RHC Highlights
HONORS CARDINALS: Making LU Proud Since 1963
2020 to Present
2023 Centennial - 60 Years in the Making
The RHC will celebrate its 60th anniversary as an honors program, and our 10th anniversary as an honors college at the same time Lamar University celebrates its centennial in 2023.
20 → 379 Students
Twenty students registered for the first ever semester of the honors program at Lamar State College of Technology. We've grown from 20 to 379.
Reaud Leadership Institute Launches
In Fall 2023, Reaud Fellows will make history as the inaugural students in the Reaud Leadership Institute. Supporting the mission of the Reaud Honors College’s Minor in Honors Studies, RLI engages students in a unique multidisciplinary set of courses focused on developing their leadership and critical thinking skills.
High Honors from Texas's First Higher Education System
For 2023-2024, Kelvin Elgar follows in alum Katey McCall's footsteps as he voices the LU student's perspective while serving his appointed role as student regent for TSUS Board of Regents. The prestigious TSUS Regents' Student Scholar Award is regularly given to Reaud Honors College students, most recently to biology pre-med senior Zaid Mohammed.
LU's First Tech Conference
Organized by Reaud Honors alum and student Thanh and Tien Nguyen, Block Party 2023 entered the history books as LU's first ever tech conference. Industry leaders and cutting-edge workshops shared the latest developments, trends and challenges of Web3 and blockchain technology.
Honors Students Collab to Bring Robotics to SETX
In Spring 2023, the Reaud Honors student-led Robotic Cardinals brought VEX Robotics to LU campus, a robot-building competition that encourages SETX community members of all ages to be part of the future generation of robotics. This was a dream come true for seniors Ryan Shugart and Christine Osborne, who created LU's first ever robotics club as freshmen.
White House Recognizes HSA
The White House and AmeriCorps recognized the Honors Student Association with the President's Volunteer Service Award and HSA student leaders continue to strengthen community bonds this year by providing experiences that promote the growth and development of their honors peers.
Solving Complex Global Issues
The Reaud Honors College's Model United Nations program regularly earns recognition for its student delegates, including awards for Distinguished Delegation and Outstanding Position Paper. Model UN empowers honors students to proactively rise to the challenge of solving complex global issues and to make an impact on enabling all people to live in dignity.
Moot Court History
Recognized as one of the top 15 programs for Oral Advocacy in the nation, LU's Moot Court is a popular program among honors students seeking advocacy experience. A team of Reaud Honors students made Moot Court history in 2021 by advancing beyond what any other LU team has done. Students scored #1 Best Advocate at the University of Texas Dallas Invitational Moot Court Tournament, #8 Best Advocate in the nation at the American Moot Court Association National Championship Tournament and #11 at Texas A&M's regional tournament.
Youth Voice for Community Nonprofits
Our college's Stepping Up: Civic Leadership Initiative empowers students to apply what they have learned in the classroom toward creating activities and solving problems within the community. The success of our unique experiential learning program led to our college's participation in a National Collegiate Honors Council Conference roundtable. Our honors students and staff offered guidance on how honors colleges could set up their own program by partnering with a consortium of nonprofits.
Cancer Experiential Learning Program
Reaud Honors students shared their idea for reimagining Honors education at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference by showcasing their work in our college's Cancer Experiential Learning Program, led by honors alumna Dr. Lindsey Minter during the global pandemic.
Challenging Our Understanding of the World
Reaud Honors College students consistently conduct undergraduate research as David J. Beck Fellows, Presidential Fellows, McNair Scholars, SURF Fellows and O.U.R. Grant Recipients.
Student Org Campus Leaders
They help create a vibrant LU by forming student organizations. Recent notable recognitions include: Lamar University Hispanic Society named LU's New Student Organization of 2021, Medlife named LU's Outstanding Student Organization of 2022, and Blockchain Student Society named LU's New Student Organization of 2022.
Promoting Cardinal Pride
They proudly promote Cardinal pride at Lamar University, both officially as LU Ambassadors and unofficially as the super fan Peckers who liven up the student section at games.
Inspirational Leadership & Highest GPAs
They demonstrate outstanding qualities in these five pillars of success: character, leadership, service, contribution and scholarship. Notable Reaud Honors inspirational leaders in recent years include: Ayo Oni (represented 10 states, as well as Mexico, Central America, South Africa and the Dominican Republic as the Texas Zone Chairperson for Region V, National Society of Black Engineers); Chloe Smith (2023 recipient of the Bess Gentry Award); and Luis Arevalo (2023 recipient of the C. Robert Kemble Award). Reaud Honors College students are also regularly recognized as Seniors of Significance and honored with the Otho Plummer Award for graduating with the highest GPA in their graduating class.
Voice in LU's Student Government Association
The Lamar student body regularly elects Reaud Honors College students to be their voice in Student Government Association, most notably during 2021-2022, when a cohort served as president, vice-president, senior class senator and sophomore class senator. Every year, Reaud Honors students proudly serve their LU community in SGA leadership and committee roles.
Civic Leaders at LU and Beyond
Reaud honors students give back to their LU community as tutors, summer camp leaders, peer health educators and more. They also contribute to the greater community and gain valuable on-the-job experience as interns in various fields.
The Reaud Honors College invites you to learn more about our alumni, faculty and our student Changemakers in Cadenza magazine.
Reaud Honors College • P.O. Box 10968 • Beaumont, TX 77710 • ph (409) 880-2294