The Honors Student Council is dedicated to enhancing the Honors experience and engaging their peers in the Honors community. The student council hosts a wide variety of events—past favorites include Flipping Out Over Finals, Dinner with the Dean, the Let’s Talk About It series, and an end-of-the-year Honors Dance. The student council also serves as a liaison between the Morehead Honors College administration and the student body. It is comprised of five committees: Programming, Communications, Diversity and Inclusion, Peer Assisted Leadership (PAL), and Service.
Applications open each year to first- and second-years interested in enriching the Honors community. If you are a creative thinker, like to organize events, and work in teams to solve problems, consider joining HSC.
Peer Assisted Leadership Program (PAL)
One major component of HSC is the Peer Assisted Leadership program, or PAL. Every semester, Honors students are paired through PAL to discuss everything from professors to clubs to shared hobbies. If you are new to UGA and the Morehead Honors College, you have the opportunity to seek guidance, talk about favorite downtown restaurants, and learn about opportunities in your major or discipline. If you’re beyond your first year at UGA, you can gain the satisfaction of helping a new friend navigate now-familiar waters.
PAL began as a student-led initiative in 2015 and has helped to foster a stronger sense of community among Honors students. The PALgorithm, the problem-solving mechanism that connects mentors and mentees each semester, will match you with another student by pre-professional track, major, and minor, and is overseen by PAL program chairs. PAL leaders will guide you through the mentoring process at orientations and social events each semester to help you maximize your PAL experience.
You will be asked to meet with your PAL at least three times a semester during your time participating in the program.
Honors Student Council officers, 2025
Lucy Fuselier
Co-President
Lucy is a third-year Honors student from Austin, Texas. She is majoring in finance with a co-major in international business, a minor in Spanish, a certificate in personal and organizational leadership, and an area of emphasis in pricing and valuation. Along with HSC, Lucy is involved in UGA’s Student Managed Investment Fund, is a class of 2026 Leonard Leadership Scholar within UGA’s Institute for Leadership Advancement, a member of the International Business society, and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. This summer, she looks forward to interning at Barings in Charlotte, North Carolina on the High Yield team. In her free time, she enjoys pilates, attending concerts at Georgia Theatre, and going on ghost tours.
As co-president, Lucy is looking forward to continuing to be active in the Honors community during her second year in HSC. She hopes to keep bringing service events and more bonding opportunities to Honors students in order to promote a connected and engaged Honors community.
Ben Limbocker
Co-President
Ben is a third-year Honors student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is majoring in biology. Aside from HSC, at UGA he is involved in undergraduate genetic research, The Backpack Project, and UGA Ronald McDonald House Charities Club. In his free time, he enjoys being active and watching different television shows. After graduating, he plans to attend medical school in hopes of becoming a physician.
As co-president, Ben is looking forward to bringing a better sense of community to students of the Honors college. He hopes to do this through increasing engagement at both professional and social HSC events.
Niles Mamun
Vice President
Niles is a third-year Honors student from Alpharetta, Georgia. He is a biology major and religion minor. Niles enjoys volunteering for community centers and clinics in Athens. He is also involved in biomedical research for the Department of Veterinary Medicine. After he graduates, he is looking to attend medical school. In his free time, Niles enjoys practicing piano, playing basketball, and watching movies.
As vice president, Niles hopes to increase the scope of Honors Student Council projects and initiatives to serve more honors students.
Harshil Joshi
Treasurer
Harshil is a third-year Honors student from Leesburg, Georgia who is majoring in regenerative bioscience and applied biotechnology with a minor in Spanish. Outside of HSC, Harshil is the Friday Project Co-Coordinator at Thomas Lay Afterschool Program where he helps to mentor local elementary school children. He is also a research assistant in the Regenerative Bioscience Center and hopes to play a role in translating science into new therapies. In Harshil’s free time, he loves to read, work out, play all sports, and listen to music.
As treasurer, Harshil looks to craft Honors events specifically tailored to Honors student needs and ensure that Honors Student Council engagement is comprehensive throughout the entirety of campus.
Lauren Broderson
Programming Chair
Lauren is a third-year Honors student from Dunwoody, Georgia. She is studying economics with areas of emphasis in consulting and business analytics and a minor in law, jurisprudence, and the state. Outside of HSC, she is involved in Women in Economics, UGA Miracle, and the Arch Policy Institute. In her free time, she enjoys running, exploring new coffee shops, and traveling.
As programming chair, Lauren looks forward to bringing Honors students together with engaging events. She is passionate about the Honors community, and is excited to help create meaningful opportunities for students to connect.
Sweya Surapaneni
Service Chair
Sweya is a third-year Honors student from Alpharetta, Georgia. She is double majoring in biology and psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience. Outside of HSC, she is the leader of Pencils for Success, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps underprivileged students, and is a Peer Learning Assistant. She also performs research with the Department of Kinesiology as a CURO Honors Scholar. In her free time, she plays tennis, does classical dance, and binge watches shows with her friends!
As the service chair, Sweya looks forward to leading meaningful volunteer events that bring the Honors community together to enrich their sense of service!
Sanjana Gattineni
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Chair
Sanjana is a third-year Honors student from Cumming, Georgia. She is majoring in microbiology and applied biotechnology with a minor in human and family development sciences. Outside of HSC, she is an Ignite tutor with Teach for America and mentors international students through International Student Life. She also performs research with the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences as a CURO Honors Scholar. In her free time she enjoys going on hikes and loves to read.
As the diversity, equity, and inclusion chair, Sanjana looks forward to encouraging students from various ethnic backgrounds to share their experiences and help widen their perspectives as they become more involved with the Honors College.
Xavier Willis
PAL Chair
Xavier is a second-year Honors student from Woodstock, Georgia. He is studying mechanical engineering. He is on the Mechanical Team of the Small Satellite Research Lab, a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, and a Georgia DAZE Ambassador. He is looking forward to his summer internship for GE Vernova at their Greenville, South Carolina location. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing sports in the Ramsey Student Center, watching TV shows, reading comics, and playing guitar.
As the PAL chair, Xavier is excited to help freshmen form lasting connections with upperclassmen and support the Honors community through engaging mentorship experiences.
Sarah Kate Maher
Communications Chair
Sarah Kate Maher is a second-year Honors student from Savannah, Georgia. She is majoring in political science and public relations with a minor in law, jurisprudence, and the state and a certificate in public affairs communication. Outside of Honors Student Council, she is a member of the Frye Fellowship and writes for the Georgia Political Review. She also is in her second year interning for the Department of Defense and just finished a summer in the Office of Senator Ossoff.
As communications chair, she wants to empower more students to be involved with Honors Student Council through meaningful, targeted communications.
