Lindenwood Magazine - Spring 2024

8 9 SPRING 2024 EDITION THE LINDENWOOD THE LINDENWOOD SPRING 2024 EDITION Membership benefits also include practical leadership opportunities. Honors Officers and Honors Ambassadors, for example, are special groups of students who volunteer their time to represent the Academy. As international relations student Sofia Hernandez Otero put it, “Being an Honors Academy student is transformative!” These student leaders are assets in recruitment, too. They help welcome students’ families to the Honors Academy reception, for example, and showcase the value of Academy membership to prospective students during Future Lion Day. University Honors, the highest recognition awarded by Lindenwood University at graduation, is the destination of these individualized Honors journeys. Students are awarded special purple cords for commencement, and University Honors is announced as they receive their diplomas. Their achievements are celebrated at the annual Honors Cord Ceremony by Lindenwood’s executive leadership, faculty, family, and friends. This prestigious recognition signals their perseverance and commitment to excellence on resumes, too. It is a differentiator that distinguishes them from other applicants because they intentionally chose to complete rigorous and enhanced learning experiences. ADDISON FORRESTER Entrepreneurial Studies Honors Academy is so important to Lindenwood and its students! Honors ABOUT THE HONORS ACADEMY LEARN MORE! I developed leadership skills and learned how to advocate for myself. ERICA CATHEY ’24 Exercise Science, University Honors 2024 Honors Academy Cording Ceremony Academy FEATURE STORY FEATURE STORY Honors Academy students present at national conferences; win national scholarships; publish in peer-reviewed journals; excel in graduate schools, such as Arizona State University, University of Denver, Tufts, University of Iowa, and Saint Louis University; and pursue fulfilling careers at companies, such as Washington University School of Medicine, Red Bull, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and EY (formerly Ernst & Young). Anna Ostmann, who is now completing an English graduate degree at SLU, remembers her acceptance to the Honors Academy that helped her decide that Lindenwood was right for her. She realized “other universities have honors programs, too, but Lindenwood’s Honors Academy allows us to personalize our Honors experience. I customized my Honors journey according to my interests, which made it uniquely my own.” Lauren Hetz ’24, graduated with University Honors. She majored in marketing with minors in graphic design and social media and digital content strategy.