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Welcome from the Honors College Faculty

We welcome all our Honors College students; it is our good fortune to teach and learn from all of our students at the University of Oklahoma. We look forward to getting to know you individually and supporting you during your journey through college. We believe the most fruitful and illuminating conversations come when we invite and encourage multiple perspectives in our learning environments.  We value students of all colors, all genders, all ages, all abilities, and all positions of faith and unbelief.  We value our LGBTQ+ students and their allies.  We value the perspectives of those whose ancestors have long been here as First Peoples, as well as those who have arrived from many parts of the world.  We encourage all our students to maintain the respectful rapport that is a hallmark of the Honors College, and to use your creativity, passion, and intelligence to meet the challenges of our day.

OU Student Earns NOAA Hollings Scholarship


A meteorology major and mathematics minor with a 4.0 GPA, Kyle Eskew has been named a 2023 NOAA Hollings Scholar. The Hollings Scholarship is funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support undergraduate students with academic assistance for two years of full-time study and a 10-week full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer, Eskew hopes to work with the National Weather Service on a project designed to improve operational weather forecasts. 

Upon graduation, Eskew plans to pursue an M.S. in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science before joining the National Weather Service as a meteorologist. His current research focuses on analyzing the seasonal dynamics and driving factors of methane emissions using measurements from FLUXNET micrometeorological towers and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer remote sensing data.

From Beavercreek Township, Ohio, Eskew graduated from the Dayton Regional STEM School in 2021. He is the son of Jason and Cheryl Eskew.

Congratulations to you, Kyle!

Goldwater Scholarship Awarded to Lydia England and Oliver Wu


Two OU students have been named 2023 Goldwater Scholars. Named after US Senator Barry Goldwater, the award is the most prestigious undergraduate STEM research scholarship in the country.  Wu and England are among 413 students recognized this year out of more than 12,000 nominees. They bring OU's total number of Goldwater Scholarship winners to 62 since the inception of the scholarship in 1986.


An Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics and Physics triple major with a 3.96 GPA, England plans to eventually earn a Ph.D. in high energy physics with an emphasis on quantum computing.

England’s recent research focuses on the relationship between electron temperature and ion charge states in solar wind. She has also conducted research in scanning strategy optimization for the Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory and into the effects of lightning strikes on the Space Launch System Vehicle at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

England attended high school at the Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy in Oklahoma City and is the daughter of Trent and Cheryl England.


Wu, a junior double majoring in Chemistry and History, currently holds a 4.00 GPA. After graduating, Wu hopes to earn a M.D./Ph.D. before beginning a career based on discovering the underlying mechanisms of both diseases and their treatments.

Wu has conducted research into how drugs bind in complex samples by using Thermal Depletion with Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry.   He has previously worked in a lab focused on the optimization of visible light spectroscopy-based SDS quantification/

From Edmond, Oklahoma, Wu attended Edmond Memorial High School.  He is the son of Hannah Swallow and Dee Wu.  

 

Named for former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the Goldwater Scholarships are awarded to college sophomores and juniors on the basis of potential and intent to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics . The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Honors College Students Present at Research Day at the Capitol

On March 27-28, four OU Honors College students presented their research to Oklahoma legislators as part of the annual event, "Research Day at the Capitol." Students gave short talks and presented research posters in this statewide competition.


Lane McCoy won the second place prize for his project "Elucidating the Mechanisms which Staphylococcus auereus and Streptococcus agalactiae use to Establish Antibiotic Tolerance in Chronic Infection." Lane, a junior, is a Microbiology major from Tulsa, Oklahoma.


Kaylee Tatum won the third place prize for her project "An Investigation of Mid-Holocene Bering Sea Bear Bones to Provide Insight into Modern Day Polar Bear Population Changes in Response to Climate Change." Kaylee, originally from Broken Arrow, graduates this spring with a degree in Human Health and Biology.


Anna Troxell's project was titled "Perceived Helpfulness between Arousing and Soothing Positive Emotions." Anna, originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, graduates this spring with a BA in Psychology. She plans to complete a Master's in Physician Assistant Studies and enter the medical field. 


Stephen Kooker's project was titled "Foaming Properties of Per- and Polyflouroalkyl Substances for Remediation Purposes." Stephen will graduate this spring with a BA in Chemical Engineering, and he will begin working as a Solutions Engineer in the healthcare software sector.

Natalie Keller and Corbin Walls Named Truman Finalists

One of the nation's most prestigious scholarships, the Truman provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. Competitive applicants have strong records in public service to their community, their university, government (such as legislative internships) and/or partisan politics (such as political campaigns).


