Student Power

Student Power is an important aspect of the Honors program. Students are empowered to make choices that literally affect the entire program. Our students make these choices by participating in the establishment of policies for the Program; identifying curriculum needs and working with faculty and staff in shaping the direction of courses; and establishing an Honors Student Union that addresses the needs of the student body. Students work closely with faculty and instructors to design and facilitate Service Learning colloquiums as well as many other classes. They design, plan, and implement a week long Honors Orientation for incoming Honors students each fall. Students create and print the Honors magazine “Challenge by Choice.” They have also created an entire mentoring program to benefit “at–risk” high school students in the Jacksonville area. This is just the beginning of student power within the Honors Program; with every new student comes new possibilities.

The following are examples of student power and responsibility:

From left to right, John Blackburn, Jane Han, Sarah Deierlein, Chelsea* Rose, and Philip Brooke

Sarah Deierlein Student Director
Hi there, I am currently the Student Director for the Honors Program, a Service Learning Facilitator for Refugee Issues, and an English Major at UNF. I am 20 years old and currently a junior. In my free time I love to paint, to go to the beach with my dog, and to volunteer with local refugees. Last year, I was an Honors Student Union (HSU) member and worked with my fellow HSU members and the former Student Director to accomplish many great activities as well organizing the 2008 Honors Orientation. I was so inspired by the amount of influence student power has within the Honors Program that I wanted to become Student Director so I could pass on my inspiration and enthusiasm.

As Student Director, I am fortunate to represent the executive position of Honors’ Student leadership, which we call “Student Power”. I lead the HSU in planning orientation as well as social and service events, and developing their leadership skills. Student Directors also work hand in hand with Honors staff to ensure that the student voice has a key role in day to day happenings within the program.

Beyond planning events for students, the role of Student Power within the Honors program is essential. It is a fundamental aspect of what make the tradition of the Honors Program so strong. This year the Honors program will be transforming into a more flexible and inclusive program, which is designed to promote diversity and a more efficient means for students to use the Honors Program’s resources to achieve excellence. Student Power is one resource that is rare to find. However, in the Honors program it is respected and encouraged. Student Power is the voice of the students; it is the heartbeat of the Honors Program. The Honors program is designed to serve students and student power is the way in which Honors is ensuring that students opinions are broadcasted and listened to. Moreover, Student Power gives our students the unique opportunities to build leaders while building a community.

I believe my role as Student Director is an honor, and I strive to ensure that Honors students are being served and are excited about their Honors experience. Below you will find messages from the current HSU. They will be expanding on the idea of Student Power and what it means to them and to Honors students that they reach out to.

John Blackburn HSU Member
My name is John Blackburn and I am part of the Honors Student Union at UNF I grew up in Gainesville, Florida and was admitted to UNF in the fall of 2007. I am majoring in physics. I joined HSU in spring of 2009 and I have been working with my peers to plan orientation for the incoming freshmen.

Our responsibilities are many and diverse. HSU has the primary job of planning orientation for the next year. Anyone familiar with Honors Orientation will know that is no small task. Along with the Student Director, we set the stage for the incoming freshmen to better understand the nature of the Honors Program.

Also part of our job is promoting the Honors community after orientation ends. Each semester, we plan events to build connections between fellow Honors Students. The events often have community outreach aspects as well. This semester, our events have ranged widely. We have had a benefit dances to raise money for our recent “Ghana Project:” an engineering initiative for a children’s home in West Africa. Also, we partnered with Heart of America to promote literacy by reading to local elementary kids on the Green at UNF.

My job, as I see it, is a delegate of my fellow Honors Students. As we are in charge of building the Honors Community, we occasionally poll to find out feelings on the way events are proceeding, how orientation was received and what the students would like to see in the future. It is our job to keep the student happy with the Honors Program – outside the classroom.

Heather Renn HSU Member
I’m currently a sophomore majoring in accounting. Once I have my degree I plan on becoming a certified public accountant. My first year in college I wasn’t active in school, and therefore I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have. My third semester I saw how much the Honors Student union was involved with the Honors program and the University, and I thought it would be something I would be interested in. After speaking with some people about it, I applied and was accepted.

