholar and researcher in the fields of psychology and educational psychology.
Aditya Singh
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Chemistry (Honors), Computer Sciences (Honors)
Hannah Smyth
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificates: Entrepreneurship, Global Health
Dylan Solomon
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Economics, Political Science
Hong Song
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Major: History | Certificate: East Asian Studies
Lauren Sorensen
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: French, Political Science (Honors) | Certificate: African Studies
My experience at UW-Madison was greatly impacted by my decision to pursue an Honors degree. After deciding to study abroad in Senegal for both semesters of my junior year, the Honors program allowed me to continue to cultivate my academic interests in the politics of Senegal. Writing a Senior Honors Thesis covering this topic was one of the most difficult tasks I have ever taken on but truly one of the most rewarding.
Justine Spore
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Environmental Studies, Journalism
The Honors program had incredibly helpful advisors, and I was exposed to great classes I wouldn’t otherwise have been pushed to take.
Thomas Staniszewski, Jr.
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificates: Biocore, Global Health
The L&S Honors Program has provided a number of unique opportunities for me over the past four years. Not only have I received additional experiences in my courses, but I also feel that I’ve made lasting connections with many of my professors. One of my favorite Honors experiences was the Honors Banquette at the Pyle Center. I was lucky enough to return to this event as a Senior to represent the Biocore Program to inform prospective students about this honors biology certificate as well as other pre-medical coursework. Overall, I’m grateful for all of the additional resources and guidance provided by the L&S Honors Program which have helped me tremendously throughout my undergraduate career.
Nathan Steagall
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Art History, Classical Humanities (Honors), History | Certificate: Archaeology
Kelsey Stimes
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Neurobiology, Communication Sciences & Disorders (Honors)
Abbey Stoltenburg
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Biochemistry (Honors), Neurobiology | Certificate: Biocore
I began my Honors experience in my sophomore year in college with Biocore. The decision to do Biocore was one of the best that I made during college. I met so many amazing people through this experience including some of my best friends in college. Despite the challenges of Biocore, I was able to grow as an individual and as a scientist. I will never forget this experience or the amazing instructors I have met.
Dahlia Tesfamichael
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Neurobiology | Certificates: Gender & Women's Studies, Global Health
Being in honors classes challenged me academically. I was pleasantly surprised with the extent of my achievements.
Liam Tomson-Moylan
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Computer Sciences | Certificate: Biocore
Farid Torbey
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Major | Major: English | Certificate: Medieval Studies
Catherine Torner
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Education Studies, English | Certificate: Gender & Women's Studies
Nina Tran
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: Biochemistry | Certificate: Southeast Asian Studies
My favorite experience as an honors student was completing my senior thesis. This project encapsulated my undergraduate career and is one of my proudest achievements!
Sheyenne Tung
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Neurobiology, Psychology | Certificate: Biocore
Maximilian Vichr
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Sociology, Spanish | Certificate: Environmental Studies
I appreciate my Honors experience as it was able to open the doors to fun academic experiences. More than receiving honors “credit” for courses like Slavic Linguistics or doing a fermentation project for Ethnobotany, it allowed for greater exploration of narrow and fascinating topics.
Amelia Wagner
Credentials: JBA with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Journalism, Political Science | Certificate: Gender & Women's Studies
I have always appreciated the willingness of honors professors to ensure that students are engaging with the material and connecting with students on an individual basis. I am proud to be a L&S Honors graduate!
Elizabeth Wahmhoff
Credentials: B.A. with Comprehensive Honors | Major: English | Certificate: Digital Studies
Joining the Honors program was one of the best decisions I made during my time at UW-Madison because it allowed me to go above and beyond in a wide variety of disciplines. While I am an English major, the Honors courses I took in the sciences were some of my favorites and I developed a passion for sustainability because of them. My Honors experience has made me a better thinker and a more rounded individual who is able to look at a problem from multiple perspectives.
Julie Wallin
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificates: Biocore, Specialist in Gerontology
Junting Wang
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Mathematics, Statistics (Honors)
It was a special experience for me because it was my first time to complete a research project on my own. It also happened in a special condition due to the coronavirus, but it was still a great and meaningful time.
Zihan Wang
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
Holly Wegener
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificate: Global Health
Sam Westby
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Mathematics, Psychology | Certificate: Computer Sciences
Lea Wheeler
Credentials: B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Neurobiology | Certificates: Gender & Women's Studies, Global Health
Zengbo Xie
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Neurobiology (Honors), Psychology (Honors)
Heejun Yang
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Economics (Honors), Statistics (Honors)
Chenhao Ye
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Computer Sciences
When turning back to the summer that I started to research with Prof. Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau and Prof. Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau, the moment that I would appreciate most would be at the end of our weekly discussion, Remzi always asked me, “You are doing great, so what’s next?” Remzi seldom directly told me what to do but instead provided feedbacks after I developed my thoughts first. I am grateful that I could do the project in such an independent but supported way, and it made me realize I was developing the idea rather than simply implementing it.
Xinyu Ye
Credentials: B.S.-TOX (PHM) with Honors in the Major | Major: Chemistry (Honors), Pharmacology & Toxicology
Yuchen Ying
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Philosophy | Certificate: Pilates
Ali Zaidi
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics
Ruimin Zhang
Credentials: B.S. with Comprehensive Honors | Majors: Computer Sciences (Honors), Mathematics (Honors)
Haoruo Zhao
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Computer Sciences, Mathematics (Honors)
Keer Zhao
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Majors: Chemistry (Honors), Communication Arts | Certificates: Art Studio, Digital Cinema Production
Alexandra Zinnen
Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Major | Major: Neurobiology
My time at UW-Madison was filled with memories I will cherish forever. From the passionate students to the charismatic and caring professors, to the fascinating classes, every second helped me grow both as a student and as a person. The memory that expresses these sentiments most was from my Psychology 513 course about Hormones, Brains, and Behavior. As a requirement of the class, we had to create a presentation synthesizing three research papers relating to a topic about hormones. Although we had to switch to an online distance learning format due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all of the presentations were amazing and inspired vigorous discussions. Passion for the chosen subject was exuded by each and every presentation, perfectly encapsulating the honors experience of a vivid learning environment filled with students from various expertise and backgrounds, creating a diverse and stunning landscape of knowledge.
Zonghao Zou
Credentials: B.S.-AMEP with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Applied Mathematics, Engineering, & Physics; Computer Sciences | Certificate: Business
I was given the opportunity to receive Welton Apprentice summer scholarship. We went together to a house outside of Madison to present our summer achievements. That was a great experience.