Honors Program Successes

Noah A. Courtney completed the Harford Honors Program and the Harford Biology program in Fall 2022. He was accepted to the prestigious Cornell University and is completing his final undergraduate semester as a Biological Sciences major at Cornell. While at Cornell, Noah was the Vice President of the Undergraduate Veteran’s Association and was on the Cornell Undergraduate Student Assembly. As a biology education researcher, he won first place in the National Association of Biology Teachers Poster Competition for Undergraduates. After graduating, Noah will continue his work in biology education research at the Texas Tech University in January 2025 in the Limeri Lab. Following this position, Noah plans to attend Texas Tech University in pursuit of a PhD in Biology.

Tamara (Tess) Vallejo-Schmidt, a proud alumna of Harford Community College and our Honors Program, has achieved a remarkable milestone. Her research article, titled "Characterization of the Structural Requirements for the NADase Activity of Bacterial Toll/IL-1R Domains in a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience," has been published in the August edition of the ImmunoHorizons Journal. This groundbreaking work explores the intricate details of bacterial Toll/IL-1R (TIR) domains and their NADase activity, contributing valuable insights into bacterial evasion mechanisms and potential drug development. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Cell Biology at Towson University, Tess is set to graduate in June 2025 and is actively applying to PhD programs. Her dedication and success are a testament to the strong foundation built during her time at HCC and in the Honors Program.

“Being a member of the Honors Program has elevated my experience as an HCC student. By taking honors classes, I have grown as a student and have received great support from both professors and students within the program.”

“I entered the Honors Program by accident. I signed up for an Honors Biology class and to my surprise, I got an email welcoming me to the Program. I have been on multiple trips, to New York and Washington, D.C.  and the National Aquarium. These are great times, and I encourage everyone to go on the trips.  Thanks to Chris Jones and the rest of the Honors program officers for a great time in this group.”

Donald Watson, a Political Science major, has been under the mentorship of Dr. Wohlers, Dean of the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Donald developed an excellent research paper that was presented at the 2024 Maryland Scholars Summit. His paper, a detailed case study, explores the impact of Turkish nationalism on contemporary Turkish foreign policy. By examining primary documents and foundational writings from figures such as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Ziya Gökalp, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Donald’s research provides valuable insights into how Turkish nationalism shapes foreign policy decisions under the Erdoğan administration. This work not only bridges a significant gap in academic understanding but also sheds light on the broader implications of nationalism in global politics.

Harford Honors students partner with the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council (MCHC) as part of the Student Engagement Team (SET). The SET is a group of student leaders from Honors Programs and Honors Colleges throughout Maryland that collaborate to help plan and execute the annual MCHC conference. They also mentor their fellow honors students to prepare them to present research and scholarly works at conferences. Harford member, Donald Watson noted "As a member of the Student Engagement Team, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting my colleagues from various higher education institutions across Maryland. I look forward to using my video editing skills to promote the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council's efforts to enhance the perception of honors programs in higher education and to provide a forum where students from across the state can connect and collaborate."