Homecoming 2026 at St. Cloud State University is extra special for the Honors College this year, as the college is celebrating its 60th year. To celebrate the honor, the Honors College is hosting the Honors 60th Anniversary Cocktail Hour. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are invited to the event happening on Saturday, October 3, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room at Atwood Memorial Center – during the heart of Homecoming 2026 for the university. The event gives attendees the chance to reconnect with individuals and experiences that have shaped the Honors College, as well as to honor those involved. Small bites and drinks will be served.
Though there will be no formal presentation, on display will be an exhibit of oral history research and decade-by-decade posters created through a project led by current and recent Honors students, offering a glimpse into six decades of Honors history.
“For sixty years, Honors has provided a space for curious minds to challenge themselves, explore new ideas, and build meaningful connections. What started as an initiative to enhance the academic experience for engaged students has transformed into a vibrant community that has influenced generations of Huskies,” said Dr. Jennifer Cavalli, executive director of the Honors College.
To explore that history, Dr. Cavalli reached out to Dr. Robert Galler, history professor at SCSU, to see if he’d consider having his honors class work on a project on the history of the program. He agreed, and students in his Honors Public Histories course acted as public historians while they pursued two parallel research tracks: The history of St. Cloud’s East Side, and the history and evolution of the Honors Program as it approaches its 60th anniversary.
The project combined traditional archival research with oral history and personal collections. Students worked in University Archives, researched old editions of “The Chronicle” (the campus newspaper), examined Honors Program documents and records, conducted interviews with Honors alumni, and reviewed student scrapbooks, photographs, and memorabilia shared by Dr. Cavalli.
“History is a collection of stories. They don’t all exist together. You kind of create a story by merging evidence and documents and perspectives together,” Dr. Galler said. “The students ran with it, and I think did a good job,” he said.
Students research the original purpose and creation of the program, how it evolved in terms of leadership and expansion, and explored long-standing themes such as interdisciplinary learning, community engagement, and service. The project highlighted how the Honors Program has continuously adapted while maintaining core educational values.
Through the decades, Honors students haven’t just engaged in interdisciplinary learning experiences, they’ve participated in service-learning and community-based projects, experienced living-learning communities, and taken advantage of study abroad opportunities. Those experiences helped shape graduates who went on to successful careers in a wide range of fields. In fact, there are many notable Honors alumni who remain connected to the university and became leaders in their respective fields.
The research project itself became an enriching educational experience for the students involved. They gained valuable experience in archival research, interviewing, source evaluation, and storytelling.
Tom Steman, university archivist and professor at SCSU, worked with Dr. Galler and his students: “I did not know much about Honors and was happy to spend some time learning more for myself to assist the students,” he said. “I identified appropriate primary sources in University Archives for the students to do their own research. The material will be added to University Archives for future users to access a richer narrative for the Honors Program.”
Each spring, the Honors Program has a student showcase. Dr. Galler’s students presented a research poster on each of the six decades of the Honors Program’s history. Those posters will be on display during the 60th Celebration on Saturday.
“At its core, the story of Honors is about people. It is about students who joined the program eager to learn and leave with broadened perspectives and friendships that last a lifetime,” said Dr. Cavalli. “It is about faculty mentors who inspire students to ask tough questions and chase ambitious goals. It is about alumni who have taken the values of curiosity, critical thinking, and service into their careers and communities. ”
The anniversary celebration will highlight this rich history with oral history exhibits and decade-by-decade displays created by current and recent Honors students.
The RSVP form remains open, and drop-ins are welcome.