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, 2023
Lindsay Rappe
Co-President
Lindsay is a third-year Honors student from Alpharetta, Georgia. She is studying psychology and criminal justice with a minor in sociology. On campus, she is involved with the Criminal Justice Society, Whatever it Takes, and Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She also volunteers at Athens Church and works at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Hotel. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, going on walks with friends, trying new food, and reading a good book.
As co-president, Lindsay is looking forward to promoting a strong community within the Honors College and aiding all Honors students in navigating their time at UGA with the resources that Honors provides.
Virginia Van Pelt
Co-President
Virginia is a third-year Honors student from Atlanta, Georgia. She is pursuing a degree in economics and a minor in statistics. She is on the executive board of Alpha Chi Omega and is involved with the Society of Entrepreneurs and Rescue Paws. Additionally, Virginia has been a Terry College economics research assistant. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants in Athens with her friends, going on walks, and watching TV shows.
As co-president, Virginia is excited to further build the Honors College community through events and get more people involved in the Honors College and Honors Student Council.
Natalie Badir
Vice President
Natalie is a third-year Honors student from Augusta, Georgia. She is studying biology with a minor in studio art. On campus, she is involved with the Pre-Dental Society, The Backpack Project of Athens, DAWG CAMP, and Campus Kitchen. In her free time, she enjoys painting, traveling, trying new cultural cuisines, and playing tennis. After graduation, Natalie hopes to attend dental school and pursue a career in dentistry.
As vice-president, Natalie is excited to plan events to build community within Honors, as well as promoting engagement within the local Athens community.
Sophie Maxwell
Treasurer
Sophie is a second-year from Atlanta, Georgia. She is studying economics and international business with minors in German and international affairs. She is also involved in the Economics Society and Habitat for Humanity, and is a microeconomics teaching assistant. In her free time, she enjoys being with her friends, trying new restaurants, and traveling. After graduation she plans to participate in UGA’s master of science in business analytics program.
As treasurer, Sophie hopes to foster more engagement and community within the Honors College by planning exciting events.
Olivia Sternagle
Programming Chair
Olivia is a second-year Honors student from Marietta, Georgia. She is majoring in history with minors in law, ethics, philosophy, and English. She is also a member of Aurora, vice president of Crossword Puzzle Club, and a resident assistant in Myers Hall. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, yoga, and cycling.
As programming chair, Olivia looks forward to helping plan fun events to bring together Honors students. She hopes to create a community within Honors and provide opportunities for Honors students to build connections and receive Honors resources.
Lilly Wood
PAL Chair
Lilly is a second-year Honors student from Milton, Georgia. She is majoring in management information systems. She is also the vice president of Service for Women in Business and a member of the UGA Club tennis team, as well as being a member of the Product Management Club. She is preparing for her second internship in Product Management at QGenda, a physician scheduling company. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and staying active, trying new food, hanging out with friends, watching her favorite TV shows, and reading.
As the Peer Assisted Leadership Program (PAL) chair, Lilly is looking forward to hosting a coffee chat for mentors and mentees to engage members in a new way. She hopes to boost members’ activity in this program.
Kennedi Scales
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Chair
Kennedi is a second-year Honors student from Castle Rock, Colorado. She is studying genetics and sociology with a minor in music. Kennedi engages in nutritional genomics research in the Ye Genetics Lab. She invests time in being an Honors Teaching Assistant with the Honors College and is a service ambassador with Serve UGA. In her free time, Kennedi enjoys songwriting, performing, and music composition, as well as reading.
As the diversity, equity, and inclusion chair, Kennedi intends to foster engagement within Honors and encourage underrepresented communities to apply to the Honors College.
Dhriti Pentela
Service Chair
Dhriti is a second-year Honors student from Cumming, Georgia. She is studying genetics and women’s studies with a minor in global health on the pre-medical track. Outside of HSC, she is involved with research here at UGA at the Global Health Institute as well as at UCSF’s Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. She also serves as an Honors Teaching Assistant, a tour guide at the Visitor’s Center, and a tutor for Athens Prison Tutorial. In her free time, Dhriti enjoys staying active through yoga and running and fueling her growing caffeine addiction by exploring new cafés in Athens.
As service committee chair, Dhriti is looking forward to initiating service events with the goal of bringing students of the Morehead Honors College closer together through the act of service.
