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The Honors Program at Bellarmine is designed to connect academic work with real-world experience. Students are encouraged to pursue opportunities that deepen their learning, expand their perspectives, and support their academic and professional goals.

Through a combination of funding, travel, and co-curricular programming, Honors students can take their ideas further—whether through research, creative work, or global exploration.

 

Featured Opportunity:

Joe and Angela Schmidt Honors Research Award

The Schmidt Fund provides dedicated, donor-supported funding to help Honors students pursue research, creative work, and academic opportunities beyond the classroom.

Students may use Schmidt funding to support:

• Independent or faculty-mentored research

• Creative and artistic projects

• Travel related to academic work or conferences

• Materials or other project-related expenses

These funds allow students to take their ideas further—transforming coursework into meaningful, real-world work.

Awards are made through a competitive application process, and recipients are often invited to share their work and reflect on the impact of the experience.

 

Featured Opportunity:

Honors Abroad

Each year, Honors students have the opportunity to participate in a faculty-led international travel experience designed specifically for the program.

Honors Abroad connects coursework with lived experience, allowing students to explore key ideas in a global context while traveling with a cohort of peers.

These experiences often include:

• Site-based learning in historically and culturally significant locations

• Guided exploration connecting course themes to place

• Shared academic and community experiences with fellow Honors students

Honors Abroad is a defining part of the program for many students—bringing together intellectual inquiry, cultural engagement, and community.

 

Featured Opportunity:

The Ferguson Fund for Study Abroad Research

The Ferguson Fund supports students who want to connect study abroad with meaningful academic research. Made possible through the generosity of the Ferguson family, the fund is built on the idea that study abroad should be more than travel—it should be an opportunity for serious intellectual inquiry.

Students may apply for up to $1,000 to support a research project conducted during their time abroad. Many students use Ferguson projects to develop ideas that later become part of their Honors thesis.

Projects take many forms, including:

• Working with archival or primary sources abroad
• Engaging with cultural or artistic traditions
• Studying policies, institutions, or civic spaces in context
• Exploring practices in fields such as business, health sciences, or education
• Developing creative work inspired by international experience

The goal is not simply to add travel to your academic work, but to allow that experience to deepen and shape your research.

How to Å©·òµ¼º½

Students submit a proposal as part of the study abroad process, outlining:

• Their research question or project
• A plan for completing the work abroad
• A project budget

Applications include faculty support and, when applicable, must meet Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements.

 

Conferences & Academic Engagement

Honors students have opportunities to present their work, attend conferences, and engage with broader academic communities.

Examples include:

• Presenting research at regional or national conferences

• Participating in undergraduate research events

• Attending academic or professional gatherings

These experiences help students develop confidence, communication skills, and professional connections.

 

Community & Co-Curricular Experiences

Honors is not just academic—it’s a community.

Students can participate in:

• Guest lectures and speaker events

• Book discussions and themed programming

• Leadership opportunities within Honors

• Social and community-building events

These experiences create a sense of belonging and extend learning beyond the classroom.

 

Support for Your Goals

Whether you are preparing for graduate school, exploring career paths, or developing a creative project, Honors opportunities are designed to support your goals.

Students are encouraged to take initiative, pursue their interests, and make the most of the resources available to them.

Å©·òµ¼º½ to Honors