The Jane Stephens Honors Program is an organization at Southeast Missouri State University for exceptional students. It offers a wide variety of opportunities and benefits for students who qualify.

First-year students must have a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale and have an ACT composite score of at least 25. Transfer students from another university or college must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale for their university or college work.

There are a couple of requirements in order to complete the honors program. A student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, earn at least 24 semester hours of honors credit with at least six of the required 24 hours being at the 300 level or above and complete a senior honors project. When this is completed, a student will have completed the honors program and will graduate as an honors scholar.

Dr. Craig Roberts has been the director of the Jane Stephens Honors Program since August of 2004. He is also an associate professor of mathematics. Roberts believes there is a difference in the emphasis of honors classes compared to regular classes.

"The emphasis is on actively engaging the students and the learning through discussions, through group work and through presentations," Roberts said.

Molly Eggleston and Allyson Brown are the co-chairs of the Jane Stephens Honors Program Leadership Council.

"The discussions in honors classes are different because we all voice our opinions and we hear the different perspectives that people have about a particular topic that we're discussing," Eggleston said.

One of the benefits of being an honors student is the possibility of living on the honors floor. Merick Hall's third floor is host to the Honors Learning Community. It's a floor in which honors students of all different kinds of majors and personalities reside.

JoEllen Crain is a junior living on the honors floor. Her major is health management exercise science and she will be graduating this year due to the amount of credits she has earned by taking extra classes. Crain believes living on the honors floor is a definite pro.

"I like it for the most part because it's quiet, but there's still people out so it's like you get the best of both worlds," Crain said.

Brady Nahlik is a freshman living on the honors floor. He is a Residence Hall Association representative and is majoring in psychology. He also likes the convenience of living on the honors floor.

"I can go down the hallway and trust that anybody I talk to can help me with whatever I need help with," Nahlik said.

The Honors House is the central location of all honors programs. The Honors House is located at 603 N. Henderson. It offers free printing, a collection of books, refreshments and a sitting room that's great for studying. The Honors House has a computer lab, wireless internet, a library, cable TV and stereo and a full kitchen.

"We all come to this house and do homework together. You're really able to get study groups together because a lot of times you have the same people in different classes over and over again," Brown said.

"The Honors House holds many activities throughout the year to promote a sense of community among the honors students," Nahlik said.

Some of the activities the Honors House holds are trivia nights, a Murder Mystery Night, various holiday parties and some courses even hold class there.

Certain opportunities open up to students involved in the honors program. On April 12, some of the students will be taking a trip to Memphis to see the National Civil Rights Museum and the Rock N' Soul Museum. There are also scholarship opportunities available through the honors fraternity, Phi Eta Sigma.

A big positive is that being part of the honors program is a great way to build a resume. Completion of the Stephens Honors Program will appear on a person's transcript for future employers and graduate schools to see.

"The honors program stands out that you're a student who wants to do well in the classroom, but also do well on campus and being involved at the university," Eggleston said.

The honors program helps to bring students together who all have something in common.

"I love being part of a diverse group of people who all share the common goal of succeeding," Nahlik said.