Calendar of Events and Deadlines
Spring 2024
January
January 19, 11:00AM-Noon: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
First HSO meeting of2024! Come and find out about membership in HSO, or rejoin us! Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
January 29, 7:00PM-8:00PM: Honors Workshop: Let’s Talk Transfer! (Zoom)
Join us for an informal discussion about transfer plans after Oakton: the schools that Oakton has specific transfer relationships with, completing applications, seeking scholarships/financial aid, etc. All Honors Students are welcome! Please register here to attend via Zoom.
February
February 2, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
February 12, 7:00PM-8:00PM: HSO Workshop (via Zoom) — Honors Contracts and Getting Started in Honors
Join this HSO-sponsored workshop for an informal discussion with Prof. O’Donnell about getting started in the Honors Program (it will be especially useful if you missed our Summer Information Sessions). We will give primary focus to the Honors Contract process, since Honors Contract Interest Forms are due by 3/1/23 (the form must be turned in by a Faculty member). Use this link to register and receive the Zoom invitation information.
February 13, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Elmhurst University Transfer Visit with Honors Students (DP 2735 or Zoom)
A transfer admissions counselor from Elmhurst University will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Elmhurst University, scholarship opportunities, etc. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. Please use this link to register in advance to attend in-person. Please use this link to register to attend via Zoom.
February 16, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
February 20, 3:00PM-4:30PM: Honors ‘Emerging Scholars’ Series: Laura Hertz
Join us for the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, a discussion with Laura Hertz. Laura is a PhD candidate in Northwestern University's Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences graduate program. Prior to arriving in Chicago, she conducted molecular biology research at a government lab for two years and extensively explored STEM career options. She's passionate not only about her chosen scientific field but also engaging with her community as a scientist to bridge the gap between technology and society. Research-wise, she has extensive experience and knowledge about RNA biology through several fields: cancer, virus, development, biophysics, and synthetic biology. In line with the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, Laura will discuss both her research, and her educational path. Please register in advance to attend via Zoom here. Please register to attend in-person here. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation, and this event is co-sponsored by Oakton’s STEM Scholars Program.
February 28, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Lake Forest College Transfer Visit with Honors Students (DP 2735 or Zoom)
A transfer admissions counselor from Lake Forest College will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Lake Forest College, scholarship opportunities, etc. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. Please use this link to register in advance to attend in-person. Please use this link to register to attend via Zoom.
March
March 1, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
March 7, 3:30PM: Oakton Reads WGSS: “What would an HIV Doula Do?” (DP2735)
Please join Prof. McCartney’s Feminist and Queer Theory Student/Faculty Seminar (PHL 290) in a discussion of writings by members of the What Would an HIV Doula Do Collective. This discussion is part of a campus-wide series, “Oakton Reads WGSS: Intersectional and transnational feminisms.” It is also part of the Women's Herstory Month series. See here for more information.
March 15, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
March 21, 3:30PM: Oakton Reads WGSS: “Inclusion” (DP2735)
Please join Prof. McCartney’s Feminist and Queer Theory Student/Faculty Seminar (PHL 290) in a discussion of the essay “Inclusion” written by Oakton Professor Ahalya Satkunaratnam. This discussion is part of a campus-wide series, “Oakton Reads WGSS: Intersectional and transnational feminisms.” It is also part of the Women's Herstory Month series. See here for more information.
March 27, 2:00PM-3:30PM: Personal Statement Workshop with Northwestern University (Zoom)
In this workshop, you will learn from Oakton Learning Center Writing Tutor Karleen McAllester about what the personal statement is and why it’s important for transferring to your next college, review essay prompts appearing on the Common Application or Coalition Application, and hear from Oakton alumnus, Northwestern University graduate and Alumni Relations staff member Nathaniel Hall, who successfully made the transfer from community college to Northwestern, as well as Oakton Professors Tom Bowen and Megan Klein, two past Coordinators of the Honors Program who have helped many Oakton students transfer successfully. They will share sample essays, talk about experiences writing and helping students write transfer essays, and provide advice to help you. You will leave with resources to help your start writing, revise, or put the finishing touches on your transfer essays. Register here to attend via Zoom.
April
April 1, 7:00PM-8:00PM, Fall 2024 Course Preview/Meet the Professors (Zoom)
Priority registration for Fall 2024 begins on April 1 (open registration on 4/4). Come and join an informal discussion with some of the professors who are offering Honors Courses in Fall 2024! This will be a good opportunity to meet the Professor(s) and ask any question you want about the Spring 2024 Honors classes. Please register in advance here for this Zoom event.
April 3, 3:00PM-4:30PM: Honors ‘Emerging Scholars’ Series: Fabian Halblander (Zoom)
Join us for the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, a discussion with Oakton Alumnus Fabian Halblander on “Emphasizing Human Health, Collaboration, and Interdisciplinary Knowledge in Biology and STEM”. Fabian is a PhD Candidate at the University of Chicago, in the Human Genetics Program. He is happy to have joined a program where he feels encouraged to follow his scientific interests in gene regulation and Epigenetics, and where his own personal interests in philosophy, social science, and media theory are more relevant. He is passionate about institutional and scientific reform, believing that interdisciplinary collaboration and an emphasis on social organization results in more nuanced, innovative, and expansive science. Fabian grew up in Des Plaines, attended Oakton College for summer courses, and is an alumnus of Oakton Pre-K. Please register in advance to attend via Zoom here. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation, and this event is co-sponsored by Oakton’s STEM Scholars Program
April 5, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
April 10, 3:00PM-4:00PM, Are You Ready to Transfer? (in-person and Zoom).
All Oakton Students are welcome. Representatives from Oakton’s Honors Program, TRIO, and the Learning Center will discuss applying your skills to find and take advantage of transfer and career opportunities beyond Oakton. Please use this link to register in advance to attend in-person. Please use this link to register to attend via Zoom.
April 12, (Noon-1:00PM, DP 1603), Honors ‘Emerging Scholars’ Series: Abdul-Rehman Malik
Abdul-Rehman Malik (who will be also appearing at Creating Justice as part of the Listening While Muslim panel) is currently a Lecturer at the Yale Divinity School, a journalist, and an organizer. He is the Director of the Muslim Leadership Lab, a student leadership program at Yale University. Join us for a discussion with Abdul-Rehman about his work and his academic path and experiences. Use this link to register to attend. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation.
April 19, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
April 30, 2:00PM-3:30PM, Yashica Dutt, Coming Out as Dalit book Discussion (in-person, DP Student Center)
Yashica Dutt is a leading anti-caste expert, journalist, and award-winning author. Coming Out as Dalit, Dutt’s first book, has been lauded both critically, by readers. A memoir that presents a scathing and intimate account of how the caste system brutally affects Dalits in today’s India, Coming Out as Dalit is currently being taught at several universities across the United States. Yashica Dutt is an emerging figure recognized for highlighting Dalit rights globally and her voice has been instrumental in understanding the realities of caste within the increasingly prominent Indian diaspora. Dutt’s work seeks to expose caste as ‘the invisible arm that turns the gears in nearly every system in India', and highlights why this issue needs urgent attention. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Foreign Policy and The Atlantic and Dutt has been featured on The BBC, The Guardian and PBS Newshour. Dutt graduated from Columbia Journalism School and lives in New York. Join us for a discussion with Yashica about Coming Out as Dalit. This event is sponsored by the Honors Program and Oakton’s Center for Organizing Minority Programs to Advance Student Success (COMPASS).
May
May 1, 2:00-3:00PM (in-person DP2205 and Zoom): Richard Kim — Honors Student Independent Study Presentation/Philosophy Colloquium: “Is Psychophysical Harmony a Problem for Naturalism?”
Oakton Honors Student Richard Kim will present work from his Honors Independent Study course, in fulfillment of the Honors Scholar Designation. The topic is theistic and naturalistic explanations of "psychophysical harmony"; roughly, the fact that experiences of pain and pleasure give us reasons to act in certain ways. Attend in-person in DP2205 or register here to attend via Zoom. A reception with light refreshments will follow for those in-person.
