Students Earn Top Awards at Mississippi Honors Conference
March 10, 2025 (Hattiesburg, Miss.) – Students from Belhaven University’s Honors Program recently showcased their academic excellence at the Mississippi Honors Conference, held at Pearl River Community College. The Mississippi Honors Conference is a prestigious statewide competition where students from honors programs across Mississippi present their research and are evaluated on the quality of their work and presentation skills.
All three participating Belhaven students earned top honors in their respective categories. Aspen Powell, a sports medicine and exercise science major and psychology research student, won first place in the social science’s oral presentation category among four-year college students for her presentation, “The Impact of Self-Harmful Behavior of Disabled Children and Socioeconomic Status on Parental Burnout.” Emma Lapeyre, a theatre major, placed second in creative works for her presentation on sound design in “Eurydice.” Ashley Davidson earned third place in the STEM poster presentation category for “Theoretical Anharmonic Vibrational Analysis of Nitrosamines.”
“The Mississippi Honors Conference allows students to refine their research, writing, and oral presentation skills,” said Dr. Jonathan Koefoed, Belhaven’s Honors Program director and associate professor of history. “Important growth occurs when students, especially honors students, learn to think about a problem or a text in an original way. By competing with peers and having their conclusions judged by professors from around the state, our honors students gain confidence in their intellectual abilities and their capacity to communicate ideas.”
The event, hosted by Pearl River Community College, included participants from institutions such as the University of Mississippi, the University of Southern Mississippi, and several private colleges and community colleges. Conferences like this provide students with valuable opportunities to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, fostering intellectual growth and confidence.
Belhaven University’s Honors Program offers academically-driven students opportunities for intellectual and spiritual development. Through specialized seminars, research projects, and community-building activities, the program fosters a supportive environment for deeper learning and exploration. Students engage in advanced research with professors in their major and participate in events such as film discussions, BBQs, service projects, and professional development opportunities, creating a vibrant academic community beyond the classroom.