A Gathering of Honors Students

The Alfred University Honors Program hosted a gathering for the Mansfield University Honors Program on March 20.

Ben Moritz, director of the Mansfield Honors program and professor of music, came to Alfred with a group of honors students to experience the unique qualities of the university. Last fall, AU honors students were invited to Mansfield University to hike in Leonard Harrison State Park and compare the Honors programs.

Mansfield students were greeted in Harder Hall with refreshments in the morning by AU honors students and Dr. Gordon Atlas, professor of Psychology and director of the Honors Program.

The students watched a presentation of glassblowing, ate lunch at the Terra Cotta and visited the Equestrian Center. Both Mansfield and Alfred honors students were given the options to ride horses under supervision and take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon.

“We decided to show off some of the unique aspects of Alfred student life,” said Atlas, with “glassblowing and equestrian being near the top of everyone’s list.”

While at the Terra Cotta, Mansfield students were introduced to what the Honors Program at Alfred is like from professors such as Dr. Juliana Gray and Dr. Robert Reginio, assistant professors of English, and Dr. David DeGraff, associate professor of astronomy. Professors of honors seminars explained their current and past topics and how they were academic.

“My students and I had a wonderful time,” stated Moritz. Mansfield students were particularly interested in the variety of seminars and topics available in Alfred’s Honors Program.

“It seems to me that we’ve made a friend in the Mansfield Honors Program through this year’s activities,” said Atlas.