May 2, 6:00PM-8:00PM, Student Scholar Showcase and Academic Concentration Award Ceremony
Please join Oakton College's Honors Program; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Environmental Studies; Great Books; Jewish Studies; Global Studies; and Peace and Social Justice Studies concentrations as we hold our second annual Student Scholar Showcase and Academic Concentration Award Ceremony! When: Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6-8pm. Where: Online and in the Student Center on the Des Plaines campus. Please RSVP here by April 26th. Did you complete work in the Honors Program or any of the concentrations that you would like to share? Please use this form to submit it (please express interest by 4/19, submit all materials for inclusion by 4/26). For questions about the event or sharing your work, contact Kristin McCartney (kmccartn@oakton.edu).
May 3, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting (DP 2735 or Zoom)
Last HSO meeting of 2023/2024! All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
Fall 2023
August
August 7, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Honors Information Session
Especially for those of you who are new to the Honors Program, please join us for an informal online information session via Zoom on Monday, August 7, 7:00-8:00PM. This will provide a chance to learn more about the Honors Program and our Fall course offerings, as well as to ask any questions you may have. Please register in advance with this link.
September
September 1, 11:00AM-Noon: HSO Meeting (Des Plaines 2735 or Zoom)
First HSO meeting of 2023/2024! Come and find out about membership in HSO, or rejoin us! Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information.
September 6 (Skokie) and September 7 (Des Plaines), 11:30AM-2:30PM (both days): Fall Fest
Come and meet members of the HSO and Honors faculty at the Honors table at Fall Fest! Fall Fest is Oakton’s big annual welcome event where you can learn about clubs and other opportunities at Oakton. Say hello to your fellow Honors students! Share and hear Honors class experiences! Skokie information link. Des Plaines information link.
September 15, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
September 15, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Workshop (via Zoom) — Honors Contracts and Getting Started in Honors
Join this HSO-sponsored workshop for an informal discussion with Prof. O’Donnell about getting started in the Honors Program (it will be especially useful if you missed our Summer Information Sessions). We will give primary focus to the Honors Contract process, since Honors Contract Interest Forms are due by 10/1/23 (the form must be turned in by a Faculty member). Use this link to register and receive the Zoom invitation information.
October
October 6, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
October 11, 3:00PM (Zoom), ‘Leveling Up’ your Honors Projects
Do you have a favorite project from a past Honors class or learning community? Are you working on or planning a cool project in an Honors class or learning community right now? Come to this workshop to learn about ways to extend and strengthen your Honors project and opportunities to share, present, and publish your work! Use this link to register and receive the Zoom invitation information.
October 20, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
November
November 3, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
November 6, 7:00-8:00PM (Zoom): Course Preview/Meet the Professors
Enrollment for Spring 2024 begins on November 13 (Priority Registration begins on 11/16). Come and join an informal discussion with the professors who are offering Honors Courses in Spring 2024! This will be a good opportunity to meet the Professor(s) and ask any question you want about the Spring 2024 Honors classes. Please register here for this Zoom event.
November 8, 1:00PM (Zoom+In-Person): B.L.A.C.K. Student Success Brownbag Lunch with the Honors Program
Representatives from Oakton’s Honors Program will speak about the Honor Program with student members of Oaktons’s B.L.A.C.K. Student Success. Contact bssp@oakton.edu for details or to attend via Zoom. The in-person meeting will be on the Skokie campus. Open to members of B.L.A.C.K. Student Success.
November 16, 11:00AM (Zoom+In-Person): Student Panel: “Framing Social Justice, Past and Present: Student Perspectives on Native American Literature
This panel, titled is organized by Oakton students, and the panelists are Oakton students, including multiple students in the Honors Program (including presentations of their work developed in the Honors Summer Field Study and other Honors classes). Come support your fellow Honors students and hear about their exciting work! You can show up to the CCID, or click here to register to attend via Zoom.
