Honors College

The Power of Purpose: Zaya Campbell’s Journey to Serve Others
Balancing the responsibilities of being a young mother with the academic rigor of a nursing program, first-year Honors College student Zaya Campbell faces a schedule most students would find daunting. Yet her passion for nursing stems from deeply personal experiences that have shaped her goals and given her journey new meaning. It was her own experiences navigating healthcare as a young mother that fueled her desire to become a nurse, particularly one who can support young mothers and families going through similar challenges. “I want to make a difference,” Zaya explained, describing how she was motivated by the support—and at times, the lack of support—she encountered during her medical journey.

BEYOND THE BOOKS: Lexi Moses Merges Writing and Activism at Kent State
For Kent State Honors College senior Lexi Moses (they/them), storytelling isn’t just an academic pursuit—it’s a lifelong passion and a vehicle for advocacy. As the 2024-2025 recipient of the Dr. Elizabeth Howard Memorial Honors Scholarship, Lexi, a double major in English and Gender and Sexuality Studies, embodies the scholarship’s mission to financially support students with intellectual curiosity while also reflecting some of the academic and creative interests of Professor Howard. With a deep dedication to equity and inclusion, Lexi’s academic journey has been as inspiring as it is interdisciplinary, blending a love of literature with a drive for social change.

Feeling Stressed? Kent State’s Student Life Study Can Help
Researchers conducting Kent State University’s groundbreaking Student Life Study will reach out to its participants via their phones to offer ways to combat stress and anxiety as the weight of the spring semester mounts.

Celebrating Success: Kent State Students Join Prestigious Honors Society
On a brisk and snowy Saturday, 279 outstanding Kent State students arrived at Cartwright Hall to be welcomed into Kent State University’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta: The Honors Society for First-Year Academic Success (ALD) at the annual induction ceremony.

Crafting a Career: Samantha Allan Blends Unique Interests with Passion for Healthcare
Samantha Allan, an Honors College senior, has an intimidating schedule. She balances EMT training, research, a speech pathology and audiology degree, a Spanish minor, work in a lab, and her role as a resident assistant (RA).
Honors Student Aims to Transform Healthcare With Robotics
Gabe Colbrunn, an Honors College junior and mechatronics engineering major, has been doing robotics competitions and projects since elementary school. Gabe called robotics his “lifelong passion.”

Honors College Student’s Journey Goes From Research Lab to Italy
Senior Abygail Deemer, a pre-med major, is one of 404 Honors College students who are majoring in health-related fields.

From Clinicals to Canines
Training future service dogs has been a win-win situation for junior nursing major Rylie Lapikas. Featured in our Year with a Flash series for 2024-2025, Lapikas gets the stress relief of a furry friend while learning how to be a better nurse by paying attention to nonverbal communication and cues.

Kent State Student Witnesses Research Launch to International Space Station
Mackenzie Guy visited the Kennedy Space Center to watch as her research project blasted off toward the International Space Station, marking a milestone in her academic journey.

FROM BANGLADESH TO THE STARS: Turaba Rahman's Journey in Astrophysics
Turaba Rahman, a senior at Kent State University and in the Honors College, grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh. When she was little, she was enamored with stargazing. Where she lived, it was hard to see the sky through the buildings and lights that blocked it, but she always tried her best to spot constellations. Ever since she can remember being frustrated while trying to draw the perfect star, she had fallen in love with the giant spheres of dust and gas.