Weekly Digest Emails

4/15/26

Here are the remaining ways you can accrue ACE points in these last few weeks of the semester:

1. NEW opportunity! Film Screening *TODAY*: Graduating senior Marco Polo Perez will be sharing his documentary film thesis project with the Honors community today, Wednesday April 15th from 4:30–5:30 PM in the Charlene Gordon Theatre. The documentary is entitled “My Ghana My People: A Golden Honesty” and explores the ongoing issues surrounding gold mining in Ghana. (10 ACE points – Academics)

2.VOLUNTEER @ METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES: Several spots remain to volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries on April 17th from 8:30am-11:30am (**Note that student volunteers MUST commit to remaining for the entire 3-hour time block**). (20 ACE points – Service)

Since this is a capped event (max 20 students), we ask that you follow these steps:

1) First register for the activity on Involve here: MetroMin Involve Sign-Up

2) Then utilize the following link to sign up through the MetroMin website here: https://vhub.at/UThonor

3. KAYAKING @ WEEDON ISLAND: **4** spots have opened up for kayaking this Saturday, April 17th at Weedon Island preserve!

We will meet at the Vaughn Center at 9:15am to head to Weedon Island for 10am. We will return to campus around 1:30pm. (20 ACE points – Engagement)

4. CO-SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM: Dr. Sucheta Kanjilal & Dr. Cari Hovanec are pleased to invite you to a talk by Kalyan Nadiminti entitled “Unendurable Freedom: US Empire and Post Colonial Literature after 9/11”. The talk takes place on April 17th from 4-5:30pm in Reeves Theater. (10 ACE points – Academics)

5. CO-SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM: On April 24th from 2-3pm in the Vaughn Center Trustee Boardroom, UF Professor Sarah Ballard will talk about “Directions to the Nearest Alien Earthlike Planet”. (10 ACE points – Academics)

Registration link: Ballard Symposium Registration

6. Recorded Symposium: Weaponized Economics: For those who were unable to make it to yesterday’s symposium given by Dr. Hall, here is the link to the recorded video: Weaponized Economics Recorded Symposium (10 ACE points – Academics)

We look forward to seeing you!

Dr. Rukholm

3/4/26

Here is what’s happening in Honors:

1. Fulbright Information Session: Dr. Edward Pompeian, Professor of History, will be facilitating an information session via Zoom about Fulbright opportunities for students this Thursday, March 5th @ 3pm. Details including Zoom link can be found in the following poster: Fulbright Information Session

2. Honors Student Showcase: The Honors Student Showcase Day takes place on Friday, March 6th from 1-3pm in Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall. It will include showcases from Oxford Study Abroad students, Partners in the Park participants, and May Thesis Graduates. It’s the perfect opportunity to ask questions about these opportunities and to see what research for a thesis looks like. Event attendees do not have to stay the entire duration of the event. (10 ACE points – Symposia)

Pre-registration on Involve helps with efficiency in signing students in so please do so here: Honors Student Showcase Registration

3. Call for Posters/Papers for NCHC: Each year, Dr. Tillman and I take a few Honors students to the National Collegiate Honors Conference (NCHC) to present posters or papers. This is the biggest, most prestigious Honors conference in the nation and we cover all conference-related travel, lodging, and meals for student presenters. PLUS, you receive 100 ACE points for presenting!

In 2026, NCHC will take place Nov. 11-14th in New Orleans.

Have you recently completed (or are you currently completing) excellent research in one of your courses (and it doesn’t have to be an Honors course!)? Why not share your work through either a poster or a paper at NCHC? All that is required at this time is a 150-word abstract. Submit your application to Honors here by March 9th @ 11:59pm: NCHC Application

We can take a maximum of 8 students with us.

Students who have been selected by Honors to attend NCHC will be notified and given additional instructions on how to submit their application to NCHC.

4. Oxford Study Abroad Application: Are you a rising Junior or Senior who has always wanted to go to the University of Oxford for a semester? The time to apply for fall 2026 is now! Honors sends 3 students to Oxford each semester. Applications are due to Honors Friday, March 13th at 5pm and can be accessed here: Oxford Application Form

Students need to provide a detailed description of 2 potential tutorials they would like to work on while at Oxford.

5. Recorded Symposium – UPDATED LINK: We experienced technical difficulties with the embedded quiz in the recorded symposium from February. This has been rectified so here is the link to the updated video: Edna Fernandez-Figueroa VideoNote that students must obtain a score of 80% in order to obtain 10 ACE points.