November 16, 1:00PM (Zoom+In-Person): Workshop: Applying Skills for Career and Transfer
Representatives from Oakton’s Honors Program, TRIO, and the Learning Center will discuss applying your skills to find and take advantage of transfer and career opportunities beyond Oakton. To attend via Zoom, click here. To register to attend in person (at the Learning Center in Des Plaines), click here (Meeting ID: 978 3988 2739, Passcode: 122778). All Oakton Students are welcome.
November 17, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
November 29, 11:00AM-12:15PM (Zoom+In-Person): Honors ‘Emerging Scholars’ Series: Noor Shahzad
Join us for the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, a discussion with Oakton Honors Program alumna Noor Shahzad. Noor serves as a Community Outreach Associate for the Midwest, EPA Region 5, with the Environmental Protection Network. In her role, she actively forges and strengthens ties among communities of color, low-income communities, EPA alumni, and other key stakeholders. She is currently enrolled in a Masters in Public Policy program at the University of Chicago. In line with the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, Noor will discuss both her research and work, and her academic path and experiences as a graduate student. Please register in advance to attend via Zoom here. Please register to attend in-person here. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation.
December
December 1, 11:00AM: HSO Meeting
All Honors Students are welcome, Email tbowen@oakton.edu for meeting information. All HSO Officers should attend.
December 7, 7:00PM (Zoom): Destress and Thrive During Finals
Join us for an informal discussion about skills and strategies for destressing and thriving through the final weeks of the semester, with time for open discussion about self-care and mutual support as we close in on the end of the semester. Please register in advance to attend via Zoom here. Hosted by Megan Klein (past Coordinator of the Honors Program). All Honors Students are welcome.
PAST EVENTS
Spring 2023
January
January 18, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Meeting (via Zoom)
First HSO meeting of 2023! Come and find out about membership in HSO, or rejoin us! Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information.
February
February 1, Noon-1:00PM: Honors ‘Meet and Snack’
Join Honors Students and Faculty for an informal welcome back ‘meet and snack’ in the Student Center on the Des Plaines Campus. Free snacks and beverages will be provided for Honors students. We will gather from Noon until 1:00PM. Come and meet fellow Honors Students and Honors Faculty who you might take a future Honors class with! Please use this link to register (just so we know how much food to order), but feel free to just stop by to say hello!
February 15, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Workshop (via Zoom): Let’s Talk Transfer!
Join us for an informal discussion about transfer plans after Oakton: the schools that Oakton has specific transfer relationships with, completing applications, seeking scholarships/financial aid, etc. All Honors Students are welcome, Please register here in advance.
February 21, 3:00PM-4:00PM: Honors Program Lake Forest College Transfer Visit (via Zoom)
A transfer admissions counselor from Lake Forest College will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Lake Forest College, scholarship opportunities, etc. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. Please use this link to register in advance for this online Zoom meeting.
February 28, 3:00-4:00PM: Honors Program Elmhurst University Transfer Visit (via Zoom)
A transfer admissions counselor from Elmhurst University will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Elmhurst University, scholarship opportunities, etc. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. Please use this link to register in advance for this online Zoom meeting.
March
March 1, 2:00PM-3:00PM, HSO Meeting (via Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information. All HSO Officers should attend.
March 7, 4:00PM-5:00PM, Honors Transfer Event (via Zoom)
Representatives from Oakton’s Career and Transfer Center and the College Transition Office will discuss transfer opportunities, including: colleges and programs that Oakton has direct or special transfer relationships with, completing transfer applications, scholarships/financial aid, transferring credits, etc. Please register here in advance. All Honors Students are welcome.
March 8, 3:00PM-4:00PM, Honors Program Lake Forest College Transfer Visit (in-person)
A transfer admissions counselor from Lake Forest College will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Lake Forest College, scholarship opportunities, etc. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. Please use this link to register in advance for this in-person meeting.
March 22, 2:00PM-3:00PM, Honors ‘Meet and Snack’
Join Honors Students and Faculty for an informal ‘meet and snack’ in the Student Center on the Des Plaines Campus. Free snacks and beverages will be provided for Honors students. We will gather from 2:00PM until 3:00PM. Come and meet fellow Honors Students and Honors Faculty who you might take a future Honors class with! Please use this link to register (just so we know how much food to order), but feel free to just stop by to say hello!
