Student Perspective: Madeline Kennedy

By Gary Hyatt, WSU Honors College, gary.hyatt1@wsu.edu

Name: Madeline Kennedy

Year: Senior

Hometown:  Mukilteo Washington

Major: Hospitality Business Management and Marketing

Minors: N/A

 

How has The Honors College impacted your time at WSU? 

The Honors College, specifically the Honors and Business Innovation and Leadership Experience (HABILE) program, has elevated my undergraduate experience beyond any other aspect of WSU. I have been blessed with the opportunity to take smaller classes, with excellent Honors and Business faculty who have taken the care to tailor their classes to our interests. I have taken every HABILE business class offered because of the incredibly positive history I have had in the classes. My opinion of WSU would not be the same had it not been for the program.

Most impactful Involvement/Leadership/Research you have engaged in and what each entail: 

As an Honors student, I had the opportunity to teach an honors first year experience class alongside a Carson College of Business faculty member. Our class brought Freshman into the fold of the HABILE program; teaching resume building, networking, leading the students through setting up their LinkedIn profiles, and generally mentoring them through their first semester at WSU.

Career Goal/ Future education plans:

I would love to move into the hospitality sector because I love creating a comfortable space for people to connect with one another. I would love to work for a smaller company that leads adventures for their guests, one that loves everyone as a local, treating them like family.

Favorite Honors Course and why?

Honors 280 and 380 with Professor Colin Criss were my absolute favorite classes at WSU. Professor Criss (Colin) has the deepest care for his students. I remember him bringing in a TV tray to one of my friends because my friend needed it for a club that he was leading. It wasn’t just the professor that made the class, in the Honor’s College, faculty have the freedom to teach their classes in whatever manner will achieve the learning outcomes for the course. This meant an outstanding professor wasn’t hemmed into rigorous guidelines. I have found in all my honors classes that the room professors are given to breathe has made all my classes much more interesting.

Advice for an incoming Honors student?

The honors network of students and faculty is an asset that shouldn’t be forgotten. Make connections, invest in the people around you, they will be the ones to uplift you when you’re at your lowest. The professors are incredible, and they will do everything in their power to help you if you are willing to meet them with your best effort. Finally, joining the Honors College is the best decision you will make at WSU, especially if you are a business student.

Have you ever received financial support from the Honors College? If so, how did that impact your academic journey?

I received scholarships to join the Honors program, the HABILE program, and I received a scholarship as a facilitator of the first-year experience course. All of these gave me breathing room to attend college without as heavy of a load to financially bear.

Lastly, what are some things outside of your academic journey you enjoy doing?

I am very involved with my local church, attending events and spending time with my friends. Chief among these is spending time with my fiancé, whom I met at church. We will be getting married in March. I also love crocheting, painting, and other small crafts. I love being outside, especially on my longboard. Finally, I have gotten into snowboarding during my time at WSU and have held a season pass for the past two seasons.