More than 25 high school seniors have been accepted into McNeese State University’s Honors College, a program designed to nurture and inspire high-performing students to continue their academic success.

According to program director Scott Goins, professor of classics and coordinator of foreign languages at McNeese, Honors College is geared specifically toward students who have demonstrated superior scholastic achievement. Requirements for acceptance include a score of at least 27 on the ACT, a grade point average of at least 3.5, several letters of recommendation and a written essay. Honors College students benefit from a scholarship that covers virtually all of their needs, including tuition and housing, and are also given the opportunity to enroll in smaller class sizes designed specifically for them.

“The quality of our students is high. Last year we enrolled four valedictorians, one salutatorian and nine students with a 4.0 grade point average, or the equivalent,” Goins said. “Last year’s spring graduates had an average grade point average of 3.67. We lose very few students, so the Honors College has a good retention rate.”

McNeese senior Kilee Heard of Singer was accepted into the Honors College as an incoming freshman and hopes to go to medical school after she graduates. She considers the Honors College an integral part of her college experience.

“Honors College started off my college experience by introducing me to my peers and some of the upperclassmen. This helped me to immediately establish friendships that have lasted to the present,” said Heard, who majors in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. “The honors classes expose students to more than a traditional class would. The classes are discussion-based and only move as fast as the students allow. The people involved in Honors College are willing to help with any problems and the upperclassmen are always willing to give advice. It’s an effective platform to help with the transition into college life.”

According to Heard, the Honors College also offers an “immediate social circle” because it’s a tight-knit community that sponsors social functions, such as an annual swim party and regular movie nights.

“People that participate in the Honors College don’t have as much of that transition time where they don’t know anyone or haven’t made any new friends,” Heard said. “You immediately have a social circle. If you go to the functions put on by the Honors College, you are thrown in with people in your major and others that you may not have met otherwise.”

According to Goins, the Honors College scholarship provides up to $1,000 annually for books and supplies, as well as coverage for tuition, housing and meals. Students may also earn extra money through an on-campus job. The College offers an Honors Lounge and special events, such as seminars, field trips and concerts. Two McNeese Fulbright scholars, Drs. Cheryl Ware and Jacob Blevins, teach the introductory English courses for Honors College students.

Louisiana students who have been accepted into the Honors College program for fall 2008 are Lynna Daniel, Sadie Eastman, Anne Robicheaux and Mallory Robicheaux, all of Jennings High School; Leslie Wells, Daniel Fontenot, Samantha Seegraves and Joseph Guidry, all of Sulphur High; Joseph LeJuine of Hackberry High; James Marcantel and Katrina Bennett, both of Pickering High; Kaitlin Thomas of Rosepine High; Aaron Lin and Fahim Haque, both of Barbe High; Megan Ashworth of Pitkin High; Breanne Morse of Carencro High; Lauren Hawkins of Ponchatoula High; Chelsea Hendrix of Caddo Magnet High; Katelyn Acosta of Berwich High; Kristen Faulk of Hamilton Christian Academy; Taylor Gremillion of Bolton High in Alexandria; and Irvin Louque of Lutcher High.

Honors College recipients also include Andrea Durkin of Shady Shores, Texas; Jesse Freeman of Vidor, Texas; Pratik Koirala of Kathmandu, Nepal; Alaina Cleland of Wichita, Kan.; and Hannah Richard of Orange, Texas.