Carson Poupore, a triple major in economics, political science, and business management, is all set to graduate summa cum laude this upcoming May. Although his academic pursuits are enough to keep anyone busy, Carson hasn't limited himself to that.
While an undergraduate at OU, his academic endeavors have helped him serve on several honors communities throughout campus such as being a part of Pi Sigma Alpha with the Department of Political Science, and the JC Penney Leadership Program in the Price College of Business. Within the Honors College, he has been able to fulfill his graduation requirements while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and being a part of our Pre-Law Scholars program. The Honors College Pre-Law Scholars program admits up to 25 incoming students a year. It allows students to begin taking law school courses during their fourth year as an undergraduate, cutting 1 year from the standard 7-year path to a Juris Doctor. OU Law application fees are waived for program members, and the Honors College provides the students funding for an LSAT preparatory course.
One of the most important honors graduation requirements is a student's completion of their Honors research. Carson's research also served as his Honors thesis project, focused on campaign finance as it relates to "dark money" transparency policies at the federal level. His work earned him the OU Libraries Undergraduate Research Award last year.
In addition to his honors responsibilities, Carson has been involved in various campus-wide student organizations like the Student Government Association executive board, the executive team for Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, the Capital Scholars Program in the Carl Albert Center, and the Big Event. Other involvement includes the IACH Society of Fellows, Price Ambassadors, and Norman NEXT.
Carson's most impactful organization has perhaps been his work with the JC Penney Leadership Program, where he currently serves as Chair and has previously held three other executive positions. Some of the highlights of his work these past few years have been establishing the annual JC Penney Leadership Program Gala and the National Business Honors and Leadership Conference. Through this program, Carson had the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica and Panama where he took a class called "Leadership in International Settings." During the class, he learned about the development of cultural intelligence and how business practices differ in Latin America versus the US while building relationships with his cohorts and making lifelong memories.
When asked about the impact that the Honors College has had on his undergraduate career, Carson said, "Being an honors student has challenged me, stretched me, and pushed me in terms of my critical and analytical thinking. I have found that the honors curriculum has enabled me to think outside of the box, question the status quo, and develop an uncommon sort of knowledge." He adds, "it would be remiss to mention that the honors student environment is one founded on the principle that 'iron sharpens iron' — the students, faculty, and staff in the Honors College have made me a better person and professional in my time at OU."
Carson's work has translated into several achievements the past few years. The list includes the Campus Life Award, awards for Outstanding Freshman and Outstanding Sophomore, Most Outstanding Economics Student, the OU Libraries Undergraduate Research Award, and Oklahoma NextGen Under 30.
As for advice for freshmen and incoming students, he says it's important to "jump into the deep end of the pool. Have a bias to action in getting involved, putting yourself out there, and building relationships — these actions will undoubtedly maximize your time at OU."
Carson's future plans include attending law school and taking the bar to become a corporate lawyer. In the long term, he hopes to transition his work into the public sector and nonprofit space. The overall goal is to be a servant leader and an even better family man.
Christina Holmes will earn her bachelor's degree in industrial systems and engineering this upcoming May. She is also a part of the accelerated MBA program and hopes to graduate from the program in May 2025.
Since her Outstanding Freshman achievement in 2021, Christina has collected quite a few scholarships and awards. They include frequent mentions on the president's honor roll, several scholarships from Gallogly College of Engineering, and the MBA program. This year she was named an Energy Scholar by the MBA program, recognizing her potential and commitment to the energy sector by pursuing an internship in energy.
When it comes to the Honors College, it is safe to say that Christina has taken advantage of the various courses it has to offer. She stated that her favorite honors class was Dr. Dallam's Colloquium course titled Death, Dying, and Religion. The class first stood out to her because of the exploration of different religions, many of which she had little knowledge of beforehand. The course gave her the chance to challenge preconceived notions and expand her understanding. She also cites the discussion format of the class as a positive and a nice change from the other clasess required for her degree.
For Christina, being an honor sstudent has granted her access to academic resources and faculty that have allowed her to accelerate her education at OU. One of the most impactful resources has been the opportunity to conduct research as an undergraduate student, expanding her knowledge and confidence in more professional settings. These skills will serve her well at the graduate level.
Apart from being a member of the Honors College, Christina has been highly involved in organizations throughout campus. As part of both Pi Beta Phi and Engineers Serving Others, she has had the opportunity to participate in various volunteer initiatives on campus and in the community. Her favorite experience has been a program called Champions Are Readers, where she volunteered on a weekly basis to read with a local kindergarten student to foster their literary skills and provide mentorship. Being highly involved in these service opportunities has highlighted the importance and impact that mentorship and community engagement can have on anyone, not just a college student.
Christina offers the following advice for students beginning their college career: "It is extremely important to build purposeful relationships with people both academically and socially. Building relationships, putting yourself in new situations, and staying curious about new experiences will enrich your experience. Thirty years from now these connections will be the most valuable takeaway from your time here."
Following graduation, Christina will be completing an Energy Marketing internship with Devon Energy in Oklahoma City. Afterward, she will return to OU for an additional year to pursue an MBA through an accelerated program.