March 28, 4:00PM-5:00PM, Fall 2023 Course Preview/Meet the Professors (via Zoom)
Enrollment for Fall 2023 begins on April 6 (Priority Registration on 4/3). Come and join an informal discussion with some of the professors who are offering Honors Courses in Fall 2023! This will be a good opportunity to meet the Professor(s) and ask any question you want about the Fall 2023 Honors classes. Please register in advance here for this Zoom event.
April
April 5, 2:00PM-3:00PM, HSO Meeting (via Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information. All HSO Officers should attend.
April 14, 1:00PM-7:00PM, Creating Justice (in-person, Des Plaines)
Join the Humanities and Philosophy Department for the (in-person) return of its major annual event, a day of presentations, workshops and performances to celebrate art and community activism. This event is a unique way to build community and friendship, awaken our imaginations, and broaden our vision through discussion, food, and music. Refreshments and dinner are provided! The day of presentations and workshops closes out with a concert by Psalm One. Register here.
April 19, 2:00PM-3:00PM, HSO Workshop (via Zoom): ‘Home Stretch’: Surviving and Thriving Through Finals
Join us for an informal discussion about skills and strategies for surviving and thriving through the final weeks of the semester, with time for open discussion about self-care and mutual support as we close in on the end of the semester. All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information.
April 20, 3:00PM-4:30PM, Dr. Shay Welch Talk (via Zoom)
Join us for Dr. Welch’s talk about her research (more information about topic coming soon), with a period for open discussion with the audience. Dr. Shay Welch is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Spelman College. Recently, she was the 2020-2021 Carnegie Corp. and Rockefeller Foundation Distinguished Research/Creative Scholar. She was Chair of the Association for Feminist Ethics and Social Theory. Her areas of research include Social/Political Philosophy, Feminist Ethics, and Native American Philosophy. Her publications include two recent books Choreographing as Embodied Critical Inquiry and The Phenomenology of a Performative Knowledge System: Dancing with Native American Epistemology (both from Palgrave McMillan). Please register in advance here.
April 25, 7:00PM-8:30PM, Kefas Lamak Discussion (via Zoom) — Honors “Emerging Scholars Series"
Join us for the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, a discussion with Kefas Lamak. Kefas Lamak is a PhD Candidate in Religious Studies at the University of Iowa. His areas of research include African American History and Religious Studies and Religion in Africa. In line with the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, Kefas will discuss both his research and his academic path and experiences as a graduate student. Please register in advance here. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation.
April 27, 12:30PM-1:45PM, Soraida Garcia Discussion (via Zoom) — Honors “Emerging Scholars” Series
Join us for the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, a discussion with Soraida Garcia. Soraida Garcia is a native-born Chicagoan of Puerto Rican heritage and is currently a Ph.D. Student in Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois, Chicago, where she studies the impacts humans have on wildlife using the Netlogo platform. She has held various internships, including at Argonne National Laboratories, and volunteering at The Field Museum, conducting research in the mammals collection department. You can read more about Soraida’s educational experiences here. In line with the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series, Soraida will discuss both her research and her academic path and experiences as a graduate student. Please register in advance here. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation.
May
May 3, 2:00PM-3:00PM, Last HSO Meeting of the Spring (via Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information. All HSO Officers should attend.
May 4, 5:00PM-7:00PM, Student Scholar Showcase and Academic Concentration Award Ceremony
Please join Oakton College's Honors Program; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Environmental Studies; Great Books; Jewish Studies; Global Studies; and Peace and Social Justice Studies concentrations as we hold our first ever Student Scholar Showcase and Academic Concentration Award Ceremony! When: Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5-7pm. Doors will open at 5:00pm, recognition ceremony begins at 5:30pm. Where: Room 1610, Des Plaines campus and viewable online. Please RSVP here by April 28th. We will also broadcast the ceremony live via Zoom. To view online, register here. Did you complete work in the Honors Program or any of the concentrations that you would like to share? Please use this form to submit it (please express interest by 4/21, submit all materials for inclusion by 4/28). For questions, contact Kristin McCartney (kmccartn@oakton.edu) or Lindsey Hewitt (lhewitt@oakton.edu).
