What Harrison Scholars Say

What I've found in the Harrison Honors Program has greatly enhanced my BSC experience—from the practical issues of registering for courses early and easily, to finding my niche with another group of students, to more scholarly opportunities, such as working with a professor on my Honors Project who was thrilled to help and taking unbelievable classes not offered anywhere else.
Carol Thetford 2010

The Harrison Honors Program at BSC is full of surprises. I have signed up for class after class that was about topics that I was not familiar with and have been delightfully surprised each time. My Honors classes have been some of my favorite classes I've taken so far, even the ones I was unsure of. Now I'm working on my Honors project and am again surprised in the support and encouragement that are offered to allow me to work on a project outside my major that could be described as unorthodox at best. Only the Honors Program can combine classic literature, creative writing, journalism, Krispy Kreme donuts, and races with donkeys.
Katie Sack 2011 Visit with Ambassador Dunford

The Harrison Honors Program offers a unique track for students who believe that valuable knowledge can be obtained in any field, not just in one's specialty. By encouraging research and exploration outside students' majors, the HHP produces extraordinarily bright individuals who are concerned with more than just grades. HHP students at Birmingham-Southern are focused on a life of learning.
Alex Masterson 2011

When I came to Birmingham-Southern College, I knew that I wanted to find the opportunity to do more with my education than spend hours in a classroom listening to lectures and taking exams. More than anything, I wanted to be part of something that was going to allow me to expand my knowledge in ways that I never thought would be possible. The Donald C. Harrison Honors Program has given me the opportunity to take classes that focus on very specific topics that not only encourage me to explore them in a more fun and interactive way, but also supports my natural curiosity in discovering new things in the world around me. It pushes me out of my comfort zone, while molding me into a scholar and leader who intends to make the world a better place.
Claire Burns 2012

The thing about the Honors Program isn't that it's full of smart people. It isn't even that it's prestigious. The thing about the Honors Program is that it is chuck full of the kind of people who you want to keep around for the rest of your life—people who can get things done to the highest degree, and have a good time doing it.
Colin Hills 2013

The Harrison Honors Program offers so many opportunities for its scholars. Not only are we offered priority in some amazing courses, but we get special opportunities like meetings with speakers and unique service projects that other student groups do not get. I love the special relationships I've made with professors and fellow scholars. Ever since I was a first-year student, I've been thinking about my Honors Senior Research and looking forward to completing a rigorous and creative project--a challenge that will result in huge academic and personal growth.
Emily Wallace 2011

Although I am a first-year student and have only taken one Honors class so far (America's Music), it is already evident to me that Honors Program classes foster an outstanding environment for discussion and a comprehensive understanding of a subject. My class in particular helped me to perceive America's musical journey through a detailed study of surrounding factors such as wars and deep social issues. Albert Einstein once claimed that "the only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." This is not the case in the Harrison Honors Program, because grades and busy work are not valued, but enjoyment, a true passion for learning, and development of the mind certainly are.
Andrew Clack 2013

The Harrison Honors Program has provided me with a means to make friends with people of similar interests and values, take interesting classes which might not otherwise be available, and has given me financial aid with studying abroad. The Harrison Honors Program is an asset to Birmingham-Southern, and it has greatly enhanced my college experience.
Marian Bradshaw 2011

The most valuable aspect of being a Harrison Scholar for me personally is the Honors classes that are offered. I have taken one Honors class every semester, and I fully plan to for the rest of my time at BSC. These courses have repeatedly fulfilled BSC's mission of blending different subjects into a valuable liberal arts experience. "Monsters, Monarchs, and Monastics" introduced me to a surprisingly large number of examples of Arthurian representations in the modern world, while including elements of history and creative writing in what might have simply been a typical, uninspired literature course. "French Literature Through Different Lenses" allowed me to experience both familiar and unfamiliar works through unusual perspectives, such as Marxist and sociological, that demonstrated the use of other studies within literary criticism. And my most recent course, "International Film I" focused on historical influences just as much as the artistic theory behind the study of film. I very much look forward to the other Honors courses that I will have the opportunity to take.
Matt St. John 2012

The Harrison Honors Program instilled in me the ability to mop. “Mop,” you ask? Yes! While I was a Harrison Scholar, our group worked together to turn an old science room into a haven for fellowship and scholarship. These afternoons of work and fun gave me the practical skill of mopping, which as I am now an adult on my own, I appreciate profusely. But as much as I appreciate the skill, I treasure even more the opportunities that arose by being an Honors Scholar.

My memories of the Program center around our tight-knit group, curled up on couches, chatting about hot topic current events with visiting speakers, and those same students then meeting throughout the week across seminar tables, having profound discussions with professors that cared deeply about their students. The Harrison classes were always such a hit because the topics were often interdisciplinary and catchy.

I am so blessed to have been a part of this group. I doubt that I would have grown and flourished as much intellectually had I not been given the opportunities that the Harrison Honors Program provided me. I will always remember those Harrison classes, professors, mentors, and fellowship with fondness.
Anna Nichols 2009