Murray State’s 19th Commonwealth Honors Academy is under way

Story by Nick Kendall

Contributing writer

nkendall1@murraystate.edu

Nearly 100 high school seniors from around the region arrived at Murray State University on Saturday, June 8 for the 19th Commonwealth Honors Academy.

With a theme of “Leave Great Footprints,” each student takes one interdisciplinary humanities course and one elective. Participants will take college-level courses in interdisciplinary humanities and electives, take part in service learning and will attend multiple lectures, concerts, field trips and forums from June 8-29.

Students from Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana and as far as Mississippi and Alabama will receive six hours of college credit during the academy.

These students have only been to two classes as now and they can already tell the difference from a high school class.

“The classes are much longer and the students get to discuss the work more,” said Graves County student Jacob Mills. “Almost like a Socratic seminar.”

Students will also take electives that focus on topics such as criminal justice, journalism and design thinking along with the interdisciplinary humanities.

Students will travel to St. Louis to see “Love’s Labour Lost” and tour the St. Louis Art Museum. Students also will participate in an elective enrichment day in which they will engage in service learning projects.

Danielle Nielsen, academic dean, is glad to help provide academic enrichment for the students.

“The program provides an excellent opportunity for high school students to engage with college-level material, experience the campus environment, and begin their senior year of high school with college credit,” Nielsen said.  “I’m very fortunate to be able to work with talented students and help them grow their potential.”

Some students have wanted to come to Murray State for a while now, like Avery Deff from Saint Xavier High School.

“My mom wanted to sign up for CHA because she knows Murray State is still my top choice.”

While most students found about CHA from their parents, Powell County student, Heaven Winkle found about the program and the “beautiful campus”  from her TRiO Upward Bound director.

Murray State students who were chosen as residential counselors, will lead the students in personal growth seminars

Those counselors are, Julianne Gnadinger, Ramon Guzman-Garcia, Lucas Morgan, Gin Sisemore, Gabrielle Wadle and Yasmin Zarate. Office workers are Catherine Elleman, Bethany Massey and Mariah Smith.

Jeff Wylie serves as the student life dean. Jeff Watson serves as the counseling director, and Anna Gorsick is the activities director. Lori Rogers is the administrative assistant.

After completing CHA, students will earn a $2,000 per year Murray State housing scholarship and an opportunity to take six additional hours of Murray State classes tuition-free.

To qualify for the three-week academy, students must have a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale and earn an ACT score of 25.

For more information or to apply for the 2020 class, visit murraystate.edu/CHA.

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