Honors College Scholarship Luncheon

At the Honors College Luncheon, student presenters told scholarship donors about the innovative ways they were empowered to make a change and further their academic and professional journey. 

The JMU Honors College fosters environments where students can engage in rigorous learning and solve problems in creative, imaginative ways. A hands-on experience, students within the Honors College have access to unique individualized study and engaging faculty members, leading to close collaborations that go beyond the classroom.

Scholarships, they said, are a fundamental part of the Honors experience, allowing students to engage in focused studies and capstone research, as well as to travel abroad to expand knowledge across cultures.  

“[Scholarships] tell students that we see them, that we believe in them and that we want them here,” Dr. Bethany Blackstone, Dean of the JMU Honors College, said at the beginning of the annual scholarship luncheon. With high praise, the event highlighted incredible students who used their scholarships to pursue important work, while expressing immense gratitude toward those who make these scholarships possible. 

Dr. Joanne Gabbin was the first full-time director of the JMU Honors Program and has been a driving force for the university for decades. Alongside her husband Dr. Alex, they have generously contributed to a number of scholarships, allowing students to pursue their dreams and academics while at JMU. 

Students Olivia Kim and Luke Pimlott are two recipients of the Dingledine-Bluestone Scholarship. With the help of this scholarship, the students were able to maximize their time at JMU by getting involved in leadership positions for student organizations, applying for internships and volunteering at non-profits. 

Honors College students, faculty and donors mingled at the luncheon, discussing their time at JMU and how the Honors Program has impacted them. 

A recipient of the 2025 Hillcrest Scholarship, William Jedrzejczak (‘27) had the grand experience of interning at Amazon Web Services over the summer. While at Amazon, Jedrzejczak built an AI-powered platform that had different interactive tools like tutors, flashcards and problem-solving elements within. This platform, called Beacon, was published after the summer.  

Evelyn Paige (‘27), a recipient of the 2025 Witherspoon Scholarship, is interested in biotechnology and saving the planet, which is what she put her scholarship toward. This past summer, Paige conducted research on harmful algal blooms found in the ocean, and worked with top professionals to contribute to marine science data. 

Enjoying a meal, individuals watched as empowered JMU students spoke about how their scholarships have opened doors to new opportunities and exploration.  

With the help of the 2025 Frederic I. McGhee Scholarship for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, Bubuney Havi (‘26) had the opportunity to travel to Ghana and be immersed in their culture. While there, Havi was able to represent and speak about her JMU experiences on a panel in Kumasi to Ghanaian students. She also had the chance to meet the former President of Ghana John Kufuor.