HCC Honors College expands opportunities

Feb 19, 2016

Carina Watson dreams of being a pediatrician and knows the Honors College at Houston Community College (HCC) is the main reason why that goal will become a reality. Watson graduates in May with a certain confidence she believes no other community college offers.

“I used to be really shy, but the HCC Honors College helped me grow as a person,” said Watson, who as vice president of service in the Phi Theta Kappa Society is now giving speeches in front of large crowds.

The HCC Honors College was founded in 2007 and is based at HCC Central. Currently there are 45 students; but starting this fall, the Honors College will expand to the HCC Stafford and Spring Branch campuses.

Honors College Director David Wilcox credits the stellar faculty, individual attention, global study-travel opportunities, and the camaraderie between students for the 90% graduation rate. Another notable draw is the affordability. Scholarships, financial aid, and pell grants cover tuition and books.

“Students will not find benefits like this anywhere else, even in four-year schools. All of their expenses will be taken care of,” said Wilcox. “The attention that we give each student goes a long way to help them achieve.”

Expanding the HCC Honors College includes adding two new directors, Professors Deanne Schlanger at HCC Stafford and Dan Flores at HCC Spring Branch. They are working with school districts across the Houston area to find students who match program requirements.

“We are looking for students who have a strong desire to learn and are motivated,” said Schlanger. “We are looking for the whole person, someone who really wants to succeed.”

Students who are interested must have a 3.5 GPA, an SAT score of 1100, and college ready TSI scores.

“We provide one-on-one mentoring. We are there to guide and coach them. We prepare them to move on to the nation’s best universities,” said Flores.

HCC Honors College graduate Amber Jones is a prime example of success. She was part of the inaugural class and is now Senior Audit Associate for Grant Thornton LLP.

“The Honors College allowed me to build relationships and contacts with amazing people, which even seven years later still proves invaluable,” she said. “I will forever be an advocate of the HCC Honors College.”

For more information about the HCC Honors College, please visit hccs.edu/honorscollege.