Dear University of Iowa Honors Program Alumni/ae:

Iowa’s Honors Program has been supporting students, building community, and creating meaningful learning opportunities for over 60 years. As an alum of the program, we’re asking you to join us in providing those same experiences for our current students.

Wednesday, March 30 is the annual One Day for Iowa giving day. We are hoping to raise at least $12,000 to support students with a peer mentoring program that will provide mentoring on high-impact experiences, such as undergraduate research, study abroad, or internships. One challenge faced by many Iowa undergraduates is the need to work at an off-campus job—or jobs—to help meet tuition expenses. Our One Day for Iowa fundraising will financially support peer mentors with on-campus employment, which is associated with stronger academic outcomes than off-campus employment.

Every $3,000 we raise will support one peer mentor for the academic year. We have already received generous matching funds of $6,000 from a program alumnus and Honors Program Advisory Board member. We hope that you will join us in supporting our students. I have had the pleasure of working with the program’s students through my first-year seminar, Honors Primetime session, and by advising undergraduate honors theses, and in all of these venues I have found the students exceptionally engaged, curious, and worthy of our support.

To support our students this One Day for Iowa, please visit: https://1dayforiowa.org/fa-honors22, and please note that you do not have to wait until tomorrow to donate. 

If you would like to consider supporting the Honors Program in other ways, there are fun social media challenges that you can use to recognize the program:

Photo Challenge 1: Whether it is a throwback photo of you and your roommate, your future Hawkeye at their first game, or your pet decked out in black-and-gold, post a public photo to Instagram or Twitter using #1DayForIowa and give a shout out to the Honors Program for support. Be sure to tag the Honors Program for a shot at additional funding. Twenty photos will be selected and each win $500 for their chosen area. Keep in mind that the Honors Program does not have a Twitter account, but your post can still be counted if you specify you’re supporting the Honors Program.

Photo Challenge 2: Hawkeyes Give Back Instagram Story Challenge: Look for the University of Iowa Instagram Story that has a call out for your best Hawkeye photos. Simply DM (direct message) your photo to the university’s Instagram account for a chance to appear on its Instagram Story during One Day for Iowa. Make sure to give the Honors Program a shoutout! Twelve photo submissions will be randomly selected and each win $500 for their chosen area.

And, finally, if you would like to connect with the program, please consider joining the Honors Program’s LinkedIn page.

Thank you again for your support, and Go Hawks!             

Shaun P. Vecera, Ph.D. (he/him)

Director, University Honors Program

Professor, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

March

30th

All Day