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, Community Engagement, 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.
Apply to be a PAL here (open until February 14).
Honors Student Council officers, 2025
Caroline Scurlock, Co-President
Caroline is a second-year Honors student from Little Rock, Arkansas. She is majoring in journalism and political science with a minor in law, jurisprudence, and the state and a certificate in news literacy. Along with HSC, Caroline is involved in UGA’s Visitors Center, Di Gamma Kappa Journalism Club, Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law and Government Fraternity, The Red and Black newspaper, Young Life, and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. In her free time, she enjoys taking workout classes, attending concerts, watching sports, and spending time with friends.
As co-president, Caroline is looking forward to strengthening engagement in the Honors community by hosting social and professional events that give Honors students opportunities to build connections and give back to the Athens community.
Lily Tow, Co-President
Lily is a second-year Honors student from Marietta, Georgia. She is majoring in biomedical physiology on the pre-medical track, with a minor in general business. Aside from HSC, Lily is involved in the Catholic Center at UGA as the co-outreach coordinator, Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity as the vice president of recruitment, and works as the student assistant to the provost. During the summer and winter breaks, Lily works as the sterilization technician for Northwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Acworth, Georgia. In her free time, she enjoys running (until she can’t anymore), spending time with friends, volunteering at Piedmont Hospital, and admiring the beauty of nature.
As co-president, Lily is looking forward to continuing to bring Honors students and faculty together through service events and community-building opportunities. She hopes to make sure that every Honors student knows they have a place in the Honors College and that they are seen, known, and loved.
Harshil Joshi, Vice President
Harshil is a third-year Honors student from Leesburg, Georgia, majoring in regenerative bioscience with a minor in Spanish. Outside of HSC, Harshil is a co-executive director at the Thomas Lay Afterschool Program where he helps mentor local elementary school students. 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, workout, play sports, and listen to music.
As vice president, 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.
Cohen Coolidge, Treasurer
Cohen is a second-year Honors student from Saint Simons Island, Georgia. He is majoring in economics with a certificate in entrepreneurship and an area of emphasis in consulting. Outside of Honors Student Council, Cohen is actively involved in The Backpack Project, AI Society at Terry, and PAL. In his free time, he enjoys working out, spending time with family, and enjoying great food. He plans on pursuing a PhD in economics and is driven by purpose and impact.
As treasurer, Cohen hopes to leverage the reach of the Morehead Honors College and the community within while allocating resources in a way that maximizes student engagement and enhances the Honors experience.
Emma Kate Godin, Programming Chair
Emma Kate is a second-year Honors student from Milledgeville, Georgia, studying biology with a minor in personal health and wellbeing. Aside from HSC, Emma Kate is involved in The Backpack Project of Athens, UGA Wesley Foundation, Stethoscope Magazine, American Medical Women’s Association, and Delta Delta Delta sorority where she serves as director of ceremonies and rituals. She is also involved in tissue engineering research at UGA where she hopes to continue contributing to the development of new cancer detection methods. Emma Kate enjoys volunteering with underserved communities at local clinics in Athens like Mercy Health Center. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing guitar, and traveling with friends. After graduating, she plans to attend medical school to become a physician.
As programming chair, Emma Kate looks forward to hosting engaging events that foster connection within the Honors community. She is passionate about serving others and excited to lead initiatives promoting student engagement.
Annie Marks, Service Chair
Annie is a second-year Honors student from Atlanta, Georgia. She is majoring in Spanish and neuroscience. Along with HSC, Annie serves as an ambassador for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, is a member of UGA Miracle’s morale leadership team, participates in the McPhaul Center, belongs to Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and is an As You Are leader. In her free time, she enjoys running, attending concerts, volunteering, and spending time outside.
As service chair, Annie is excited about continuing to connect with both UGA and the greater Athens community while spending quality time with her peers.
Caroline Carlock, Community Engagement Chair
Caroline is a third-year Honors student from Fort Worth, Texas. She is pursuing majors in biology and finance and a chemistry minor. Outside of HSC, Caroline is involved in Mathcounts, Phi Delta Epsilon, Atlas Business Society, club field hockey, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and works at Athens Orthopedic Clinic. In her free time, Caroline loves to watch sports and be around friends. After graduating, she is looking to attend medical school in hopes of becoming a physician.
As the community engagement chair, Caroline looks forward to encouraging students to share their experiences and perspectives in order to form a cohesive, uplifting community within the Honors College.
Mattie Hood, Communications Chair
Mattie Hood is a third-year Honors student from Charleston, South Carolina. She is majoring in marketing with an emphasis in business analytics and is pursuing a legal studies certificate. Outside of Honors Student Council, she serves as secretary of the Women’s Pre-Law Student Association, is a member of the American Marketing Association, and is a marketing intern with Hinge Creative Co. here in Athens. Upon graduation, she plans to attend law school. In her free time, she enjoys hot yoga, baking, and live music.
As communications chair, Mattie is hopeful to increase involvement within the Honors community, encouraging students to take full advantage of the various opportunities that it has to offer.
Ashaar Bakshi, PAL Chair
Ashaar is a second-year Honors student from Atlanta, Georgia. He is majoring in biology with minors in general business and Spanish. Outside of HSC, he is a lead success coach with UGA’s Coaching4Success, on the board of the Medical Business Association, and works to mentor students through Grit Powered. He is also a research assistant in an orthopedic practice and at UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In his free time, Ashaar enjoys playing soccer, playing the drums with his band, and trying new places to eat in Athens.
As PAL chair, Ashaar is excited to help freshmen build meaningful connections with upperclassmen while strengthening the Honors community through engaging mentorship opportunities.
