Concordia Honors community celebrates scholarship with meaningful dinner

The Concordia Courier

Honors students at the forum

By Hope Yonehara | 12/6/2024

On Nov. 11, the Concordia Honors Program gathered together for the third annual Honors Forum, an event celebrating good food, scholarship and meaningful connections. The evening began with a special dinner that set the tone of the event. While students and faculty were enjoying their food, Dr. CJ Armstrong, director of the Honors Program, talked about the purpose of the event. “We are here to reinforce community among students and showcase good scholarship among students and faculty. To interact with each other over the great questions, a great meal and great conversations,” he said. 

Armstrong then presented awards to two people who best represented the Honors program. First, senior Ariel Spilman won the Inquisitio award, an award given to a student who best exemplifies curiosity, inquiry and a commitment to exploration. Next, Junior Olivia Thoelke won the Disiplina award, an award given to a student who exemplifies discipline in their field of study. These individuals were chosen not only for their achievements but because of their contributions to the Honors community. 

After the awards were given out, the evening shifted to intellectual exploration as Dr. Paul Elliott, assistant Professor of Theology, led a conversation on the nature of psalms. He began by discussing Psalm 19, which reflects how God speaks to us through nature. Elliott then shifted to Psalm 104, exploring why God created nature. According to him, God created nature to make him and humanity happy. Concluding his talk, Elliott shared a powerful message, “God made all these things, and He put me in charge. He trusts me.”          

Elliott’s talk left an impression on many people, including Alannah Batty, a freshman marketing major and honors student. “I love how in-depth he went into each of the psalms and the interpretations he presented of their poetic elements. I learned so many new things about scripture and have a new perspective on the beauty of God’s creation,” she said.              

Throughout the talk, Elliott encouraged students to actively participate, frequently pausing to allow students to ask questions. This interactive approach created an inviting atmosphere that made students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and reflections. As Batty put it, “Everyone has great camaraderie and is eager to learn. Whether we are in class or doing talks like this, we always have such great and interesting and in-depth conversations.”

But these talks are also about community. As Audrey Kaufman, a freshman business administration and marketing major, put it “I am a freshman, so I am in the honors seminar,” she said. “I love the people in it. We all talk about how we have all become friends and are all going to miss each other.” Her words reflect the deep camaraderie that the Honors Program fosters, where intellectual conversation is paired with lasting personal connections.  

To learn more about Honors and see how you can get involved, contact cj.armstrong@cui.edu.

Tags:


About Hope Yonehara

More articles by Hope Yonehara

Related Stories

Top