Amy Brenner of Lansing, Michigan, graduates with fifth cohort of Olivet's Honors Program

2015 Jun 1

Amy Brenner of Lansing, Michigan, graduated with the fifth cohort of Honors Program graduates as part of Olivet Nazarene University's Class of 2015 during the 102nd Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 9, 2015. She is the daughter of Tim and Shawn Brenner.

As their time at Olivet came to a close, Honors students presented their required research projects during Scholar Week 2015, April 13 to 18. “Connections between the effects of various chemicals on the development of Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens” was Brenner's project.

She is beginning the graduate application process and is planning to get a M.A. degree in education.

The mission of Olivet's Honors Program is to encourage and nurture academically gifted students, helping them to believe in their possibilities, preparing them to become the Christian scholars and servant leaders they were meant to be. Dr. Charles Carrigan, geoscience professor in Olivet's Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, is the program's director.

To enter the program, a student must have a composite ACT score of at least 30 or a Math and Critical Reading combined SAT score of at least 1330, and be interviewed by the program committee.

In addition to fulfilling the requirements for their respective majors, Honors Program students take four interdisciplinary, team-taught classes covering an intriguing topic. Then, they complete a substantial, faculty-mentored research project during their last two years, doing one-on-one mentored research with a professor of their choice with funding provided. They may also choose to study abroad during junior year.