Fall 2022
July
July 21, 7:00PM-8:00PM: Honors Program Information Session (via Google Meet)
Especially those of you who are new to the Honors Program, please join us for an informal online information session via Google Meet on July 21, 7:00-8:00PM. This will provide a chance to learn more about the Honors Program and our Fall course offerings, as well as to ask questions. Please look for the Google Meet invitation in your email. If you did not receive it, use the email link at the top of this page to request being added.
August
August 1, 7:00PM-8:00PM: Honors Program Information Session (via Google Meet)
Especially those of you who are new to the Honors Program, please join us for an informal online information session via Google Meet on August 1, 7:00-8:00PM. This will provide a chance to learn more about the Honors Program and our Fall course offerings, as well as to ask questions. Some of the Faculty teaching Honors classes in Fall 2022 will be in attendance to talk about their Fall class and answer your questions. Please look for the Google Meet invitation in your email. If you did not receive it, use the email link at the top of this page to request being added.
August 14, 7:00PM-8:00PM: (FINAL) Honors Program Information Session (via Google Meet)
(This will be our last information session before Fall classes begin, so please join us if you have missed the past ones!) Especially those of you who are new to the Honors Program, please join us for an informal online information session via Google Meet on August 14, 7:00-8:00PM. This will provide a chance to learn more about the Honors Program and our Fall course offerings, as well as to ask questions. Some of the Faculty teaching Honors classes in Fall 2022 will be in attendance to talk about their Fall class and answer your questions. Please look for the Google Meet invitation in your email. If you did not receive it, use the email link at the top of this page to request being added.
September
September 7, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Meeting (via Zoom)
First HSO meeting of 2022/2023! Come and find out about membership in HSO, or rejoin us! Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information.
September 14, 12:30PM-1:30PM: Honors ‘Meet and Snack’
Join Honors Students and Faculty for an informal welcome ‘meet and snack’ in the outdoor space by the Cafe on the Des Plaines Campus (outside near the 1600s elevator). Free snacks and beverages will be provided for Honors students. We will gather after Profs. Bowen and Staat’s Learning Community, from 12:30PM-1:30PM. Come and meet fellow Honors Students and Honors Faculty who you might take a future Honors class with! Please use this link to register (just so we know how much food to order), but feel free to just stop by to say hello!
September 21, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Workshop (via Zoom) — Honors Contracts and Getting Started in Honors
Join this HSO-sponsored event for an informal discussion with Prof. Townsend about getting started in the Honors Program (it will be especially useful if you missed our Summer Information Sessions). We will give primary focus to the Honors Contract process, and invite Faculty members to join this conversation, since Honors Contract Interest Forms are due by 10/1/22 (the form must be turned in by a Faculty member). Use this link to register and receive the Zoom invitation information.
September 29, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Honors Program Transfer Presentation — Elmhurst University
A transfer admissions counselor from Elmhurst University will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Elmhurst University, scholarship opportunities, etc. Email honors@oakton.edu to register in advance. This is an in-person meeting in the Honors classroom (please also email if you are unable to make it to the in-person event, but are interested in a future Zoom-based transfer event with Elmhurst).
October
October 4, 2:00-3:00PM: Honors Program Transfer Presentation — Lake Forest College
A transfer admissions counselor from Lake Forest College will give a presentation for Honors Program students about transferring to Lake Forest College, scholarship opportunities, etc. Email honors@oakton.edu and use this link to register in advance: https://apply.lakeforest.edu/register/OCCHonorsEvent. This is an in-person meeting in the Honors classroom (please also email if you are unable to make it to the in-person event, but are interested in a future Zoom-based transfer event with Lake Forest).
October 5, 2:00-3:00: HSO Meeting (via Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information. All HSO Officers should attend.
