We Love to Collaborate: Committees, Events, and Initiatives
Students coordinate philanthropic, social and leadership events while mentoring their peers, allowing them to feel at home, quickly, in our Arcadia community. Student voice is emphasized, as we create co- and extra-curricular programming which reflects our students’ needs and wants. From student voice, Arcadia traditions have emerged, like our Rocky Horror Picture Show with a Live Shadow Cast and our Senior Prom for Senior Citizens.
Each event, organization and initiative below was designed and implemented by one of passionate teams of Honors Students.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Each fall semester, Honors Students participate in an annual production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a live shadow cast. The event takes place on Halloween at midnight in the University Commons Great Room. More than 300 students and community members attend this fun and long-standing Halloween tradition, which ranks as one of Arcadia’s largest philanthropic events. Honors Student involvement includes:
- Auditioning/acting in the live shadow cast.
- Stage direction and organizing props.
- Handling the marketing and business for the production
The Swarm
The first formal event of the year welcomes new and returning students as we look forward to the year ahead.
Honors Retreat
First-year Honors Students are encouraged to attend this fun, team building retreat. It’s your first opportunity to meet all your new Honors friends. Learn more about the Honors Retreat.
Our Favorite Feel-Good Event
Our Senior Prom for Senior Citizens is the biggest philanthropic event of the year. Nearly 100 seniors from our nearby community are invited to this themed prom-like celebration. Students partner with nearby residential communities, design a theme, create the decorations make the food and entertain their guests in a memorable evening.
Pollenpalooza
Our end of the year celebration, Pollenpalooza, recognizes our seniors.
Other Events and Activities
- Game Nights
- Spelling Bees
- Trivia Nights
- Changemaker meetings
- Community Service Offerings
- Sustainability initiatives
- Breakfast Clubs
- Pot Luck Dinners
- Off Campus excursions
- Members: Our dynamic council is led by 3-4 student presidents. These students work directly with the program director to strategize about how to meet students’ needs and what program changes will allow for optimal growth, community building, and serve the most students’ needs. These students mentor the students that serve in various other leadership capacities on the council.
- Community: Building community is important, not only on our campus and in our program, but everywhere. Students in our program are given the opportunity to be our first-tier community builders by taking on the role of peer mentor. In this role they mentor first years and help them assimilate into the wider community.
- Honors Houses: Our program has four houses (ala Harry Potter), and mentors—some denoted as House Captains—run our fall retreat, design house meetings and events, and provide one-on-one mentorship with their first-year cohorts. All students are encouraged to stay part of their Honors house and help foster the supportive community that Arcadia Honors is known for. Engagement breeds happy students. Our students are given opportunities to take the lead in creating and implementing events and programming for Honors Students and the campus.
- Hive at Fives: Mentors and first-year students plan fun, laid back events for everyone in the program to enjoy. These Hive at Fives are anything from Gingerbread House making competitions, paint and sip events, movie or game nights or even our own (non-violent) version of the squid games. It’s a place for bonding and laid-back fun.
Outstanding Opportunities
Big Idea Competition
Competition run by the Honors Program where all undergraduates are invited to work on a team to come up with a proposal to advance an objective then they pitch their idea to faculty and staff. AKA Shark Tank Arcadia.
Conferences
We encourage Honors Students to present at our local Honors conference, which takes place every March. Arcadia’s Honors Students have a very large presence at this conference. Arcadia’s Honors Students have been repeatedly accepted in high numbers to this competitive conference held in different locations around the country. Some examples are; NCHC, SEPCHE and our Honors Projections where students can present their Honors projects or adaptations on exhibit work from HN390 or EN101H experiences to a larger audience.
Pioneer Series
Annually, an individual who is an alum of Arcadia and pioneer of their field with strong values is invited by our students to campus. Students will have special opportunities to attend events and workshops with our Pioneer of the year and can apply for small group meetings with them. Moreover, students plan this high-profile event, market it, serve as the panel interviewers, etc.
The College Access Program (CAMP)
Programming conducted by our students weekly at a local high school to improve high school students' study skills, ability to self-advocate, and preparedness for future academic and professional choices. Honors Students develop programming after training as mentors at Arcadia.
Working at CAMP/Online Format
Giving back to students who are struggling and are willing to ask for help is the most rewarding thing I have done.
