{"id":4315,"date":"2019-10-29T19:02:43","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T19:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/honorslink\/?p=4315"},"modified":"2023-05-24T12:40:47","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T19:40:47","slug":"a-familys-journey-in-honors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/honorslink\/2019\/10\/29\/a-familys-journey-in-honors\/","title":{"rendered":"A Family’s Journey in Honors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Each student has their own unique journey to become part of the Honors College. Sometimes, parents and family join their students and get involved in the college in their own way.<\/p>\n\n\n
After her son\nZac began his career at the Honors College in the fall of 2016, Kathy Pinard\nbecame a member of the Parent and Family Leadership Circle in order to be more connected\nto his experience. Now, four years later, she\u2019s a member of the Board of\nRegents \u2013 the Honors College\u2019s leadership advisory board \u2013 as well as a parent\nof a soon-to-be Honors College alum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kathy was\nherself a member of the honors program during her time at Oregon State. \u201cThat\nprogram had a few similarities to the Honors College, such as colloquia and\nthesis requirements,\u201d Kathy says, \u201cso I was vaguely familiar with the concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was very excited for Zac to attend OSU and amazed at how the Honors College had grown,\u201d Kathy says. During her time as a student, the honors program was much smaller than the 1500 current honors students and did not confer Honors Baccalaureate degrees. \u201cI was so impressed by the Honors College that I wanted to know more about it and be involved in some way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI was so impressed by the Honors College that I wanted to know more about it and be involved in some way.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Honors College offers a number of different avenues for parent and family involvement. The Parent and Family Leadership Circle (PLC) is made up of the family members of honors students who want to become more engaged with Oregon State and the Honors College student experience. Members of the PLC meet quarterly with Honors College and Oregon State leadership to learn more about the university, network with other honors family members and provide feedback about the family experience. Members also contribute to differential tuition scholarships, ensuring that all qualified students can fully participate in the honors experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I learned\nof the Parent Leadership Circle it seemed like the perfect vehicle. And an\nextra bonus was having a good excuse to be on campus and visit Zac every term!\u201d\nKathy says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kathy quickly became an asset to the PLC, even going so far as to host Honors College Send-Off events at her home in California. \u201cOne couple and I cohosted send-off events for Bay Area students entering the Honors College. These events were held in our homes for students and their parents,\u201d Kathy says. \u201cIt was a great opportunity for them to meet each other and hear about both the Honors College and OSU.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When her son Zac was preparing to graduate, Kathy wanted to find a way to stay involved in the Honors College. \u201cI spoke with Dean Toni Doolen; she told me more about the Board of Regents and offered me a position. I was happy to accept.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Board of Regents is the development advisory group of the Honors College. Distinguished alumni and friends of Oregon State join the executive staff of the Honors College in promoting the long-term success and sustainability of the Honors College; working as external advocates; advising on fundraising strategies, opportunities and projects; and contributing to the HC\u2019s long-term goals and stability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve only\nattended one meeting so far, so I\u2019m still learning about the board and my role.\nThe information shared is more detailed than with the PLC, including more\nlong-term strategy and financial discussions,\u201d Kathy says. \u201cWe participated in\nevaluating top applicant essays, which was a daunting task! It was very hard to\nchoose the best one from such compelling essays.\u201d Board members help select a\n\u201cbest\u201d essay from Honors College applications each year, and the winner is\nrecognized at the annual New Student Induction ceremony in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nKathy with her son Zac<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Like many\nparents, Kathy had a difficult time sending her student off to college. Knowing\nthat Zac would have the Honors College to support him, though, made the\ntransition easier for her. Through her involvement in the PLC, Kathy was able\nto see the dedication faculty and staff brought to their roles \u2013 dedication\nthat helps students like Zac to grow and thrive in the college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMeeting some faculty members, I was impressed with their energy and how much they enjoyed working with Honors College students. HC staff members clearly care not just about the academics, but also about the emotional wellbeing of the students,\u201d Kathy says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat stands\nout to me is how they make such a personal connection with the students. It is\namazing how in touch they are when they have so many students to support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflecting on\nher experience as an involved parent and supporter in the Honors College, Kathy\nhas one simple piece of advice for those considering whether they should get\ninvolved: \u201cDo it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a great\nexperience for me,\u201d Kathy says. \u201cI certainly felt more in touch with what was\ngoing on in the Honors College and was able to have more meaningful\nconversations with my son about his participation and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was\nrewarding to play even a small part in the continuing evolution of the Honors\nCollege and to re-establish my connection to Oregon State,\u201d Kathy says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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