So far I enjoy being an HSU member because it allows me to exercise my leadership skills along with teamwork. Student power is very important to me because I feel that it allows for the student to be immersed in their college experience. A student can have friends and have fun in college, but until they get active in their college community, they will have only had access to a small portion of what college has to offer. With student power not only are you able to influence you community, but you are able to push yourself to be better and try harder. With being in student power it adds to the other things that you need to do. This can cause you to better manage your time, and learn how to do things more efficiently.

Another great thing about student power is that it gives the students a voice. Instead the faculty organizing events and the structure of our community solely on what they think is best, the students are able to voice their opinions and be heard. We are able to make sure that our important issues are taken care of. We are also able to plan and organize events that students will enjoy since we are students ourselves. We are able to be on the same level and be the connecting link between faculty and students. This provides an overall agreement and enjoyment within our college community.

Jane Han HSU Member
My name is Jane Han. I am majoring in biology and minoring in psychology in hopes of pursuing a career in dentistry. Besides studying for school, I volunteer at a hospital and am a Big Sister in my spare time. I love being outdoors. Boogie boarding, collecting sea shells, and growing plants are a few activities I enjoy doing. A few of my dislikes include waking up early and cleaning.

I am also a member of the Honors Student Union. Upon joining the Honors Program, I saw how important and effective student involvement was. There are several events, service projects, and great opportunities offered through the Honors program, which students help coordinate through HSU. Fortunately, the chance to become involved was presented to me and I am thankful I took it. Now I help plan such events and activities to suit the needs of all students like myself.

Because of what I have seen and accomplished through HSU, I am a strong advocate of student power. I believe that within a community, every member should have a voice. Letting yourself be heard is the first step in seeing what you want to be done.

Chelsea* Rose HSU Member
I am a sophomore Art Education major from South West Florida. Among my involvements through UNF and the Honors Program I am a member of the Honors Student Union, Service Learning Facilitator for the At-Risk Youth Service Learning class and a mentor with the Jaguars Foundation and UNF Honors Program. In 2008, I was a Team Leader for the Honors Orientation and had a great time getting to know the incoming class. I live on campus and have a passion for group activities. This summer I am going with the Honors class West Africa Seminar to Ghana to do service projects and see elephants!

To me student power takes two major forms, the ability of the students to voice their opinions to make changes, and the students’ ability to act. In the Honors Program students speak their minds to their administrators to get their ideas put into action. A different level of student power is the power given to the students by the administrators to go out and take the initiative to get events done.

There is no reason to be allotted significant influence if it is not fought for. Student power is the responsibility of the students to keep. To make a difference anywhere an individual needs to be aware and involved. To follow what I believe I have gotten involved in my community and highly recommend it for others as well.

Philip Brooke HSU Member
Greetings fellow honors students!

My name is Philip Brooke and I will have the pleasure of serving you as an HSU member in the upcoming year. I am a junior Mechanical Engineering student and I plan on going on to graduate or med school. I have been in the Honors program for the last two and a half years and I would like to use this opportunity of being an HSU member to give back and help out because I have been helped so much. Personally, I love working with my hands, I have been building and fixing things since I was in preschool. Just show me something that is broken and I will work on it until it is fixed. I also love hiking, kayaking and just generally being outdoors. If you have any questions or ideas about the Honors Program or anything feel free to talk to me.

Here is how I see student power and the Honors Program. I see the Honors Program as being the cornerstone of experiential learning at UNF. The Honors Program provides a method for development that is unmatched in our university. This opportunity is provided through student power. This power helps the honors students develop and gain an understanding of leadership that is inaccessible to most of the student population. When students finish college and head into careers they will be given responsibilities and leadership roles. The honors program does a good job of preparing its students for these responsibilities. It is the goal of the Honors Program to Abridge the gap between education and experience@, and I believe that along with service learning, student power is that bridge. I see student power and service learning as being very similar. Student power gives leadership responsibilities to students, and I see good leadership as a form of service. I see student power and involvement as a fundament force behind the honors program. I believe it is what makes our Honors Program unique. In every instance where the Honors Program gives some power to the students it widens the bridge from education and experience.