Over 300 Central Methodist University graduates were honored during a mid-year Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 10, including four students who received special recognition.
Shelby N. Joseph, Jennifer A. Long, Haley A. Willis, and Hannah M. Willis completed CMU’s Honors Program, and with their parents beside them were individually acknowledged for the achievement.
The CMU Honors Program is designed to empower students through alternative educational opportunities, according to Dr. Richard Bradley, program director and professor of history. These include Honors classes with greater exploration and more rigorous analysis of content. Emphasis is placed on communication and critical thinking, Bradley added.
Joseph graduated from CMU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Psychology. Her Honors thesis was entitled “Managing a Positive Work Environment: The Effect of Theory X/Y Managerial Practices on Employee Perspectives.” Her thesis advisor was Dr. Jackie Anson, assistant professor of psychology at CMU. Joseph is from Cairo.
Long received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The title of her Honors thesis was “Perception of Time in Harbor Seals.” Dr. Dana Morris, associate professor of biology at CMU, was her thesis advisor. Long is from Cave Creek, Ariz.
Haley Willis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, as well. Her Honors thesis was entitled “Quorum Sensing: The Effect of Escherichia coli Cell-Free Media on the Growth of Clostridium difficile.” Her thesis advisor was Dr. Lea Daniel, assistant professor of biology at CMU. Willis is from Republic.
Hannah Willis also graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. The title of her Honors thesis was “Quorum Sensing: Autoinducer-2 from E. coli Increases Growth and Toxin Production in C. difficile,” with Daniel as her thesis advisor. Willis is from Republic.
Students must have a 3.5 or above grade point average from their high school, and/or an ACT score of 26 or higher to qualify for the CMU Honors Program. High school students with a GPA of 3.0 and who rank in the top 10 percent of their class may petition the Honors committee for admission.
After being accepted, they must maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA at CMU, and complete 12 credit hours of Honors coursework, in order to graduate with Honors. Three of these hours must be the Honors senior thesis, which must be publically defended before a committee including the University’s Academic Dean, President, and the Director of the Honors Program.