A microbiology and Cello Performance double major with a perfect 4.0 GPA, junior Natalie Keller hails from Centennial, Colorado. Keller serves as president of the OU chapter of Circle K International and is a triage volunteer at Manos Juntas, a local free clinic. She is also a consultant with Public Health Discussions, a student-run organization that conducts research focused on student's physical and mental health concerns.

After graduation, Keller plans to pursue a Master of Science in Health before attending medical school. Eventually, she hopes to practice medicine and help develop policies concerning womens access to healthcare.


From Miami, OK, Corbin Walls is a junior pursuing a BA/MA in Public and Nonprofit administration. He currently holds a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Walls is the founder of the Grant Writer's Asssociation, which offers grant writing services to local nonprofits. He is also a pro-bono consultant for Norman's Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, where he helps with fundraising and budgetary concerns.

Upon completion of his studies at OU, Walls plans to earn a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy. After, he wants to serve as a program evaluator in a large non-profit foundation

OU Student Earns Rotary Graduate Global Fellowship


University of Oklahoma student Parker Adams has been named a recipient of the 2023 Graduate Global Fellowship. Funded by Rotary International District 5770 (Oklahoma) the fellowship provides $30,000 for graduate studies in most unversities outside the United States.

The Graduate Global Fellowship recognizes students who plan to study in several areas of focus, including "Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, and Growing Local Economies. 

Adams is a Political Science and Pre-Law senior who currently maintains a 3.92 GPA. And is on track to graduate cum laude. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars who has been named on the President's Honors Roll on multiple occasions. 

At the London School of Economics, Adams plans to study civil law. Upon his return, Adams will seek employment within the United Nations and or attend law school in the US before beginning a career focused on peace and conflict prevention.

The Graduate Global Fellowship recognizes students who plan to study in any of the following seven areas of focus: Promoting Peace; Fighting Disease; Providing Clean Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, Saving Mothers and Children, Supporting Education, Growing Local Economies, and Protecting the Environment. 

From Tulsa, Adams is the son of Teresa and Parnell Adams.

Congratulations to Parker Adams on this outstanding achievement!

Two OU honors students named Astronaut Scholars

Lacey Lewis Named Pickering Finalist


University of Oklahoma student Lacey Lewis has been named a 2023 finalist for the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. Named after Ambassador Pickering and funded by the U.S Department of State, the prize covers graduate tuition for students who plan on careers in U.S. foreign service.

 

A senior from San Antonio Texas, Lewis is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science-Pre Law with minors in International and Constitutional Studies. She currently serves as the Undergraduate Student Congress Chair and is the Civic Engagement Fellow for Oklahoma Votes, a non-profit student-led organization.

Lewis has interned for the United States Senate and worked in the Oklahoma House of Representative last session.

Great work, Lacey!

Taylor Broadbent named Rhodes Scholarship Finalist


University of Oklahoma student Taylor Broadbent was recently named a finalist from the 2023 Rhodes Scholarship. The Rhodes funds graduate work at the University of Oxford. Last year, Broadbent won the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship.

Broadbent is a Letters and Pre-Law double major hailing from Moore, Oklahoma. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Broadbent is a recipient of the Cortez A.M. Ewing Public Service Fellowship, the Civic Engagement Fellowship, and the Distinguished Scholars Award. Broadbent's research includes analyzing the ways tribes of the Southern Great Plains address climate change.

Broadbent serves as the Chair of External Affairs for OU's Student Government Association, Legislative Director for the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, Social Affairs Chair for the American Indian Student Association, and President of the Constitutional Studies Student Association. Broadbent participates in The Big Event, serves as the Affirmative Action Officer for the Cleveland County Democratic Party, and was the Organizer for the Norman City Council Debate in 2021.After graduating in Spring 2023, she plans to earn a law degree before embarking on a career in Federal Indian and Constitutional Law. She aspires to one day serve as a judge. 

The national scholarship competition is conducted by the Rhodes Trust, which was founded in 1902 to fund US citizens while pursuing degrees at Oxford University in Oxford, England.

From Moore, Oklahoma, Broadbent is the daughter of Jerry & Shahnna Broadbent. 

Congratulations, Taylor!

Visit the Honors College

Honors students

 

With about a week or more of notice, we can plan a personalized campus visit for you and your family. You'll meet with an official from the Honors College, see different housing options, eat lunch with us in the cafeteria (during the school year), and learn more about our program and scholarships for honors students.

Schedule a Visit