Honors College Alumni
What's a "day in the life" of an Honors College student? How does the college's specialized curriculum and unique learning format translate into postgraduate and career opportunities?
There's no one better to tell the story of the Honors College than those who lived and learned it. Here are their stories:
Tondra De, Class of 2005 (Double Major in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics, and Minor in Computer Science; Graduated with both University and Departmental Honors)
Engineer, Las Vegas, Nv.
"Being a member of the Honors College made my entire UNLV experience more rich and fulfilling. I met and developed friendships with highly motivated students who were just as serious about school as I was. There's great diversity within the student population of the Honors College, and being exposed to so many different perspectives really opened my eyes to new ideas and possibilities.
I also had the opportunity to work with some terrific faculty members whose classes I wouldn't have been able to take had it not been for the Honors program. I especially enjoyed taking Honors Seminars, which are less structured and more discussion-based than traditional courses, because they force students to progress beyond conventional thought into higher realms of creativity. Overall, the time I spent as a student in the Honors College allowed me to gain a more profound appreciation for what constitutes a real education."
Michael P. Fecteau, Class of 1999 (B.A. Political Science)
Captain, Judge Advocate, United States Army, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
"I cannot imagine having attended UNLV without having been an Honors student, a 'Thinkin' Rebel.' As a native of Boulder City, I had long been accustomed to private education quality at public education price. In the UNLV Honors College, I found just that. For the price of in-state tuition and the quality of education provided, the UNLV Honors College is second to none."
Gregg T. Schultz, Class of 1993
Counsel, ExxonMobil Corp., Fairfax, Va.
"Looking back, the Honors College accomplished a couple of things for me. First, it provided a forum for intellectual discussion about current events, academic topics, and general esoterica. The ability to refer to and incorporate classic academic thought into everyday conversation — whether at work or just talking to friends about TV — is an invaluable skill that makes one interesting and marketable. The seminars taught that skill.
Second, the classes provided some rigor, which helped keep school interesting and fun. And finally, being in the Honors College came with benefits, from early registration and individualized academic support to knowing nods from professors in non-Honors classes. These are small benefits that make life easier and ultimately seem not so small. The Honors College was a rewarding experience that I would recommend to anyone."
Dr. Robert L. Smale, Class of 1995
Assistant Professor, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
"The Honors College offered me exciting, creative courses and the opportunity to establish a close relationship with intelligent professors because of the small and intimate size of the classes. Although I majored in history and Spanish, I remember fondly the science, geography, and biology courses I took through the Honors College. What I learned in those classes still informs my view of the world and my day-to-day thinking."
Brian Sompayrac, Class of 1995 (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering)
Graduated with University Honors
Lockheed Martin Mechanical Lead, Denver, Colorado
Coming from Colorado – everyone wanted to know why I didn’t go to one of the Colorado schools…Simple – UNLV’s Engineering and Honor’s programs! When I look back now, I wouldn’t change one thing about my decision to be a "Rebel" or the choice to be part of the Honors Program. The Engineering College gave me the knowledge and opportunity to help set a World Record (3469.56 mpg) for fuel mileage as the co-captain of the "Carnot Knowledge" Supermileage Vehicle Team, but it was the Honors Program gave me the breadth of education and experiences you don’t get in the typical university core classes. The Honors classes gave me the opportunity to learn in the type of free form environment that doesn’t exist in engineering. I routinely look back fondly on my days at UNLV and those memories are always filled with Honors Program experiences.
Since graduating from UNLV, I have worked continuously for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Denver, Colorado. Currently I am the Lockheed Martin Mechanical Lead for NASA’s Ares I-X launch vehicle program. My wife, Sherry, and I live in the mountains outside of Denver with our two Alaskan Malamutes and two cats. In our "spare time", we enjoy 4 wheeling, traveling, shooting sports and spending time in the mountains of Colorado.
Justin Youngblood, Class of 1996 (B.S. Accounting)
Business Development Manager, IBM Software Group, Austin, Texas
"The UNLV Honors College offered me all the academic rigor one might expect from a leading university blended with the personal attention typical of a small private college. The combination was both powerful and rare, creating an environment that was collaborative, challenging, and fun.
The Honors College faculty were top-rate teachers and researchers, and my classmates were outstanding thinkers and leaders. Overall, the experience prepared me well for my career track at Deloitte & Touche and IBM, and for earning my MBA at MIT's Sloan School of Management. Your life is what you make of it, and the UNLV Honors College can provide you with a solid foundation from which you can soar."