Honors Program Calendar

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

(William Butler Yeats)

You must unlearn what you have learned.

(Yoda [Star Wars V: Empire Strikes Back])

The unexamined life is not worth living.

(Socrates [Plato, Apology, 38a])

Westminster's Honors page

Honors home page

Prof Na's home page


The All-College Honors Program

Calendar of Activities: 2008–2009 2009–2010 2010–2011

Below is a calendar of activities for Honors Scholars that are designed to fulfill some of the goals of the Honors Program.

As the All-College Honors Program cultivates the life of the mind and a spirit of service, it also promotes and supports activities that foster a sense of community while enriching the liberal arts experience. These activities are meant to build a community of Honors Scholars who demonstrate intellectual vitality and academic rigor, and to provide opportunities for exceptional students to gain a deep appreciation of the multiple dimensions of knowledge.

Eating Outside the Bun

Three times each semester, we will be "Eating Outside the Bun" to get a taste of an extra-American culture through small group research and through eating at a restaurant serving that particular culture's cuisine. The purpose is not only for enriching our knowledge of other cultures but also for fellowship among Honors Scholars.

In preparation, you will form small groups among you to do some basic research on various aspects of the particular nation or ethnic group: history, religion(s), music, art, literature, and cuisine. All should reflect on the significance of the nation or ethnic group in our world and for our education. Each group should share the research results en route to the restaurant; on the way back, we should reflect on the experience of "Eating Outside the Bun."

Feel free to contribute your ideas for how to get the best out of this activity (e.g., cuisine suggestions). Some possibilities for 2009–2010 are Brazil, China, France, Italy, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and Thailand.

Musings at Mugsies

From time to time during the semester, we will gather at Mugsies, the neighborhood cafe, for "Musings at Mugsies." With coffee, other beverages, and snacks, we will hold casual discussions about academic and non-academic matters that are significant in your life and in the life of our country or the world, e.g., Westminster's mission statement, the global economy, your ideas about enriching and improving the Honors Program. Musings at Mugsies is intended to be something like the (intellectual-philosophical) salons of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Calendar: 2008 Fall
Date	Activity	Notes
Week 1 Aug 27 W
Week 2 Sep 3 W
Week 3
Sep 14 Su	Cookout at the Nas': 6:00 p.m.-ish	Directions on the R-drive (view in MS Word: in menu, click View>Print Layout) and here
Week 4
Sep 18 R	Eating Outside the Bun: India Destination: Sri Venkateswara Temple & India Garden restaurant (Pittsburgh, Pa.)	Meet at McKelvey entrance at 1715. Economics & Politics: Armentrout, Schmidt History: Edder, Leonard Literature (post-colonial) & Cuisine: Delk, Hughes, Killmeyer Music: Griesmer, Miller, Ruhlman, Tomb, Walker Religion(s): Roberts, Soltys
Week 5 Sep 24 W
Week 6 Oct 1 W
Week 7	Oct 11–14 (fall break)
Oct 16 R	Eating Outside the Bun: Korea Destination: Sushi Kim (Pittsburgh, Pa.)	Meet at McKelvey entrance at 1730.
Week 8
Oct 17 F
Week 9 Oct 24
Week 10 Oct 31 F
Week 11
Nov 8 Sa	Movie night with the Nas 7:46 p.m.-ish	Directions on the R-drive (view in MS Word: in menu, click View>Print Layout) and here
Week 12
Nov 14 F	Eating Outside the Bun: Syria, part 1 Destination: Mary's Restaurant (New Castle, Pa.)	Meet at McKelvey entrance at 1730. Listen to the "Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church" and the "Chant Traditions of the Orthodox" on the R-drive.
Nov 16 Su	Eating Outside the Bun: Syria, part 2 Destination: St. Eias (New Castle, Pa.)	Attend divine liturgy at 10:00 a.m. and compare with your experience of worship at Sri Venkateswara Temple (Pittsburgh, Pa.). See also this.
Week 13 Nov 21 F	Nov 26–30 (Thanksgiving break)
Week 14 Dec 3 W
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Calendar: 2009 Spring
Date	Activity	Notes
Week 1 Jan 21 W
Week 2 Jan 28 W
Week 3 Feb 4 W
Week 4 Feb 11 W
Week 5 Feb 18 W
Week 6 Feb 25 W
Week 7 Mar 4 W
Week 8
Mar 12 R	Eating Outside the Bun: Ethiopia Destination: Abay Ethiopian Cuisine (Pittsburgh, Pa.)	Leave from McKelvey entrance soon after 1700. The CIA on Ethiopia
	Mar 14–22 (spring break)
Week 9
Mar 30 M	Supper with President and Mrs. Dorman (president's house): 6:30	Time TBA Walk together from campus?
Week 10 Apr 1 W
Apr 2 R	Eating Outside the Bun: Germany (Tentative) Destination: Max's Allegheny Tavern (Pittsburgh, Pa.)	Leave from McKelvey entrance soon after 1730.
Week 11	Apr 10–12 (Easter break)
Week 12 Apr 17 F
Week 13 Apr 24 F	Eating Outside the Bun: Vietnam Destination: Pho Saigon (Boardman, Oh.)	Leave from McKelvey entrance at 1830.
Apr 24	Undergraduate Research Symposium presentations: Posters and performances start at 1400, McKelvey Scenes from Pride and Prejudice at 1615, Orr Lobby Senior Art Talks at 1700, Orr Reception with food 1630–1800, Orr Lobby	Attendance may provide ideas for your own research, especially for your Honors Project.
Apr 25	Undergraduate Research Symposium presentations: Posters 0830–1030, McKelvey Presentations and documentaries 0830–1030, McKelvey & Thompson Clark	Attendance may provide ideas for your own research, especially for your Honors Project.
Week 14 May 5 T	Honors banquet at 2 Tomato.	Banquet at 8 p.m. Leave from campus by car (info TBA). Welcome new Honors Scholars into the 2012 cohort Retrospect of inaugural year & prospect of 2009–2010
Have a great summer!

