Beginning in Fall 2014, Piedmont Technical College will become one of only two technical colleges in the state to offer an Honors Program for students seeking an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree.

“We are excited to provide a challenging new approach for some of our higher-achieving students,” said Kathryn Brackett, honors program director.

The Honors Program is a rigorous academic program for high scholar students who are interested in having a challenge in the classroom and beyond. Students will be enrolled in special honors-level classes in philosophy, English, history, chemistry, psychology and math and will broaden their horizons with travel opportunities in the United States and abroad, and will participate in service-learning projects in their communities.

“These students need to be dedicated and organized,” Brackett said. “They have taken ownership of their education and are determined to achieve their goals.”

The idea for the Honors Program came from Evelyn Beck, dean of arts and sciences. She said her goal was to provide a motivation and enrichment opportunities to higher-achieving students.

“We do a lot for those students who struggle in order to help them succeed,” Beck said. “Often, we forget about those students who are succeeding on their own. We needed to offer them a challenge, something that could push them to the next level.”

Brackett and Beck said they hope this program will draw in some of the region’s top students who are looking for an academic challenge close to home. By starting in Piedmont Technical College’s Honors Program, students can save a substantial amount on tuition and fees while getting a rigorous academic experience that will serve them well when they move on to their four-year destination schools.

“I’ve had students tell me they knew what they wanted to do with their life, but they weren’t ready to leave home yet or to embark on an adventure at a four-year institution,” said Brackett. “I feel this will be a great fit for them and it will provide the challenge they are looking for in college.”

To be eligible for the program, high school students must have a 3.5 GPA and score 1150 or higher on the SAT or 25 or higher on the ACT. Current Piedmont Tech students must have a 3.5 GPA and have completed at least 12 hours beyond developmental courses. Applications can be found at www.ptc.edu/honorsapp.

For more information on the Honors Program, contact Brackett at (864) 941-8451 or at bracket.k@ptc.edu.