Honors Student Organization 

Dear Class of 2016, 

I would like to start off by congratulating each and every one of you on making it through high school and being accepted to Shippensburg University! Not only do you have the pleasure of being a part of this University and all the positive aspects that go along with that, you have been accepted into the Shippensburg University Honors Program! All of us here at Ship are looking forward to this upcoming year including the current Honors students, professors, and administrators. If you are feeling a little nervous about this transition, please understand that it is quite normal. However, you are part of the largest incoming Honors class that we have seen, so you are not alone. Past and current members of this program have also put together a small list of helpful hints that will hopefully make this big step in your life as easy as possible. 

1. What you put in is what you will get out. The Honors Student Organization (HSO) and the academic portion of the Honors Program is stock full of opportunities for you during your time here. The more you get involved with all the aspects of this program, the easier your time will be. 
2. Time management is your friend. This is the first time that many of you will be controlling yourself completely. Do not let yourself fall behind. Over-estimate how long projects will take and write everything that needs to be done in a planner. This will keep you up to date and keep your grades up as well. 
3. Involve yourself throughout the University as well as the Honors Program. As much as the Honors Program offers, there are still numerous ways to get involved outside of it. Fraternities and sororities, intramural sports, choir and band, and academic clubs are great ways to get to know other students and faculty which will be very helpful for you. 
4. These are the best years you can ask for. Take some risks to get the most out of these four years. Sign up for as many things as you can and try new things. You never know what you fully enjoy without trying. Many of you will think that these four years will take forever, but the truth is it will fly by, so don’t waste a minute of it. 

Coming to Shippensburg University and joining the Honors Program was one of the best decisions, if not the single greatest decision, that I have ever made. Now that you have made the same choice I hope that I, along with all the others that are part of this program, can make it be the same for you. I look forward to meeting with all of you during your summer orientation, but do not hesitate to contact myself or anyone else before that if you have questions. My email is sm1002@ship.edu, and you can find other officers emails at ship.edu/honors/current/Honors_Student_Organization/. Again, I look forward to meeting you and have a great rest of your summer!