Westminster's Honors page

Honors home page

Prof Na's home page

Calendar of Activities: 2008–2009 2009–2010 2010–2011
Below is a calendar of activities for Honors Scholars that are designed to fulfill some of the goals of the Honors Program. As the All-College Honors Program cultivates the life of the mind and a spirit of service, it also promotes and supports activities that foster a sense of community while enriching the liberal arts experience. These activities are meant to build a community of Honors Scholars who demonstrate intellectual vitality and academic rigor, and to provide opportunities for exceptional students to gain a deep appreciation of the multiple dimensions of knowledge.
Eating Outside the Bun	Three times each semester, we will be "Eating Outside the Bun" to get a taste of an extra-American culture through small group research and through eating at a restaurant serving that particular culture's cuisine. The purpose is not only for enriching our knowledge of other cultures but also for fellowship among Honors Scholars. In preparation, you will form small groups among you to do some basic research on various aspects of the particular nation or ethnic group: history, religion(s), music, art, literature, and cuisine. All should reflect on the significance of the nation or ethnic group in our world and for our education. Each group should share the research results en route to the restaurant; on the way back, we should reflect on the experience of "Eating Outside the Bun." Feel free to contribute your ideas for how to get the best out of this activity (e.g., cuisine suggestions). Some possibilities for 2009–2010 are Brazil, China, France, Italy, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and Thailand.
Musings at Mugsies	From time to time during the semester, we will gather at Mugsies, the neighborhood cafe, for "Musings at Mugsies." With coffee, other beverages, and snacks, we will hold casual discussions about academic and non-academic matters that are significant in your life and in the life of our country or the world, e.g., Westminster's mission statement, the global economy, your ideas about enriching and improving the Honors Program. Musings at Mugsies is intended to be something like the (intellectual-philosophical) salons of the 18th and 19th centuries.