Honors Program

Rewarding Academic Achievement

The Honors Program is committed to supporting academic excellence, personal growth, and community leadership among MCC’s most motivated students. Designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness, Mott’s Honors Program engages students in research, service learning, and global experiences that prepare them for continuing education and professional careers.

Through flexible and enhanced curriculum, personalized advising, and leadership development in a supportive cohort of peers and mentors, the Honors Program aims to empower students to make meaningful contributions to our community alongside some of Mott’s best instructors.

Students accepted into the Honors Program are eligible for the Charles E. and LaRue I. Pemberton Endowment Honors Scholarship.
Honors designated sections of regular courses meet general education requirements and registration qualifies Honors Program students for an academic merit, partial-tuition scholarship (up to $1000 per academic year).
Honors Program students have exclusive registration in the Honors Colloquium course - HONS 250: Social Diversity and Civic Engagement.
Honors Program participation is noted on MCC academic transcripts.
Honors students who have applied to graduate will be invited to attend, with their families, the Honors Reception and Medallion Ceremony in the spring.
Honors Program graduates are invited, but not required, to be seated in the front rows during the Commencement Ceremony. During commencement, in addition to other regalia, students who have earned the Honors Program Diploma will also wear the Honors medallion. Students are eligible for Commencement if they will be completing their degree requirements by the end of the Winter semester.

Mott Community College Honors Program diploma and medallion — To receive the Honors Diploma and medallion students must complete three (3) Honors courses AND the Honors colloquium (lab optional) AND maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA AND submit their volunteer hours.

Who is Eligible?

Students taking a break in the student lounge in the RTC

Current MCC and College Transfer Students who:

have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
have completed a minimum of 12 college credit hours (at MCC or other accredited institution)
have submitted a complete Honors Program Application and essay

Please note: Invitations to apply to the Honors Program are sent to qualifying MCC students. However, students may initiate the application process without waiting for a letter of invitation.

Dual-Enrolled, Early College, & Recent High School Graduates who:

have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
have permission from the high school administrator AND / OR a counselor or instructor letter of recommendation
have submitted a complete Honors Program Application and essay (including a copy of high school transcripts)

How to Apply

Confirm your eligibility.
- The first step is to enroll as a student at Mott Community College and ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements. Not sure if you qualify? Please reach out to the Coordinator for Scholar Programs, Jessica Bixel, at jessica.bixel@mcc.edu or 810-762-5111.
Complete the online application
- The application includes a 500-word essay that answers the following question: How do you envision yourself embracing challenges and driving change as a college student?
  
  If you are a dual-enrolled, early college, or new student with fewer than 12 college credits, you will also need to send one letter of recommendation to:
  
  Jessica Bixel
  Coordinator for Scholar Programs
  Mott Community College
  Mott Library Room 3006
  Flint, MI 48503
  
  jessica.bixel@mcc.edu
Schedule an interview appointment (virtual or in-person) with the Coordinator for Scholar Programs, Jessica Bixel (jessica.bixel@mcc.edu, 810-762-5111) or the Honors Program Faculty Advisor, Sunni Samuels-Larry (sunni.samuels-larry@mcc.edu, XXX-XXX-XXXX).

All Honors Program applicants will be informed in writing AND / OR in person of the final status of their application.

Fall 2024

Course Number Course Name	Instructor	Day Time	Credit Hrs
COMG-153-HON Computers - Practical Applications	LindaLee Massoud	N/A WWW	3 CR
GEOL-151-HON Introduction to Geology & LAB	Sheila Swyrtek	TR Hybrid 2:00 PM - 3:50 PM	4 CR
BIOL-120-HONS Environmental Science	Chuck Wade	MW 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM	2 CR
BIOL-121-HONS Environmental Science LAB	Chuck Wade	MW 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM	2 CR
ART-110-HON Art Appreciation	Kim Giacchina	TTR 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM	3 CR
ENGL-101-HON English Composition I	Robert Pieschke	TTR 12:00 PM - 1:20 PM	3 CR
COMM-131-HON Fundamentals of Public Speaking	Vanessa Ferguson	TTR 10:30 AM - 11:50 AM	3 CR
HONS-251-HON Social Diversity and Civic Engagement	Dr. Brian Ivory	TTR 10:30 AM - 11:50 AM	3 CR
HONS-251-HON Social Diversity and Civic Engagement LAB	Dr. Brian Ivory	TTR 8:30 AM - 9:20 AM	1 CR

^ 1st 8 weeks
* HONS-250 is the Honors Colloquium, which includes 30-45 hours of community service.
** HONS 251 is an optional co-requisite for HONS 250. Enrollment limited to 10 students with approval of the course instructor. All students who enroll in this 1 credit lab will complete most of their service hours on an Alternative Spring Break trip in Philadelphia, PA, March 10th to 18th. Two additional Fridays of service will also be required for HONS 251 students.
*** Reserved for Trustee Scholars and students newly-accepted into the Mott Honors College

Meet the Honors Instructors

Vanessa Ferguson

Faculty

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Kim Giacchina

Faculty

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Dr. Brian Ivory

Faculty

My journey to become a faculty member at Mott Community College started as an undergraduate student in Communication Arts (BA) at Michigan State University. After spending seven years working in public information and community relations, I began a career in higher education and college student development. I went on to complete degrees from Western Michigan University (MA) and Ohio State University (Ph.D.). A life-long student, I have taken courses at nine different colleges and universities, including graduate courses in Communication from Western Michigan University, Spring Arbor University and Oakland University. I am also a proud graduate of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Clown College.

My career at Mott Community College started in 1999 when I was hired as a Faculty Counselor. In that role I also taught Interpersonal Multicultural Communication courses. Courses that I currently teach include COMM 131: Principles of Public Speaking, HONS 250: Social Diversity and Civic Engagement and HONS 251: Social Diversity and Civic Engagement Lab. For the past 12 years I have coordinated a clown troupe at MCC known as “The Mott Campus Clowns.” Other roles I have held at the college include Director of the Mott Honors College, Faculty Director for Service Learning, Lead for the MCC Trustee Scholars Program, President for the MCC Education Associate (MCCEA), and Chapter Advisor for Phi Theta Kappa.

My personal interests include hiking, watching movies, reading books on communication and personal development, and watching sports (e.g., baseball, soccer, football). I also consider myself "dog’s best friend" in that I enjoy the company of any dog I happen to meet. My wife and I have a daughter and two dogs, & "Ellie" and "Riley."

(810) 762-0470
Curtice-Mott Building - CM1101
brian.ivory@mcc.edu
Office Hours by Appointment

LindaLee Massoud

Faculty

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Robert Pieschke

Faculty

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Sheila Swyrtek

Faculty

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Chuck Wade

Faculty

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Mott Campus Clowns

Coordinator for Scholar Programs:
Jessica Bixel
Phone: (810) 762-5111
Email: jessica.bixel@mcc.edu

Honors Faculty Advisor:
Sunni Samuels-Larry
Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Email: sunni.samuels-larry@mcc.edu