Harrison Honors Program Reference Form

Dear Reference Writer,

Before you begin this form, we think it is important for you to know what type of students we are looking for in the Birmingham-Southern College Harrison Honors Program.

Ideal Harrison Scholars are not preoccupied with grades. They are eager to explore knowledge for knowledge’s sake, not knowledge in pursuit of an end goal. Thus, ideal Harrison Scholars may not be on the Honor roll every semester. They are interested in other disciplines and how they affect the goings on of their own fields. They embrace the liberal arts philosophy and seek out the thinkers in the community, eager to discuss new ideas and philosophies with their peers, both within and outside of their major fields of study. Ideal Harrison Scholars have a concept of the world as larger than the town they grew up in or the high school they will graduate from. Such students are global thinkers, concerned with the goings on of the world outside as well as active in the community in which they live. These are students who, if they can’t see the whole picture just yet, are continually eager to see more of it. Honors students are open to new ideas, aware of expanding horizons, and willing to change their own ideas to make room for the knowledge that they gain. They incorporate, embrace, and encourage differences. “Honors” is not synonymous with straight A’s and valedictorians. Ideal Harrison Scholars would participate in the program even if it did not appear on their transcripts.

Thus, your evaluation of this student is most important to our selection process and will become a permanent part of his/her application.

Thank you for your time as you consider the student's demonstration of the following abilities: