From the Directors Desk

We are delighted to present the inaugural issue of The Medallion, the official newsletter of the Calhoun Honors College.

Medallion
papers and posters at national and international conferences, and earn prestigious national and international scholarships. After graduation, they enter top graduate and professional schools, and work in public and private sector positions close to home and around the world. The success of our Honors students is

The

Fall 2011

The Medallion gives us an opportunity to reach out to Honors College alumni, parents, and friends with news and information about the College. Above all, we want to share with you the many accomplishments and contributions of our extraordinary Honors students. Honors students come to Clemson from near

Overlooking Gernsbach, Germany, during the May study travel experience.

At Mmorial de Verdun in France

New program enhances understanding of global policy

Honors launched Dixon Global Policy Scholars in spring 2011 for students interested in pursuing a major scholarship (such as the Rhodes, Truman or Marshall) and in enhancing their knowledge of the issues that shape the world. The first group of 12 Scholars traveled to France and Germany in May to meet with officials at the Dixon Global Policy Scholars European Union, European Parliament and the 2012 DEADLINES Assembly of European January 31 Student application due Regions, as well as French and German students, February 3 Faculty letter of support due diplomats, academics and journalists. Back at Clemson, the Scholars are exploring political and philosophical thought and theory in a seminar with Honors director Dr. Bill Lasser, and also participate in bi-weekly student-led discussions. Next spring they will take a global policy course with political science professor Dr. Jeff Fine. The Dixon GPS is funded in part by the generosity of the late Joseph and Caroline Dixon.
The 2012 Dixon GPS application will be available in January at www.clemson.edu/cuhonors.

Dixon GPS blog

Excerpts from student blogs written during the May travel ... It is one thing to study a world with different standards and quite another to be immersed in that culture and make concrete what had been abstract. ... ... I found myself thinking about religion often while traveling. On the surface, religion is at the heart of Europe. Almost every European city is designed with a massive, beautiful cathedral at its center. These buildings serve little purpose now beyond tourist attractions. Throughout history, however, they were the symbols of religious conflict. ... ... This trip was a way to see beyond the scope of the United States. Even though the setting was different from the U.S. socially and politically, we found similarities and developed our own sense of what the United States is on a global scale. ...

is possible only because of the strong partnerships we have forged across campus: it truly takes a University to educate an Honors student.

The success of our Honors students

and far, drawn by innovative seminars taught by top faculty, world-class research opportunities, challenging study abroad programs, and much more. They form a vibrant community within the Clemson family, living and working together in Holmes Hall and in the Honors Academic Activities Center. Our students are also integral members of the larger Clemson community, holding leadership positions in student government and in dozens of student organizations, and enriching Clemson and the larger community through countless hours of service. They present

possible only because of the strong partnerships we have forged across campus: it truly takes a University to educate an Honors student. Their success depends also on many generous donors and friends, whose support enhances the opportunities and programs we can provide. Please see the back page for information on how you can donate to the Calhoun Honors College. We hope youll enjoy reading about the latest Honors initiatives and programs, and about our talented, enthusiastic, and highly accomplished Calhoun Honors students.

Total Number 271 Average SAT 1419 | Average ACT 31 Average class rank Top 3.4 % Men 51% | Women 49% Majors in the College of...

2011 Honors Freshmen Stats

148 new students come from SC. The rest come from Alaska, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Bill Lasser, Ph.D. Director, Calhoun Honors College

...Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences 23% ...Architecture, Arts & Humanities 7% ...Business & Behavioral Science 8% ...Engineering & Science 55% ...Health, Education & Human Development 7%

Honors students reflect on 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

President James F. Barker joins in reading Clemson students memories of the 9/11 attacks and descriptions of how their lives were affected. On Sept. 7, Honors students, faculty and staff participated in Growing Up After 9/11, a discussion forum exploring how this generation of college students was affected by the attacks when most of them were ages eight to 12. Psychology professor Dr. Cindy Pury shared her research on the immediate emotional reactions to the attacks in New York based on analysis of text messages, and local middle school guidance counselor Marlynn Duncan explained how schools are challenged to respond to a range of crises. Education professor Dr. Robert Knoeppel, a guidance counselor at a Washingon, D.C.-area middle school the day of the attacks, presented his experience working with students and teachers near the Pentagon. Following dinner students and faculty participated in small group discussions. Photos, video and a compilation of student thoughts about the attacks may be viewed at clemson911commemoration.weebly.com. Honors director Dr. Bill Lasser welcomes participants to the event.

