Awards and Aid

Every HON 121 co-leader pair is allowed to nominate one first-year honors student within their section to apply for the Outstanding First-Year Honors Program Member scholarship given out by the University Honors Committee and the Honors Student Board. Four to six winners are chosen annually based upon their current and potential future involvement in the University Honors Program, the recommendation of their former first-year honors seminar leaders, and their academic achievement and involvement so far at Iowa State University.

Winners receive a $250 scholarship which is credited to their tuition and fee charges for the following semester.

Each year the Outstanding University Honors Program Scholarship is awarded to an honors member who best articulates how the honors program has furthered or improved their education academically or through co-curricular engagement.

The $250 Outstanding Honors Student Board Member Scholarship goes to a member of HSB who, through their participation, made a significant impact in the life of the board. The recipient will not necessarily have been an elected officer, but will be someone who has been substantially involved in the board’s activities. The student must have been active with the board for at least two years. Other involvement in the University Honors Program will also be considered.

Each year the W. Robert Parks Honors Commendations are awarded to a faculty member, a friend, and a student associated with the University Honors Program. Honors students nominate individuals in each of the three categories who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the Honors Program. The Honors Student Board (HSB) then selects the recipients.

In order to recognize Iowa State faculty and staff who support honors at Iowa State, the University Honors Program gives two annual awards of $500 for outstanding honors teaching, advising, or mentoring. Each year’s recipients will be recognized at the University Honors Program Convocation.

The criterion for these awards is general excellence in teaching of honors courses, seminars, or other courses taught for honors credit; or in the mentoring of Honors students through academic advising, advising of honors projects, and mentoring of students in the First-Year Honors/Mentor Research Program. Anyone who has taught or mentored in the University Honors Program at least once is eligible to apply.

Letters nominating candidates for these awards (including self-nominations) supporting materials such as syllabi or student letters, may be delivered to the University Honors Program Office, 2130 Jischke Honors Building. The University Honors Committee will evaluate the nominations.

The Freeman Memorial Scholarship, created as a memorial to Paul William Freeman, is a one-time award of $500, open to honors students majoring in Chemical Engineering who are progressing toward completion of their honors degree. Recipients have been involved extensively both on campus and within the University Honors Program.