Students Distinguished as Kathryne McDorman Honors Scholars

Honors Students Celebrate the Completion of the First Part of Their Honors Journey

By Texas Christian University

October 24^th, 2022

Distinguished Scholars

Dean Ron Pitcock, Honors faculty and staff recognized nearly 300 students for their completion of lower-division Honors coursework this fall. Students earned the Kathryne McDorman Honors Scholars distinction and celebrated their achievement at the annual McDorman Dinner at The Ashton Depot in downtown Fort Worth. Dean Pitcock and Honors faculty shared their wise words for students as they continue on their Honors journey.

Students Distinguished as Kathryne McDorman Honors Scholars

Wendi Sierra, Ph.D., assistant professor of Game Studies

Honors Cabinet member (right) distributing McDorman Honors Scholar gifts

Mikio Akagi, Ph.D., assistant professor of the History and Philosophy of Science (standing)

Honors faculty from left: Frederick W. Gooding, Jr., Ph.D.; Wendi Sierra, Ph.D.; Wendy Williams, Ph.D.; Dean Ron Pitcock, Ph.D.; Mikio Akagi, Ph.D.

Completing Lower-Division Honors

The lower-division Honors coursework includes a mixture of Honors electives and cultural vision courses.

Honors electives allow students to explore diverse interests while also fulfilling requirements of the TCU core curriculum.
Cultural vision courses are interdisciplinary and focus on cross-cultural inquiry in discussion-based seminars. Students can also participate in a study abroad experience to receive credit for their cultural vision courses.

Token of Achievement

To commemorate their accomplishment, McDorman Honors Scholars receive a custom-designed gift created exclusively for the John V. Roach Honors College. Students choose between a necklace engraved with the shield of the Honors College and a Vineyard Vines tie with a custom purple TCU pattern. These gifts are only awarded to Kathryne McDorman Honors Scholars and are worn proudly by Honors College students and alumni.

McDorman Honors Scholars put on their custom Honors necklaces for the first time.

The McDorman Legacy

In 2009, when the Honors Program became the John V. Roach Honors College, the distinction was officially named for Kathryne McDorman, Ph.D., a professor of history and Honors program director from 1994 to 2003. Under McDorman’s leadership, the foundation was laid for Honors to transition from a program to a college, and the most notable event, the Fogelson Honors Forum, was established.

Dean Ron Pitcock (fifth in from left) with McDorman Honors Scholars

Wendy Williams, Ph.D., associate professor of Professional Practice

Student showing off their McDorman Scholar necklace.

What was your favorite lower-division Honors Course?

“‘Exploring Cultural Contact Zones: U.S. Schooling and American Society’ with Dr. Hampton has been my favorite Honors course so far. Although I've greatly enjoyed my other Honors classes, Dr. Hampton's pedagogical style was wholly unique and incredibly effective in not only teaching us about the material, but also getting us engaged in it," expressed Mark Rose. “The discussions were open grounds for bouncing ideas off one another, sharing differing views, presenting personal experiences and how they reflect the ideas being discussed that week. Group presentations, debates and papers helped connect the class and promote communal participation. The curriculum was deeply informative and somewhat alarming, presenting each student with the successes and shortcomings of the U.S. schooling system and asking us, ‘What can we do about it?’”

Mark Rose ’24 is majoring in political science and minoring in criminal justice and English.

Coming Soon: Honors Laureates

Students will continue on their Honors journey in upper-division Honors. They'll have the option of completing a creative research project with the guidance of a faculty member (Departmental Honors) or they can take seminar style courses that continue their discussion-based, cross-cultural learning (Honors Colloquia). Some will even complete both! Upon completing lower- and upper-division Honors, students will graduate as Honors Laureates. Their journey culminates in signing the Great Book and pledging commitment to intellectual inquiry, integrity and respectful discussion.

What's Next in Upper-Division Honors Coursework?

“Actually, I have jumped all around the curriculum and will finish my third colloquium class this semester,” said Camilla Price. “I have taken ‘Resilience’ and ‘Treks & Texts’ and am currently enrolled in ‘Deconstructing Disney.’ I am very excited for our trip to Disneyland over fall break!”

Camilla Price ’23 is majoring in biology and minoring in journalism and sustainability.

“I'm on the University Honors track and am greatly looking forward to the colloquia classes needed for upper-division Honors. Honors Colloquia generally aren't meant to be 'harder' and 'faster-paced'; they're designed to cultivate critical and novel ways of thinking, deepen your knowledge on multi-faceted issues and challenge established norms through innovative structures different from most other classes,” Mark Rose expressed. “My current colloquia class, ‘Capitalism and Socialism’ with Dr. Arnold and Dr. Garnett, is accomplishing these precise goals.”

From left, Mark Rose ’24 and Marina Magnant ’24, president of the Honors Student Cabinet.

“I am excited to take more colloquia and to be starting my thesis in political science," said Amelia Boatwright. “I am looking into a topic that interests me and am excited that my work will be published in the TCU library for future researchers to use in their studies.”

Amelia Boatwright ’23 is working toward a dual degree in economics and political science and minoring in Spanish and math.

“I have already been working on my upper-division Honors for the last two years," shared Alex Caron. “I am excited finish my last few experiments for my Honors thesis and write up my results.”