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The 2024–2025 academic year was an excellent year for students in ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s Antonian Honors program. With a record-breaking 29 students completing the program, numerous awards earned by honors students, and active community engagement, the Antonian Honors program continued to shine in its 39th year.

A warm welcome for a record-breaking cohort

Since its creation in 1986, 450 students have completed the program and earned the distinction Antonian Scholar. This year, the program proudly welcomed 71 first-year students. Some of these new students began their honors journey by moving in early to join the honors Living Learning Community, a unique opportunity that fosters a supportive, academically-focused residential experience. The early move-in included a mini orientation with Rafael Cervantes, PhD, director of the honors program, and culminated in a fun-filled day at the Minnesota State Fair.

The new cohort of honors students was formally initiated into the Antonian Honors program on September 3 as part of the honors pinning ceremony in Rauenhorst Ballroom, marking the beginning of their honors journey.

A new home for honors

This year also brought an exciting upgrade to the honors student experience: the relocation of the honors lounge to a spacious, light-filled room with stained glass windows in the library (Room 146). The new space offers ample room to study, collaborate, and connect — an ideal hub for a thriving intellectual community.

A year of successful honors seminars

Last year, five honors seminars, featuring collaborations between 10 faculty representing 10 different disciplines, were offered to honors students. In the fall, associate professors Cervantes (communication studies) and Amy K. Hamlin, PhD (art history), explored the possibilities for using tarot as a tool for initiating social change in their course, Cultures of Crossed Destinies: Tarot for Collective Transformation. . Also in the fall, associate professor of interprofessional education Katie Campbell, PhD, and assistant professor of biology Kellie Agrimson, PhD, integrated research, methods, writing instruction, and biology in their class, Evidence-Based Practice.     

The spring semester found another interesting array of different and thought-provoking honors seminars. Nawojka Lesinski, PhD, assistant professor of political science, and Rachel Neiwert, PhD, associate professor of history, explored the political and historical implications of racial covenants in their class, Welcoming the Dear Neighbor? Erick Agrimson, associate professor of physics, and Holman Tse, PhD, assistant professor of English, brought together the seemingly disparate topics of linguistics and physics in their course, Phonetics: The Physics of Human Speech. Finally, professors of art Monica Rudquist, MFA, (ceramics) and Bethany Rahn, MFA, (graphic design) blended artistic processes and media in their course, Printmaking and Ceramics: Exploring Relief and Screen Printing.  

Honors seminars are always taught by two faculty from different disciplines and meet at least one CORE requirement. 

Excellence recognized across campus

Antonian Scholars continued to exemplify academic distinction and leadership. In spring 2025, 28 Antonian Scholars graduated from ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â. The capstone projects completed by this year’s Antonian Scholars showcased their original research, creative works, and community initiatives (Mollie Pierson ’25 created a  for her honors project).

The annual Honors and Awards Ceremony on April 29 celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of St. Kate’s students. Of the 110 awards presented, 40 went to students in the Antonian Honors program — a testament to their broad and meaningful impact on campus life.

Notable recognitions include:

• Thomas More Awards: 5 of the 15 recipients were Antonian Scholars, honored for their commitment to the University’s core values.
• Campus Leadership Awards: Antonian Scholars were celebrated for excellence in community development and inclusion, and were among recipients of the President’s Student Leadership Award for work with the SEED Coalition. Hadley Ninow ’25 focused on creating a partnership between St. Kate’s and Focus Beyond, a program for students ages 18–22 with disabilities that supports their transition out of high school. 
• Phi Beta Kappa Inductions: 15 of the 25 new members of the nation’s most prestigious honor society were Antonian Scholars.
• Valedictorians: 4 of the 11 valedictorians this year were part of the honors program.

Top honors for top scholars

Two of the University’s highest student awards were also awarded to Antonian Scholars:

• Luul Adam ’25 received the Dean of Students Award, recognizing her exceptional service, scholarship, and leadership. .
• Sophia Gibson ’25 was honored with the Helen B. Lemmer Award in Honor of Mother Antonia McHugh, a tribute to academic excellence and commitment to social justice. .
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The 2024–2025 year was a powerful affirmation of what the Antonian Honors program represents: a vibrant, inclusive, and academically engaging community that empowers students to lead and serve with purpose. As the program looks ahead to the next academic year, it remains committed to nurturing the intellectual curiosity, creativity, and civic leadership that define the honors students at St. Kate’s. 

The Antonian Honors program is part of the Office of Scholarly Engagement, St. Kate’s hub for engaged learning. For more information about the Antonian Honors program at ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â, please visit the Antonian Honors webpage.