Honors Events and Programs

We know moving to a new place and living next to new people can be a challenging experience. Let us help you punch through the awkward phase and jump right into the community building phase! Join us for HCSO’s Awkward Party, hosted during move-in weekend prior to each fall semester, where you will get to meet other Honors students, all while playing yard games, eating ice cream and enjoying each other’s company. No sign-up required!

The Honors Ice Cream Social is an annual tradition that brings students, faculty, staff, and friends of the Honors College together for networking and community building in the Honors Courtyard while enjoying the best ice cream South Dakota has to offer. No sign-up required!

Hike & Read is a tradition in the Fishback Honors College, providing students an opportunity to build community, connect with nature and hold meaningful discussions around a shared reading. Previous Hike & Reads have been held at Oakwood State Park and the Oak Lake Field Station.

The Honors Literary Circle is an annual tradition in the Fishback Honors College, providing students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college an opportunity to build community while holding meaningful discussions around a shared reading.

Past Literary Circles have included Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, and The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Future readings include Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann and The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland.

Shared readings are provided if participants do not have a copy of the text.

The Honors Thanksgiving dinner is an opportunity for students, faculty and community members to come together and enjoy a Thanksgiving-style meal in mid-November. This is a joyous community event that includes fellowship, connections and delicious food.

Guests are welcome and encouraged, but not required, to bring a potluck item to share with the provided main course!

The annual Honors Town Hall offers a chance to discuss important topics pertaining to the Honors College with students, faculty, alumni and community members. Past topics of discussion have included student/faculty interaction, alumni relations and strategic planning.

This event is a celebration of the achievements of Honors students, faculty and community members. Awards are presented in several categories to members of the Honors community - including the award for Honors Distinguished Service and the Honors Teacher of the Year.

Students are nominated and recognized for a number of achievements, including academics, service, leadership, research & scholarly activity and community building. We also recognize Honors scholarship recipients and students who have completed their Honors Capstone projects.

The night is highlighted by a keynote from the recipient of our General Myrna Hennrich Williamson Award in Honors - awarded to an individual exemplifying innovation and excellence in Honors education.

The annual Honors Student Showcase serves as an opportunity for students to present completed Honors capstone or Contract projects. It further serves as a great way to learn about the incredible work our Honors students are completing. Each student provided a presentation on their scholarly work, followed by time for questions from the audience.

For students presenting - you have an opportunity to showcase and share your scholarly work in a public forum with peers, your family, community members and/or SDSU faculty and staff.

For students listening - you hear about the work other students, which can be a great way to inspire ideas for your own capstone or contract projects in the future.

For our guests - you get to hear first-hand about the incredible research and scholarly activity originating from the Fishback Honors College and our incredible students.

Students graduating with Fishback Honors College distinction receive the Honors Medallion at a special ceremony on the afternoon before SDSU's graduation ceremonies in May. We highlight each Honors graduate's involvement on campus and in the community, emphasizing their engagement and leadership with the communities they interact with.

Each graduate also has the opportunity to recognize an SDSU faculty or staff member who has made a significant contribution to their collegiate career.

All are welcome to join us for this truly celebratory Honors event.

The purpose of the First Year Fellowship (FYF) program is to enhance connections and well-being for first year students in the first few months of their college experience. FYF is an annual tradition that fosters an inclusive community among students in the Fishback Honors College, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility, Office of International Affairs, American Indian Student Center, Veteran's Affairs and TRIO Student Support Services.

First Year Fellowship is traditionally a 5-6 week program that meets weekly during the first half of each fall semester.

The purpose of Explore Brookings is to cultivate and enhance the connection participating Honors students have with the SDSU and Brookings communities. Honors students will connect with local community and business leaders while learning about engagement opportunities and off-campus resources available to them.

Explore Brookings is traditionally a 5-6 week program that meets weekly during the first half of each fall semester.

Each year, a student led peer mentoring program helps incoming Honors students get connected both with SDSU and the Honors community. New students will be matched with a returning Honors student who will act as a mentor during their first semester in the Honors College.

New Honors students interested in participating can expect sign-up information over the summer prior to the start of their first semester!