6.Honors Student Seeks Help with Thesis Research: Honors student Libby Divers is conducting a study for her thesis and needs participants:

Dear Students, My name is Libby Divers, and I am a New Media student currently conducting research for my Honors Thesis and senior project, “Eye-Tracking for Enhanced User Engagement and Marketing Analytics.”

I am seeking volunteers to participate in an eye-tracking study exploring how we interact with technology. With nearly 74% of users abandoning websites due to poor design, this research seeks to identify how we can make digital interactions feel more natural and seamless.

What will you be doing? Participants will undergo a brief, non-invasive eye-tracking session in which they browse various website layouts while a sensor records their natural visual attention. The study consists of four short tasks and a few questions following each task.

Study Details:

When: Tuesdays or Thursdays between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM (interested candidates will be assigned a specific time slot within these hours).

Where: The Cass UX/Media Lab (CCB 230).

Duration: The session will take approximately 15–20 minutes.

Your participation will provide invaluable data for the final phase of my thesis and senior project, and help contribute to the development of better UI/UX standards. If you are interested in participating or have any questions about the study, please contact me directly at Elizabeth.divers@spartans.ut.edu

7. *NEW* ONLINE Honors course – HON257: Honors has just learned that another faculty member has been successful in completing the online course development for an online offering of HON257 to be offered in Summer II this summer. The course is offered by Dr. Ashley Salaiz of the College of Business and the course description is as follows:

This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the challenges and opportunities of creating a sustainable future in a world facing climate change and global resource pressures. Using the Harvard Business School “Net Zero” simulation as its core, students step into the role of managing a hotel that must reduce carbon emissions. Students act as decision makers balancing environmental, social, and economic trade-offs while designing pathways toward carbon neutrality.

8.Fall 2026 Registration Information:

Beginning on March 23, 2026, the Fall 2026 academic course schedule will be viewable in WorkDay.

The Fall 2026 registration window will open on April 6, 2026, and conclude on April 23, 2026. Registration appointments will be posted in WorkDay under the ‘registration times’ tab. Registration appointments are based on credit hours earned. Seniors will register first and first year students will register closer to the end of the window.

Continuing students should meet with their faculty advisor to have their advising hold released. Students admitted in Fall 2025 should plan to meet with Mrs. Graff to discuss their schedule.

Drop-in hours will be held from Tuesday, April 7th – Friday, April 23rd:

Tuesday and Thursday – 10 am to noon

Wednesday and Friday – 2 pm to 4 pm

No drop-ins on Monday

Drop-in hours are for course planning purposes only. If you wish to change your major, add a minor, or discuss other honors issues, please schedule an advising appointment. Students can schedule individual appointments through Navigate

**If a student wishes to enroll in the May Term or one of the summer sessions they should begin planning for registration now.**

9. Thesis information: Feeling stressed about your honors thesis? Fear not! All information about the thesis can be found at the honors blog here: Thesis information

There is also an informational video with helpful tips and guidelines: Thesis Informational Video

10. ACE Points : Honors has noticed that only 50% of students have reached 50 ACE points since the start of the academic year so we encourage you to take advantage of the numerous opportunities being offered this semester to stay on top of your engagement with the program.

You can keep track of your ACE points by clicking on the following link: Ace PointsNote that you will need the password (honors) then search by your individual Honors ID #: {Name/ID}

Have a great week and hang in there – Spring break is only a little over a week away!

Dr. Rukholm

2-26-26

1. Honors *SEMESTER* in the Grand Canyon: The National Collegiate Honors Council is offering Honors students from across the country the incomparable opportunity to spend the entire fall 2026 semester in the Grand Canyon while earning credit. See the details here: NCHC Grand Canyon Semester Info.

If a UTampa student were selected, Honors would fund the entire cost of the program, a value of over $11,000. Also, the student would earn credits towards any 3 Honors courses the student still needs to graduate (not including thesis credits).

Interested students should email Dr. Tillman or Dr. Rukholm a paragraph explaining why they want to participate in this opportunity and why they should be selected. This paragraph is due by 4pm Thursday, Feb. 26.

