S18 Honors Convocation (Student Words)

Vol 2 No 27

It is rapidly becoming a tradition to have a member of the audience writer their perspective of the Honors Convocation.  Last semester, it was Emily White.  This semester, the reflection on the convocation comes to us from Jill Bond, dual major in Writing and Graphic Design, class of 2019.

The end of the spring semester is often equated with stress, finals, and upcoming graduation, but it is also the time for sharing the amazing work that is completed by Honors Studies students at Finger Lakes Community College. The First Annual Spring Honors Studies Convocation was held on Friday, May 4th, with the goal of sharing the work of Honors students with rest of the student body, staff, and faculty. Fact of the matter is Honors classes prompt the creation of fabulous work, whether it be psychological, artistic, or literary, but often times only the students and faculty that are involved in the class get to see what is researched, written, and created – but the convocation is here to help show off what happens in that cozy house across the street.


The Honors Convocation has two parts, both of which are student driven. The first is the creation of posters based upon the work that students are doing in their classes, whether it be a final research project, creative endeavor, or reflection. Six posters were created this year, five of which revolved around the Women Who Kill class and one that was crafted out of work completed in Introduction to Literature. These posters were then displayed outside Stage 14 between 10:00am and 5:30pm, where anyone and everyone had the ability to see them. At 3:00pm, several of the poster creators returned to the hallway in order to answer questions regarding their posters and the work that inspired their creation.

The second part of the convocation started at 4:00pm in Stage 14, where four students presented work from their respective Honors class. The first to present was Eli Lorah, who spoke of his experience in Women Who Kill, a class co-taught by Dr. Trista Merrill and Dr. Linda Ross. During his strong and beautifully constructed presentation, he explained that while he has really enjoyed the group dynamics and psychological aspect of the course, he has also learned so much about how to handle the complexities of our everyday lives – showing how Honors can teach students so much more than just course content, which resonated with everyone in the room.

The next student to present was Brianna Smith, who read her raw and well-written literacy narrative from her Introduction to Literature class. Working her way through a lifelong relationship with books and the worlds she escapes into, from when she couldn’t get enough of Harry Potter at the age of five, despite the fact she didn’t understand it, up through her college days where the worn spines of books feel like home, Brianna communicated a passion for writing and reading that struck the audience.

Blinne Kreiger followed suit, who also presented her work for Women Who Kill, but took it in a completely different direction. Starting with a short presentation on the Night Witches, who were the 588th Night Bomber Regiment in World War II, she discussed the history of these women and their influence on a variety of different artists. Next, she read and discussed two striking poems that she wrote based upon her research, the first written from the perspective of the Germans and the second from the perspective of the Night Witches themselves – both of which left the audience inspired and fascinated by her writing and topic at hand.

The final presenter was Vicki Ilyssa, who read a beautifully written memoir crafted for her Composition I course. With an emphasis on atmosphere, naturalistic descriptions, and metaphor, she highlighted different struggles and events in her life, all while revolving the literary piece around her relationship with a shrine near her childhood home, which is now a symbol of peace – ultimately leaving everyone in awe, and some in tears, at the eloquence and exquisiteness of the writing.

Looking back upon this event it is easy to say that it was a success because it allowed students to share what they were curious and passionate about with other students and faculty who are also passionate and curious. And what I found to be incredibly fascinating about the presentations and posters this year, was the sheer amount of breadth in ideology and content that was covered, despite the fact only three classes were represented. From poems, short stories, memories, narratives, and comic book covers, to reflections and research that mixes mythology, psychology, and literature, this years’ convocation truly shows how open Honors is when it comes to exploring what you are curious about.

So, thank you so much to the students who presented and created posters for The First Annual Spring Honors Studies Convocation, you have inspired us all! And thank you to everyone who came to support these students and their amazing work. Make sure to stop by next semester for the fall convocation, so you can be inspired too.