The Impact News

Issue date: 2/17/06 Section: News

Honors Students produce multiple programs each semester open to all students.

The Mercy College Honors Club has existed at the college since 1979, but that's not surprising for a club who considers its qualities to be motivation, leadership, curiosity, creativity and integrity, according to their fact sheet.
"Our goal is for students to check out life from the other side of the campus, Mercy is more than just Main Hall," said Melissa Candela, the club's advisor.
"We want students who are motivated and want to be part of campus life, who want a chance to socialize in the lounge and talk to other students, not just about classes, but about things that are going on in the world."
The Honors Club recently grew in size, adding 6 new members after soliciting for new membership at a club fair held on Feb. 8.
The club fair served as a base from which to dispel various beliefs about what the requirements are to join the club and about the type of person you have to be in order to join.
"For the Honors Program we do have high standards and this is what makes them honors students, but they are not nerds," said Nancy Benson, the director of the Honors Program at Mercy's Dobbs ferry campus.
"The club can be an avenue into the program… There really isn't much of a difference; both, the club and the program, are meeting the needs of the students."
The difference between the two programs, contrary to popular belief, is that there is no grade point average (GPA) requirement needed to join the Honors Club, which functions under the umbrella of the Honors Program.
Benson states that the program and the club are so closely related because most students who are involved in the Honors Program tend to join the club.
Students entered in the Honors Program substitute normal courses with honors courses in English, philosophy, biology and a variety of other general education courses. Acceptance into the program requires a 3.2 GPA and an entrance interview with Benson.
"The thing about the honors club is that people hear the word and automatically get intimidated and it seems like some big scary thing," said Katie Ryan, a sophomore at Mercy.
"Really it's a place where students talk about everything including events that we are planning. We just have fun and try to do something at Mercy besides just come to class and go home."
The Honors Club holds meetings every Thursday in Mayer Hall where they have lunch and discuss upcoming events or important student issues in the Honors Lounge.
The "lounge" measures up to its name, with the trendy appeal of a sophisticated Soho night spot where provocative intellectuals might congregate.
The Honors Club also sponsors and attends a range of events throughout the semester, last semester inviting youth from the Children's Village, a residential home for troubled youth, to participate in their Halloween movie marathon.
In April, they host an annual Shakespeare program which has become a staple in Mercy's yearly calendar.
However, the club's principal event will be a day trip to Storm King, located in upstate New York, where they will enjoy an outdoor sculpture garden, lunch at a Japanese restaurant, and maybe even a visit to Cold Springs village.
Christopher Nerantzinis, a senior at Mercy and member of the club, told The Impact that future events will also include ice-skating, a trip to the Slavery in Manhattan Exhibit, a "Happy Hour" in the lounge with non-alcoholic cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, as well as numerous outdoor activities on campus as the whether improves.
"It's a warm place with nice, approachable people. We can be a little peppy at times, but it's a nice environment that everyone can enjoy."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools