Gabriel Meek, who graduated from Whitworth in 2020, “knew the Honors program was going to have connections into various job markets, would emphasize practical application of the skills I was learning in other classes, and would provide opportunities to strengthen my resume with tangible products and experiences.”

While an undergrad, Gabriel juggled a busy life. He had two different tracks of a major as well as athletics to focus on. He also encountered a barrier when COVID-19 moved school online, which “shifted how many senior Honors projects could be conducted. 

His favorite memory while in the Honors program was spending Jan term in Washington D.C. with other honors students, in 2019. They toured local museums, explored historical archives, and experienced Capital life. This happened “all in the midst of a government shutdown, which meant we saw many things we weren’t expecting to see.” 

Gabriel is grateful that he decided to graduate with Honors. He remembered “the faculty were extremely welcoming and accommodating,” and he believes the Honors program has prepared him to be competitive in the workforce. As an undergrad, Dr. Emerson encouraged him to present work at the North Idaho College’s Undergraduate Conference in the Humanities. 

“This early experience of presenting work at a conference enabled me to pursue other presentations at future conferences such as that held by the Popular Culture Association,” he said. He believes that employers will appreciate the way the Honors program has helped add these opportunities to his resume. 

After graduating, he went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Part of the coursework included teaching undergraduate English classes. This sparked a passion that eventually led him to his current position as an adjunct faculty member teaching at Whitworth. 

Gabriel encourages students who are considering the Honors program to recognize that “learning to adapt material for specific audiences is one of the most important skills the Honors program can teach.” He also encourages students to “use the networking connections that Whitworth and the Honors program can make available to you. They have helped my own academic career immensely, and I cannot stress the importance of networking enough.