By Danielle Ferguson, Staff Writer
Just this semester, Saint Leo University was introduced to the first Honors Student Council, formulated in the most part by Honors student Brittany Rathbone for her senior project. Rathbone, who is now the President and Treasurer of the council, has been involved in the Honors program since her freshman year here at Saint Leo. However, it wasn’t until the program’s ownership switched hands, prior to her senior year, when she became actively involved in establishing the “sequentially integrated program” in an attempt to add structure for real change, all with a passion for the council to flourish.
The core values of the council have a particular emphasis on community and excellence with fundamental goals revolving around acting as a voice to students at large, along with creating a liaison between the senior board members and students, combined with the main goal of event planning which is already successfully underway.
Aside from spending much of the Fall semester getting formed and writing their constitution to become SGU accredited, the council has already completed a fundraiser which took place on September 28th in Saint Petersburg selling St. Petersburg Times newspapers at a Rays game against the New York Yankees. Here they worked with a small group of Madeira Beach Fundamental Elementary school kids who were raising money for Petpals, a no kill shelter, and overall more than $300 was raised, of which $220.28 went to items for the shelter with the remaining funds going to the council for upcoming events this year.
Along with this the council has arranged a booth for a raffle at the Fall Family Festival with proceeds made going in aid of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. On October 28, a midnight reading event is also on the agenda, keeping in tune with the Halloween theme whereby all Saint Leo students and faculty members are invited to attend a series of poetry/non-fiction readings including that of “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe with free apple cider, taking place at 11:30 P.M. at the bowl between the Canon Memorial library and apartment blocks. Further event planning by the council includes that of St. Valentine’s Day chocolate tasting event, an after-hours etiquette seminar- whereby individuals will be taught how to conduct themselves in upscale events, Earth-day small-scale festival with science demonstrations, face-painting, arts and crafts, a play reading session by the Donald R. Tapia School of Business, joining of Youth Ministries to go Christmas carolling and possibly an Honors logo design contest.
The council have also planned to continue the Honors tradition of taking a group of students to the Florida Memorial Cemetery for Community service day on Veteran’s Day. Doing so they plan to lay a wreath from the SLU ceremonies for a ceremony to conclude activities at that location accompanied by several retired military men on the faculty at Saint Leo University in whom will speak about the military and veterans on that occasion.
In order to become involved on the Honors Student Council at Saint Leo, students must be enrolled on the Honors program which requires a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5, minimum combined SAT score of 1150 or ACT composite of 25, letter of recommendation, or for transfer students, membership in the honor society Phi Theta Kappa. Students are required to take an integrated sequence of six interdisciplinary courses leading to a year-long independent research project in senior year.
For further information on any of the upcoming events contact Brittany Rathbone- Brittany.rathbone@email.saintleo.edu or alternatively keep an eye out for leaflets and posters on the display boards situated around campus. Likewise students can contact Dr. Patrick Crerand- Honors Director for further information on the Honors programme itself.
