RHC Accolades
HONORS CARDINALS:
Making LU Proud Since 1963
Oldest Honors Program in TSUS
The Reaud Honors College holds the distinction of being the oldest Honors Program in the Texas State University System (TSUS). Twenty students registered for Fall 1963, the first-ever semester of the Honors Program. Approximately 300 students are enrolled in the Reaud Honors College each year.
Accolades: Present to 2020
Exercise Science Student Named TSUS Kuempel Scholar
In Spring 2025, TSUS awarded its highly competitive Edmund P. Kuempel Scholarship to Exercise Science sophomore Kayla McKinley. She received a $5,000 scholarship based on her academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to community service. She was chosen for her LU leadership in student organizations, including as a Stepping Up civic leader with the SETX Food Bank, and her undergraduate research on lung function and vaping under Dr. Shannon Jordan.
Texas Legislative Interns Head to State Capitol
During the Spring 2025 semester, four 91制片厂 students—including two Reaud Honors students—contributed to the lawmaking body of Texas as interns at the State Capitol in Austin as part of the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP). The Reaud Honors College manages 91制片厂’s TLIP cohort in partnership with the Department of Political Science, with sponsorships provided by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and the Beaumont Foundation. Meet our TLIP Interns.
First Honors Cohort of Texas Leadership Scholars
In Fall 2024, the Reaud Honors College welcomed the first cohort of Texas Leadership Scholars (TLS). Founded by the THECB in 2022 by 18 member institutions, the TLS program provides leadership development by helping students: connect with peer and professional networks and mentors; participate in unique leadership development programs; and receive opportunities for undergraduate research and study abroad experiences. Meet our Texas Leadership Scholars.
RLI Doubles its Student Leaders in Second Year
During the 2024-25 academic year, the Reaud Leadership Institute (RLI) doubled in size—nine more students joined the inaugural class of Reaud Fellows. Launched in Fall 2023, this highly selective program offers leadership development, global influence, and experiential learning opportunities to help students grow into catalysts for change. The Minor in Honors Studies supports the mission of the Reaud Leadership Institute by engaging students in a unique multidisciplinary set of courses focused on developing their leadership and critical thinking skills. Meet our Reaud Fellows.
Inspirational Leadership & Highest GPAs - NEW Awards!
Honors Cardinals demonstrate outstanding qualities in these five pillars of success: character, leadership, service, contribution, and scholarship. At our Spring 2024 graduation celebration, our dean paid tribute to our Honors Students of the Year and Honors Faculty of Distinction for the first time! Our Honors student body also continued our rich tradition of recognizing the Honors Professor of the Year.
Other notable Reaud Honors inspirational leaders at LU include: Morgan Luke (2024 recipient of the Bess Gentry Award); Sergio Mendez (2024 recipient of the Ann Shaw Award); and Mary Wernig (2024 recipient of Outstanding Student Organization of the Year for National Student Speech Language Hearing Association). 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.
Other notable Reaud Honors inspirational leaders at LU include: Morgan Luke (2024 recipient of the Bess Gentry Award); Sergio Mendez (2024 recipient of the Ann Shaw Award); and Mary Wernig (2024 recipient of Outstanding Student Organization of the Year for National Student Speech Language Hearing Association). 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.
Student Org Campus Leaders
Honors Cardinals help create a vibrant LU by forming student organizations. Reaud Honors student leaders often lead organizations to top awards, most recently: Mary Wernig for National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, which was named LU's Outstanding Student Organization of 2024. Recent notable recognitions for those with strong ties to RHC: Created by HSA Peer Mentor and Mentee, Medlife was named LU's Outstanding Student Organization of 2022; Created by Reaud Honors Cardinals brothers, Blockchain Student Society was named LU's New Student Organization of 2022; Created by Reaud Honors Cardinals, 91制片厂 Hispanic Society was named LU's New Student Organization of 2021.
Stepping Up Service Leadership on KVLU! - Community & Industry Partnerships
In Spring 2024, four Reaud Honors civic leaders shared their nonprofit board experiences on an episode of KVLU. Since 2017, nearly 50 students have contributed to local nonprofit boards, with 10 students serving during the 2024-2025 academic year. Through Stepping Up, the Reaud Honors College partners with local nonprofit organizations to provide students an insider's look at the nonprofit sector; networking, leadership, and organizational guidance through interactions with the board; and opportunities to contribute to community development through nonprofit activities.
Model UN Excels at Lone Star Conference, Clinches 6 Awards
In November 2023, Reaud Honors Model UN delegates earned six awards at the Lone Star MUN Conference in Richardson, Texas, under the guidance of Dr. Maria Vallejo. Outstanding Delegation was awarded to Russia – Security Council delegates Dakota Emerson and Drake Rothenberger. Outstanding Position Paper and Distinguished Delegation: Brazil – UNESCO - Michael Vu. Distinguished Delegation: USA – Security Council – Kevwe Onakpoya. Delegate Choice and Honorable Mention: Brazil – World Health Assembly – Grace Roy and Dylan Pardo. Read more in LU News.
