Editor’s note: This is one in a series of testimonials from students and faculty at leading public university honors colleges and programs.

The approachable Honors staff has fostered an Honors community since freshman year and has personally helped me take my undergraduate research to a global scale through Honors enrichment and Fulbright advisement. (Michael Karavolias, Class of 2016, Chemical Engineering Major)

Housing has definitely been an advantage of the Honors Program. Louis L. Redding is one of the newer buildings and the rooms are nice and spacious. Also, we get priority scheduling, which is awesome. (Megan Aidoo, Class of 2017, Medical Diagnostics Major)

There are community-building and stress-relieving activities such as hot chocolate and cookies and ice cream on the porch, and every time I’ve gone, I’ve become more familiar with the Honors Program staff and have been able to talk to other Honors students who I had never met before. (Mackenzie Campbell, Class of 2017, Foreign Languages and Literatures and International Business Studies Majors)

The Honors Program has allowed me to take smaller classes where I can reach my full potential and push myself further in my studies. (Jessica Sugarman, Class of 2016, Foreign Languages and Literatures Major)

Honors faculty are personable and always eager to further a student’s understanding of a subject. They are eager to create a community within their class and encourage every student to succeed. (Sarah Hartman, Class of 2017, Environmental Engineering Major)

Through the Honors Program, I received unparalleled attention and mentoring when applying for scholarships to continue my education. (Timothy D’Agostino, 4+1 Program, Environmental Engineering)

The UD Honors Program attracts an extremely high-quality student. They are a pleasure to teach because they are so intelligent, motivated and diligent. (Philip Mink, Professor of English)

An Honors course is one where students are expected to think at levels far beyond what I ask them on the syllabus, which I regard as a starting point for our work. (Victor Perez, Professor of Sociology)

Honors courses–colloquia, separate sections, add-ons to regular courses, provide a unique collegiate setting within which students can build meaningful learning relationships not only with faculty, but with each other. The small class sizes allow a deep and sustained level of interaction, and permits the class to delve more substantively (and organically) into subject matter or particular interest to the students. (Matt Weinert, Professor of Political Science and International Relations)