2. Silent Book Club: Come to the Grand Center Starbucks on February 27th at 2pm. Dr. Tillman and Dr. Rukholm will be at the entrance to give you a sticker identifying you as a participant in the event. Grab a coffee if you want (or don’t)then head up to the mezzanine (2nd floor). The moderator will ring a bell just after 2pm, and everyone will read their own book (any book for fun or class, in silence — or as quiet as the Grand Starbucks will allow) for 30 minutes without talking. When the moderator rings the bell a second time, you can chat about what you read, or you can get up and leave — your choice. It’s an introverted engagement opportunity for everyone. But FYI — the mezzanine only holds 31 students. We can also sit on the first floor, but other students who aren’t in Honors might be there (and might be talking — so we can’t control how silent the silent book club will be on the first floor). (10 ACE Points – Engagement)

3. Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Colloquium: Honors is happy to co-sponsor this faculty colloquium given by Dr. Brett Hemric of UTampa entitled “TEMPO and 1,3 Dienes: The First (almost) Five Years of the Hemric Lab.” It takes place on February 27th in GHS 104 from 3-4pm. (10 ACE points – Symposia)

Pre-register on Involve here: Chem & Biochem Symposium Registration

4. DIY Totes & Farmer’s Market Excursion : Meet up at McKay at 10am on March 1 to paint your own tote bag then walk to the Hyde Park Sunday Market. This monthly market serves up some great eats and unique products. (10 ACE points – Engagement)

Pre-Register here: Hyde Park Market Excursion Sign-Up

5. Honors Student Showcase: The Honors Student Showcase Day takes place on Friday, March 6th from 1-3pm in Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall. It will include showcases from Oxford Study Abroad students, Partners in the Park participants, and May Thesis Graduates. It’s the perfect opportunity to ask questions about these opportunities and to see what research for a thesis looks like. Event attendees do not have to stay the entire duration of the event. (10 ACE points – Symposia)

Pre-registration on Involve helps with efficiency in signing students in so please do so here: Honors Student Showcase Registration

6. Call for Posters/Papers for NCHC: Each year, Dr. Tillman and I take a few Honors students to the National Collegiate Honors Conference (NCHC) to present posters or papers. This is the biggest, most prestigious Honors conference in the nation and we cover all conference-related travel, lodging, and meals for student presenters. PLUS, you receive 100 ACE points for presenting!

In 2026, NCHC will take place Nov. 11-14th in New Orleans.

We can take a maximum of 8 students with us.

Students who have been selected by Honors to attend NCHC will be notified and given additional instructions on how to submit their application to NCHC.

7. Oxford Study Abroad Application: Are you a rising Junior or Senior who has always wanted to go to the University of Oxford for a semester? The time to apply for fall 2026 is now! Honors sends 3 students to Oxford each semester. Applications are due to Honors Friday, March 13th at 5pm and can be accessed here: Oxford Application Form

Students need to provide a detailed description of 2 potential tutorials they would like to work on while at Oxford.

8. Intern of the Year Award: Have you crushed your internship last year? Or know you made a real impact at your organization? Applications are now open for Career Services’ Intern of the Year Award and this is your chance to showcase the work you’ve done outside the classroom.

This award recognizes students who have taken their internship experience seriously – demonstrating strong work ethic, professionalism, leadership, and meaningful contributions to their organization. If you’ve grown your skills, taken initiative, or made a difference on your team, this opportunity is for you.

Why apply or nominate a peer? Get recognized for your internship experience and impact; Highlight leadership, initiative, and career-ready skills; Strengthen your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and future job or graduate school applications

Who’s eligible: Any undergraduate student who completed an internship in 2025

Student Application: Intern of the Year Student Application

Faculty/Staff Nomination: Faculty/Staff Nominator Form

Important Dates:

Applications close: March 6

Recognition announced: Leadership Awards Night – April 22nd

9. Notes from Honors Advising: Registration for all summer sessions begins on Monday, February 23rd:

Dates:

May Term: 5/11/2026 – 5/22/2026

Summer I, 6 weeks: 5/26/2026 – 7/3/2026

Summer II, 6 weeks: 7-6- 2026 – 8/15/2026

Summer Term: 5/26/2026 – 8/1/5/2026

*NEW* Honors ONLINE course: This summer, Honors will be offering its first Honors course ONLINE! It will be HON 255- The F-Word taught by Dr. Tillman and will be offered during Summer I from 5/26/2026 – 7/3/2026. The course will be offered ASYNCHRONOUSLY (meaning you will *not* be learning via Zoom).

Spots are filling up fast so register ASAP!

**If a student wishes to enroll in the May Term or one of the summer sessions they should begin planning for registration now.**

You can keep track of your ACE points by clicking on the following link: Ace PointsNote that you will need the password (honors) then search by your individual Honors ID #: {Name/ID}

Have a great week!

Dr. Rukholm

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