The Aquinas Scholars Honors Program supports an enthusiastic community of the university's most academically motivated and engaged students.
Through small class sizes and the program's academic and social activities, the Aquinas Scholars experience helps students pursue their scholarly ambitions at St. Thomas and connect more deeply with their course material while forming close friendships with their fellow honors students and closer bonds with their professors.
Admission to the program is dependent on a student's academic record and a short essay. If you have high academic curiosity and a desire to change our world for the better, this program is for you!
Are you ready for a good challenge? Do you want to be in a community that strives to be better and do more? The program is designed to enrich the St. Thomas experience with intellectually challenging classes and a variety of cultural and social experiences.
The program offers a variety of honors sections and interdisciplinary seminars each semester that allow Aquinas Scholars to explore provocative subjects in new and exciting ways.
The most important qualifications for success in the Aquinas Scholars Honors Program are intellectual curiosity, openness to new ideas and an eagerness to actively participate in class. Learn more about what it takes to be an Aquinas Scholar.
To graduate as an Aquinas Scholar, students must complete a minimum number of honors courses and seminars while participating in their choice of honors program activities each semester, including service projects, special events or social activities.
Learn more about the honors program experience from those who have experienced it.
"In the honors program, I discovered a community where curiosity meets challenge. The intimate class size and emphasis on discussion allowed me to build a personal connection with my peers and professors. Through participating in thought-provoking seminars and courses, I developed the ability to articulate complex ideas – a skill set that carries through in professional settings."
--Macy Meilahn-Kinard '24; Macy served as the 2023-24 president of the Aquinas Scholars Honors Student Board