Though the program is still in its early stages, the Haslam Honors Program has molded a promising inaugural class.

Founded in 2008 with the hopes selecting prominent and talented freshmen and molding them through college careers into well-rounded students and people, the Haslam Honors Program will be graduating its first group of members this May.

Steve Dandaneau, associate provost and director of the Chancellor’s Honors and Haslam Scholars Programs, believes that along with scholarly achievement, other specific qualities are found in the selected scholars.

“We have been fortunate to recruit students who combine rare scholarly ability with equally rare leadership potential,” Dandaneau said. “ What’s more, we've found students whose learning styles permit them to maximally benefit from learning within a relatively tight-knit and diverse community of scholars. Haslam Scholars are obligated to undertake a specialized curriculum, engage in in-depth research and professional internships, study abroad together, and in other ways contribute to one another's learning and to the advancement of the university community as a whole. There are probably more obligations than privileges.”

Each year, 15 students are selected from the Chancellor’s Honors Program to join the Haslam Scholars. Students are mentored by faculty and commit to a particiapte in a tedious curriculum of honors classes as well as independent research.

Among some of the requirements for the program, Haslam scholars are required to take 28 credit hours in total, including two one-credit-hour special seminars and programs in the first year as well as a minimum of four credit hours of honors coursework in the first year. Scholars must also present an honors thesis and participate in service-learning and executive-level internships.  

All the hard work seems to pay off as many of the seniors have blooming futures after graduation.

Having always previously competed in NPDA parliamentary debate, a two-person versus two-person debate style, the team was placed in unfamiliar territory when competing at IPDA nationals, in which the debate format is one person versus one person. Though the debaters enjoyed the longer thirty minute speech preparation time allotted for IPDA style, all members had to adjust to shorter speech times and to formulating arguments completely on their own

Mark Wallace, senior in nuclear engineering in the Haslam Scholars program, plans to attend the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Wallace is also a research student at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He believes the program has made an impact on his personal growth.

“I certainly think the program has changed me,” Wallace said. “The Haslam Scholars curriculum has made me far more aware of the world outside my own academic discipline. Working with a body of talented, motivated students has also encouraged me to challenge myself and do my best work.”

Walker gained cultural experience during a trip the Haslam Scholars trip to China in May 2010. The students spent three weeks learning about the county’s politics, economics, and other topics in small seminars, held at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Aeron Glover, senior in industrial engineering in the Haslam Scholars program, said that though the program is highly selective, he remains humble about his experience.

“I do not view a Haslam Scholar as a student exclusive, or in any way superior to other students,” Glover said. “Rather, as Haslam Scholars our actions and motives are grounded on qualities like service, scholarship, leadership, and community and we focus on helping to cultivate these qualities at UT, and in our daily lives in general. We work together with students, faculty, and administrators at UT to help us all just have overall more enriching experiences.”

After graduation, Glover plans to work at Google. During his college career, the young entrepeneur, along with his business partner and student Kaliv Parker, junior in public administration, started the website HowstheLiving.com. The social networking site allows students to rate various housing options on campus. The business has won almost $60,000 in awards.

As Glover prepares for graduation, he offered advice for the incoming class of scholars.

“Don’t hesitate to seek support from fellow Haslam scholars in your class, and throughout the program,” Glover said. “Also get to know the program staff, they sincerely care for you personally, not just for academics.”

Dandaneau praised all of the scholars for their success.

“In my book, all the Haslam Scholars are successful,” he said. “I wouldn’t single anyone out, not the Torchbearers or major scholarship recipients or even those whose academic and professional success has garnered them various prestigious recognitions. In my view, they are equally exemplary, even if for a wide variety of achievements. That’s part of what makes it such a pleasure to work with Haslam Scholars: diversity is as vital to community as shared interests and values.”