From the Director.

I would like to introduce myself: I am Tracy Harrison, the new (interim) director of the Honors Program at Valencia . have been at Valencia for the past 5 years as a faculty member on West Campus. It is my great pleasure to join the Honors Program and its team of fantastic faculty, advisers and support staff in the upcoming year. Most importantly, I want to get to know you.

Many activities are outlined in this newsletter. Please take time to read it carefully and earmark anything that looks like something that may interest you. Bring any questions you may have to the Open House scheduled on all of Valencia 's 4 campuses. Make sure you check your Atlas e-mail account regularly for updates and invitation to events sponsored by Honors.

Another source of information on the events is this newsletter, which is also published on-line in the Honors link. Along with detailing Honor's activities, you will also be alerted about program deadlines, scholarship opportunities, and the latest information about our annual spring break trip to a foreign country.

Being a part of this program is an honor (no pun intended). Perks to being in the Honors Program:

•  Early registration

•  Free tickets to Valencia plays

•  Honors Resource Center (West and East)

•  International spring break trip

•  Small class sizes

•  Field trips

•  Distinguished Speaker Series

•  Transfer scholarships* (for students graduating with an Honors degree)

•  Honors Program scholarships*

•  Honors graduation reception

•  And in my opinion, the best faculty at Valencia !

* Scholarship sign-up periods are advertised in the Brain Storm

I'll explain these and more in detail at the Open Houses.

I look forward to meeting you and wish you a very successful and enjoyable academic year. If there is any way I can assist you, please contact me at jcook31@valenciacc.edu or (407) 582-1729.

YOU'RE INVITED

Honors Student Welcome/Open House

We will be hosting the Honors Program Welcome/ Open House on East, Osceola, West and Winter Park Campuses as follows: Check your Atlas e-mail for the invitation and to RSVP.

West Campus - September 12, 10:30- 11:15 in Bldg 5 room 111 and
September 20 from 7:00-8:00pm in Bldg 6-202

East Campus - September 18, 1:00 - 2:00pm in
Bldg 8, room 101

Winter Park Campus - September 19, 12:30 - 1:30 pm in WP1 - 143

Osceola Campus - September 27, 1:00 - 2:00pm in Building 2 auditorium

Bring your appetite - there will be food!

"YOU'VE GOT MAIL"

All Honors correspondence will be communicated via ATLAS e-mail. Please check your account regularly.

Leadership Training / Ropes Course

WE ARE LOOKING FOR HONORS LEADERS! Leadership Training will kick-off on our trip to the Clarcona Pointe Ropes Course on Saturday, October 13.

The Challenge Course consists of a low and high elements Ropes Course. The course has over thirteen different low elements and ten different high elements. Designed for groups of all ages and physical ability, athleticism is not required. The natural wooded setting proves an environment that is conducive to facilitating groups and allows the participants to focus on the experience on hand.

Through individual and team problem solving, groups work on collective decision-making, effective communication, team building, trust and goal setting.

We will have 40 spaces available to Honors students for the Ropes course. This activity is paid for by the Honors Program, including lunch and bus transportation (from/to East and West Campus).

There will be more information about the Ropes Course and opportunity to sign up at the upcoming Honors Welcome/Open House.

More details about leadership training opportunities will follow.

Admissions Graduation Application Deadlines for 2007-2008

If you are graduating in December 2007, please contact the Honors' Program Office for an Honors' graduation application.   If you have any questions, please call us at (407) 582-1729.

NCHC/PTK Satellite Seminars

The Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa are pleased to present the 2007 Honors Satellite Seminar Series, Gold, Gods, and Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power. This four-part speaker series, available via live satellite, will be taped and shown at all campuses this fall. The schedule of showings will be announced at the Honors Welcome/Open House. You are welcome to contact your campus PTK advisor for more details.

Counselor’s Corner

Submitted by: Laura Thomas

Frequently asked questions:

Question: What is the minimum GPA required to remain active in the Honors Program?

Response: If your Valencia GPA falls below a 3.0 you will be inactivated as an Honors student. However, a student may contact the Honors office to be reactivated once they have achieved a Valencia cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.

Honors Resource Centers

There are two Honors Resource Centers for Honors students' use:

West Campus - Library, 6-201B

Please see the Honors Program office in 3-136 for security entrance code.

East Campus - Bldg 4- room 117

Please call ext. 1980 for security entrance code.

Both centers have computers, printers, and study area. Please feel free to utilize these facilities at your convenience.

Reminder: The primary function of the Honors Resource Centers is a study lab for individual and collaborative learning outside the classroom. With that in mind, please observe these 'Rules of the Road' for the HRCs:

• The HRC is for honors students only - do not invite friends or relatives into the room, and no children.

• Please turn off cell phones.

• Studying takes precedence when using the computers. Please relinquish the computer to a student who needs it for school-related projects.

• Please keep conversations moderate in tone and no audible music or talk over the computers or other technical devices.

• Do not access inappropriate web sites.

• Please report computer, network or printer problems to the appropriate Honors Program office staff.

• Please keep the HRC neat. . . clean up after yourself!

• Please observe the HRC closing times.

Remember, the use of the Honors Resource Center is a privilege, not a right!

BRAIN BOWL
THE VARSITY SPORT OF THE MIND

Brain Bowl competitions consist of teams of four players who answer questions in four categories: math, social science, natural science, and humanities. If you have an interest in any of these subjects, Brain Bowl's for you! Plus, check out these juicy incentives:

• Full tuition scholarships
• Paid travel with per diem
• SUCCESS (We've won four - including last year -- national championships and six state championships)
• Practice for your Jeopardy! appearance!!!
• FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

We are putting together our Fall Team and we need you! For more information, contact Chris Borglum: cborglum@valenciacc.edu or Boris Nguyen: bnguyen@valenciacc.edu

Mark Your Calendar!

Novelist, poet and activist Nikki Giovanni will be visiting Valencia as part of the Visions and Voices distinguished artist series. Having penned more than 30 books for both adults and children, Giovanni is one of the most widely-read American poets. She's been called the "Princess of Black Poetry" and was named one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends."   

Giovanni will visit the West Campus library for a reading, booking signing and Q&A session. This event will take place on September 13 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm.

Join Us At An Honors Conference!

The Honors Program has three conferences scheduled for the upcoming academic year: National Collegiate Honors Council, Southern Regional Honors Council, and Florida Collegiate Honors Council. We typically take between 8 - 12 students to each conference, fully paid by the Honors Program. The conferences will be held as follows:

NCHC - Denver CO - October 31 - November 4, 2007
FCHC - Tampa FL - February 22 - 24, 2008
SRHC - Birmingham AL - March 27 - 29, 2008

There is an "HONORS CONFERENCE INTEREST FORM" included in the Brain Storm that has been mailed to every Honors student. Please take a moment to review this form, and we hope that many of you will return it to us.

Honors Program Offices