Offered to all Oktibbeha County high school seniors, the Early Honors Academy offers talented students a way to enrich their academic experience and accumulate MSU Shackouls Honors College credit as well as high school credit. EHA students will take classes co-mingled with current MSU Honors students and are offered an automatic entry to the honors college upon acceptance from the university. Additionally, students receive special rates for classes and parking passes.
The Early Honors Academy program concluded its third year with top scholars from Starkville High School and Starkville Academy. They enrolled in various courses taught by the Mississippi State University Shackouls Honors College faculty.
Several Starkville High school students who participated in this year's program commented on the benefits of being in the classroom with current university students. Lily Schauwecker, a Starkville High senior, explained how her participation in the program challenged her. “The resources and opportunities available through the Mississippi State Early Honors Academy have given me lots of insight into what college is all about and an upper level of thinking that I was not introduced to at Starkville High or even with AP course.” The EHA exposes students to learning environments they have not experienced before and challenges them to push beyond the thought process they are used to practicing in the classroom.
Aaron Twietmeyer, a future MSU honors student, shared his favorite part of the program when asked what the biggest takeaway was so far. “I think it is a great opportunity for students that are looking for a challenge in their school career. Ones that feel like they are not getting enough from high school can come here and challenge themselves.” The introduction to this intellectual challenge gets students prepared for a college classroom and builds the students’ confidence to participate in class discussions and think critically.
For further questions, please email Dr. Jonathan Barlow, EHA Program Director, at barlow@datascience.msstate.edu.