Honoring Excellence: A Night to Remember at the College Honors Institute Reception - Crafton Hills College

Publish Date: May 1, 2025

College Honors Institute Students from CHC

On the evening of Thursday, May 1, a warm and proud energy filled the room as nearly 250 students, faculty, administrators, and family members gathered for the annual Honors Recognition Reception, hosted by the College Honors Institute. The event celebrated academic achievement, service, and perseverance—a night designed to honor the students who have completed all the requirements for the Honors designation and are about to graduate.

President Horan presented each completing student with a purple Honors stole, symbolizing their commitment to academic excellence. The evening also highlighted the extraordinary accomplishments of those who earned the Honors Research Fellow Award and the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Several distinguished scholarships were also awarded. Lyilah Pina received the Raymond Pryke Memorial Honors Scholarship, Sam Tuckett was honored with the Raymond Pryke Honors Achievement Scholarship, and Zofia Owerkowicz received the Daniel Bahner Memorial Honors Scholarship. In a touching tribute to the legacy of Daniel Bahner, a former CHC professor, one father in attendance shared that when he himself been a student, Bahner had inspired him to become a high school English teacher.

For the first time, the event also included a Psi Beta induction ceremony, welcoming students into the national honors society for psychology—some of whom are also members of the Honors Program.

A slideshow of Honors events from the 2024–2025 academic year provided a nostalgic and joyful backdrop for the evening, capturing moments of hard work, collaboration, and celebration. Attendees smiled and cheered as photos of past activities and achievements flashed across the screen.

As students posed with their stoles and awards alongside proud faculty members, the evening became more than just a recognition—it became a memory, a milestone, and a reminder of how far these students have come, and how much farther they can go.