As we continue to move forward in our college careers, it is important to take the time to appreciate the opportunities afforded to us by Gannon and the Honors Program. These experiences will prove to be extremely helpful later in life, as we leave Gannon and pursue other opportunities. An interview with Kendra Walker, an alumna of the Gannon Honors Program, demonstrates all the positive aspects of the Honors Program and how our experiences within the program will aid us in achieving our goals.

 

What was your major at Gannon?

Accounting and Finance

 

When did you graduate from Gannon?

May 2019

 

What are you doing now?

I recently “graduated” in July 2021 from Hillenbrand’s Finance Leadership Development Program. It was a two-year rotation program that allowed me to work in a variety of finance/accounting positions and interact with colleagues around the world. I am now a Staff Accountant for one of Hillenbrand’s operating companies and currently getting my CPA.

 

How did the Gannon Honors Program help you get where you are now?

The Honors Program helped me get to where I am in a variety of ways. First, Honors helped me become a global citizen. Throughout my time in the program, I was given opportunities to challenge my own personal biases and embrace new ideas. Honors classes taught me about the histories and philosophies of cultures that I was not exposed to in high school. The Honors community introduced me to lifelong friends from all over the world. The Honors Program also helped me fund my trip abroad (which I would not have been able to afford without the contribution). I know that my global experience really gave me a competitive edge in the application/interview process for the FDLP program. But more importantly it helped me become uniquely prepared to enter an increasingly diverse work environment. There are days when I am working where I will be on a call with colleagues from India, Mexico, Germany, all within hours of each other. Honors helped me become a global citizen.

Second, the Honors Program held me to a high standard of academic and personal excellence. College can be a very challenging experience not just academically but personally. Honors gave me a strong support system and motivation to keep my eyes focused on my academic success. When I went through a challenging period where my grades would fall, or I felt personally isolated, it meant a lot to me to have a support system within the community to help me get back on track.

Third, Honors gave me the confidence to apply for things that I once thought were impossible. When I applied for the program in high school, I was a first-generation college student. Regardless of my own success, I still felt like a bit of an imposter both in college and in the Honors Program at first. I didn’t know anything about college, and it really helped my confidence to be accepted into such a great community. Once in Honors I was constantly encouraged to try new things and reach for opportunities that high school me would’ve been terrified to try. With each new step outside of my comfort zone through failure and success my confidence grew. Eventually, that confidence led me to applying and being hired for my dream job senior year, despite not knowing a soul at the company.

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 What was your experience in the Honors Program life?

My experience in the Honors Program overall was very positive. Even to this day I still think of discussions that I had in my honors classes, and I am pleasantly surprised to see how they have impacted how I interact with the world as an alumnus. Dr. Baugh’s History Without Borders introduced me to Middle Eastern history for the first time and gave me a passion for learning more about different countries. Dr. Ropski’s Environmental Science class has made me a more conscientious consumer. Really the list is endless, and I feel so blessed to have had such great professors whose lessons I’ll carry for the rest of my life. Also, the community was one of the greatest blessings from my time at Gannon. On top of meeting my husband in the program, I have made lifelong friends and met some of the greatest professors. Those relationships helped make me into the person I am today even beyond the classroom..

 

Did you have any favorite memories, experiences, or classes in the Honors Program?

There are so many great memories that it is hard to choose. One of my favorite memories was

working on the AJ’s Way mural. Freshman year we did research on what buildings we thought would be meaningful to include and wrote proposals justifying them being included for the College Comp class taught by Dr. Hayes. As a part of that class, we also learned about the murals around Erie and toured them. I loved that project because that was my first exposure to the Erie community and Gannon’s history. It was a blessing following the mural project over the next few years. Finally, two years later the mural was unveiled on AJ’s Way. It was really special being there for the unveiling. To see so many students, all from different backgrounds and majors, celebrating that they contributed to the mural was magic. Because of the Honors program, that mural really felt like it was “ours” and represented the values of our university. When I visit Gannon, I always smile at the mural and think of all the wonderful hands and hearts the project touched. I hope that students for years to come can see a piece of themselves and what they value in the mural as well.

 

What advice would you give to current Gannon students?

My advice would be to embrace your discomfort zone and have fun! It’s okay to be afraid of trying new things, like classes, friendships, or even foods, but do it anyways. Growth can be scary but either way you’ll learn more about yourself. Gannon is a great place to find out who you really are and what you want out of life beyond the classroom. Very few times will you have so many opportunities presented to you. Take advantage of the mentors and programs available. Have fun! You’ll do great!

 

As demonstrated by alumni like Kendra, the Honors Program has a profound impact on the perspectives and accomplishments of students. The idea of becoming a global citizen through the challenging and thought-provoking opportunities presented by Gannon is a clear theme that runs throughout Kendra’s experiences. As we embrace our journey through the Gannon Honors Program, we are in fact embracing our future roles as citizens of the world.

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