October 19, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Workshop (via Zoom) — Academic Success Skills for Oakton and Beyond
Join this HSO-sponsored event for an informal discussion with Professor Townsend about Academic Success Skills for Oakton and Beyond. Professor Townsend (the Honors Coordinator) is a first-generation college student, a past community college student, and a successful transfer student, who worked full time while going to school full time throughout his education. He will share some ‘pro-tips’ for academic success from his past perspectives as a student, and also now as a professor. Please register in advance here to receive the Zoom joining information.
November
November 1, 2:00PM-4:00PM: Gina Roxas Discussion (In-Person and Zoom) - “Emerging Scholars” Series
Oakton Honors Program Alumna Gina Roxas is the Program Director of the Trickster Cultural Center, is pursuing graduate studies in Ethnobotany, and is an enrolled member of the Prairie Band of the Potawatomi Nation. As part of the Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” series, Gina will speak about what she is doing academically, professionally and through her tribal ties, which all center on environmental perspectives. This event will be offered in a hybrid format, both in-person on the Des Plaines campus (Room 1625) and online via Zoom from 2:00PM-4:00PM on November 1. Refreshments will be provided for those attending on campus. Please register in advance here. The Honors Program’s “Emerging Scholars” Series is made possible by a grant from the Oakton Educational Foundation. This event is cosponsored by the Environmental Studies Concentration, and timed to connect with Oakton’s Native American Heritage Month programming.
November 2, 2:00PM-3:00PM: HSO Meeting (via Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information. All HSO Officers should attend.
November 14, 7:00PM-8:00PM: Honors Information Session (via Zoom)
For those of you who are new to the Honors Program, please join us for an informal online information session via Zoom on Monday, November 14, 7:00-8:00PM. This will provide a chance to learn more about the Honors Program and our Spring course offerings, as well as to ask questions. Please use this form to register.
November 16, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Spring 2023 Course Preview/Meet the Professors (via Zoom)
Enrollment for Spring 2023 begins on November 17 (Priority Registration on 11/14). Come and join an informal discussion with some of the professors who are offering Honors courses in Spring 2023! This will be a good opportunity to meet the Professor(s) and ask any question you want about the Spring Honors classes. Please use this form to register.
November 17, 2:00PM-4:00PM: Sahana Kuthyar Discussion (Zoom) - “Emerging Scholars”/STEM Scholars Series
Sahana Kuthyar is a third year PhD Student in Biological Sciences at UC San Diego. As part of the “Emerging Scholars” series, she will discuss her research as a microbial Ecologist for the first half of the discussion, and host an informal discussion about her educational path and graduate school experiences in the second half of the discussion. Please use this form to register. Check back for more details. This event is cosponsored by the STEM Scholars program.
November 19, 10:00AM-Noon: HSO-Planned Trip to Trickster Cultural Center (Schaumburg)
As a complement to Gina Roxas’ discussion on 11/1 (see above), HSO is planning a trip to the Trickster Cultural Center (a Native American cultural and exhibit space in Schaumburg). This trip is open to all members of the Oakton community. Please use this form to register, which includes questions about potentially helping people carpool to the Trickster Cultural Center. Suggested donation at the Center is $5/person.
December
December 1, 1:00PM-2:00PM, Personal Statement Workshop with Northwestern Students (via Zoom)
Do you plan on transferring to a 4-year college or university? Most 4-year institutions require you to submit one or more essays (also called personal statements) about what makes you who you are. In this workshop, you will learn from a Writing Tutor at Oakton’s Learning Center about what the personal statement is and why it’s important for transferring to your next college, review essay prompts appearing on the Common Application or Coalition Application and hear from Oakton alum, Northwestern graduate and Alumni Relations staff member Nathaniel Hall; College of DuPage graduate, Kellogg MBA and Northwestern Engineering Professor Kevin Murnane and other students who successfully made the transfer from community college to Northwestern. They will share sample essays, talk about their experience writing their transfer essays and provide advice to help you. Attendees will leave with resources to help them start, revise, or put the finishing touches on their transfer essays. Register in advance here.
December 7, 2:00PM-3:00PM, Last HSO Meeting of the Fall (via Zoom)
All Honors Students are welcome, Email honors@oakton.edu for meeting registration information. All HSO Officers should attend.