Honors families help Tigers defeat Seminoles | Honors hosted more than 200
parents and family members for the Honors Family Weekend reception on Friday, Sept. 23, in the Holmes Hall Honors Academic Activities Center. The presence of so many Honors families no doubt lifted the Tigers to a 35-30 win over Florida State. | The 2012 Honors Family Weekend reception date will be announced next spring.

Honors student Kat Watson (third from left) with mother Susan, brother Judson, and father Jay.

Honors grants funded service, research around the world in 2011

Honors awarded more than $90,000 in Educational Enrichment Travel Grants in the 2010-2011 academic year for internships, research and service, many of them outside the United States.

Calhoun Honors College Staff

Director Dr. Bill Lasser

lasser@clemson.edu

Associate Directors Ricki Shine

rshine@clemson.edu jamwill@clemson.edu

Jamie Williams

Assistant Directors Dana Irvin

parma@clemson.edu steftha@clemson.edu

Stefani Thachik Office Manager Lynn Reeves

Clockwise from top: Dorothy Behre taught English at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China; Thomas Larrew conducted a medical rotation in Bogat, Colombia; and Miles Atkinson volunteered at an orphanage in Wegbe, Ghana.
View more Honors summer photos at www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/summershow.html

klsauls@clemson.edu

At the Oct. 26 Registration Kick-Off forum, Dr. Neil Calkin demonstrates some of the Math and Magic that will be part of his spring 2012 Honors seminar of the same name. Honors will offer a wide range of seminars, including Spies and Spy Novels, Nanotechnology, Concepts of Wisdom, the History of Violence, Holocaust Literature, and the 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic.

Program Assistant Susan Falendysz

sfalend@clemson.edu

Administrative Assistant Wini Del Winkler

wwinkle@clemson.edu

hawkenb@clemson.edu

Graduate Assistant Hawken Brackett

Honors hosts best-selling author for talk

2011 Honors graduate Cohen Simpson is pursuing a masters degree at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar. Simpson is

Mail 105 Tillman Hall Box 345106 Clemson, SC 29634 Phone (864) 656-4762 Fax (864) 656-1472 Web site www.clemson.edu/cuhonors on Facebook www.facebook.com/ ClemsonCalhounHonorsCollege on Twitter @ClemsonHonors

studying Social Science of the Internet, and was one of only a handful chosen for the Clarendon award based on his accomplishments and potential. Simpson is also Clemsons 2011 nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship. Honors hosted Civil War scholar Adam Goodheart, author of the recent New York Times best-seller 1861, for an Oct. 3 public lecture and book signing. The National Scholars Program and the Pearce Center for Professional Communication co-sponsored the lecture. Simpson punts on the Cherwell River on a break from classes.

105 Tillman Hall Box 345106 Clemson, SC 29634-5106

Make a gift to the Calhoun Honors College Foundation at

Support Honors student learning and development.

www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/support.html
Liz Tennant was one of several Honors students in 2011 who participated in the India Housing Project, an Honors international service learning program supported in part by the generosity of donors to the the Honors Foundation.

Gifts to the Calhoun Honors College Foundation account will ensure that Honors at Clemson can continue to offer a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including:
Educational Enrichment Travel Grants for research, service
and internships around the world; Departmental Honors Research and Conference Travel Funds, which provide equipment, supplies, and professional travel opportunities for advanced students; and Honors Center programs, workshops and mentoring hosted in Holmes Hall.
Consider a donation of $50, $500, or $5,000 in recognition of the Calhoun Honors Colleges 50th anniversary! Make your gift today at www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/support.html. For larger gifts, please contact the Honors College at (864) 656-4762. Donations made to the Clemson University Foundation for the Calhoun Honors College are tax deductible.