Students Say UG Honors Program ‘Contributes Greatly’ to Academic Career
Wednesday, Feb 01, 2023
Congratulations to Melanie Bello-Escribano, a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, and Shamika Lazarre, a Criminal Justice major, for completing the rigorous Fall 2022 University Honors Program (UHP). Both students completed 14 to 20 hours of honors courses and 20 community service hours while maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA in honors courses and a minimum 3.5 overall GPA.
Lazarre is a Criminal Justice major inspired by the work law enforcement and legal teams engage in to help people in society. For her community service hours, Lazarre volunteered at Boca Helping Hands, supplying food bags and essential items to needy families.
”When I graduate, I plan to begin another internship centered around information technology and cybercrime while volunteering at my local police department,” she said. “I enrolled in the Honors Program because I admired how it challenged me in my academics, community, and public engagement.”
Bello-Escribano is working toward dual degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice after her older sister introduced her to careers in law enforcement.
“Instead of choosing just one, I decided nearly halfway through my undergrad that I would be missing out if I didn't pick up both majors,” Bello-Escribano said. “After graduation, I plan on attending grad school to acquire my master's degree in Criminal Psychology. There's a career that I'm particularly striving for, but I don't want to limit myself if something else arises.”
Bello-Escribana says she enrolled in the UHP to enrich her undergraduate experience.
“It provided structure to push through my courses, making it easier to navigate my requirements to complete my degree,” she said. It also motivated me to pursue experiences related to my potential career.”
Both students were quick to encourage their peers to consider enrolling and completing the UHP program for several reasons.
“The program links students to a variety of advisors and mentors to aid with academics and prosperity and ultimately allows them to get involved in the community and create meaningful connections,” Lazarre said.
Bello-Escribano added, ”Certain aspects of the UHP program can help students either begin or continue their educational journey of completing advanced courses. In addition, there are opportunities derived from the program that allow for relationships and networking between students and faculty that can also contribute greatly to one's academic career.”
Since its establishment in 1991, the UHP program has served Florida Atlantic University students by providing special opportunities to academically successful students committed to excellence and motivated to explore above and beyond the normal range of a college education.