High Honors from Texas's First Higher Education System
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Kelvin Elgar followed in alum Katey McCall's footsteps as he voiced 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. Meet Reaud Honors Cardinals recognized as TSUS student leaders and scholars.
Reaud Leadership Institute Launches
In Fall 2023, Reaud Fellows made 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.
Innovation ColLABoration - Introducing Local Youth to STEM through the GSMP
Starting in Summer 2023, the Reaud Honors College has an ongoing collaboration with the Texas Academy to administer the Governor’s Summer Merit Program (GSMP) at 91制片厂. Called Innovation ColLABoration, the program is a STEM summer camp funded by the Texas Workforce Commission that brings middle school and high school students to campus to learn about STEM academic and career pathways. Community partners include: Southeast Texas Workforce Solutions, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Engineering, DOW, Motiva, Valero, Exxon, Centers of Port Management, Center of Midstream Management, Integrated Power Services, BASF, CP Chem, Junior Achievement, Neches Federal Credit Union, and Total Energies.
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.
Reaud Honors Reality Stars on Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime shared the remarkable stories told by five Reaud Honors scholars-turned-reality stars. In Spring 2023, campus watch parties for “The College Tour” viewed the students’ experiences as: a STEM scholar; first-generation student; a student success leader; undergraduate researcher; and, of course, as a Reaud Honors College scholar. Representing some of the best of Cardinal Nation, each of our Honors Cardinals provided a glimpse into the welcoming and accepting home provided by 91制片厂.
Top Scholars Banquet Inaugural Event
To foster camaraderie among our high-achieving scholarship students, the Reaud Honors College hosted its first Presidential Scholarship Banquet in Spring 2023. Beginning with the third banquet, in Fall 2024, the college expanded the ceremony as the Top Scholars Banquet to include recognition for all of our most exceptionally strong academic students, who include Presidential Scholars, Southeast Texas Legends Scholars, and Premier Scholars.
LU's First Tech Conference
Organized by Reaud Honors alum Thanh Nguyen and his brother Tien, 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.
HSA's Biggest Service Event - Reaud Foundation's Bicycles and Bibles
During Winter Break 2022, nearly 40 Reaud Honors students gave back to the community by volunteering with HSA at the Reaud Foundation’s Bicycles and Bibles annual holiday program. An ongoing service project for HSA, this Winter Break Honors Experience has grown into HSA’s biggest volunteer event.
Honors Scholars Day Inaugural Event
In Fall 2022, the Reaud Honors College hosted the inaugural showcase of everything honors at Honors Scholars Day. Honors students shared what they have created during their time at LU, including collaborative engagements with Partners in the Parks, Study Abroad, O.U.R., McNair, Stepping Up Service Leadership, LU student organizations, and more.
HSA Peer Mentor Bond Leads to Mobile Clinics in Peru
In Summer 2022, MedLife students took their first service-learning trip—to Lima, Peru. LU’s MedLife chapter got its start from a partnership between HSA Peer Mentor Mackenzie Savage and HSA Peer Mentee Amber Maredia and was ultimately founded by five Reaud Honors students in February 2020, prior to campus closing for the global pandemic. The group’s two years of local community service led to the MedLife crew raising enough funds to travel to Peru’s capital city to provide hygiene, education, general medicine, OB-GYN, and pharmacy treatments at free mobile medical clinics.
Creating Distance Education Programming
On behalf of the Center for Resiliency, in support of a USDA Grant, Reaud Honors College students created distance education programming to benefit rural schools and communities. Learn more about the Summer 2022 research project.
Cancer Experiential Learning Program
Reaud Honors students shared their idea for reimagining Honors education at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Orlando by showcasing their work in our college's Cancer Experiential Learning Program, led by honors alumna Dr. Lindsey Minter during the global pandemic. The team served cancer patients by collaborating with multiple universities. They presented their project at LU's —the first students ever to participate in the summit—and at our college's first Honors Scholars Day, in 2022.
White House Recognizes HSA
The White House and AmeriCorps recognized the Honors Student Association with the President's Volunteer Service Award in Spring 2021. HSA student leaders continue to strengthen community bonds by providing experiences that promote the growth and development of their honors peers.
Moot Court History
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. 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.
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.
Youth Voice for Community Nonprofits
Our college's Stepping Up: Service 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.
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.
Promoting Cardinal Pride
They proudly promote Cardinal pride at 91制片厂, both officially as LU Ambassadors and unofficially as the super fan Peckers who liven up the student section at games.
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 honors alumni, faculty, and student Changemakers in Cadenza magazine.
Reaud Honors College • P.O. Box 10968 • Beaumont, TX 77710 • ph (409) 880-2294
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