Pillar Awards

Students in the John Martinson Honors College excel in a variety of areas both in and outside of the classroom as they engage in endeavors that embody the values of our curriculum. To recognize those students who have excelled in their engagement with the honors college curriculum or who demonstrate great promise of excellence, the college annually bestows individual Pillars+ Awards for Interdisciplinary Academics, Undergraduate Research, Leadership Development, Community Engagement, Global Engagement, Belonging and Inclusion, and Outstanding Senior.

Apply for a John Martinson Honors College Student Pillar Award!

The deadline for 2025 applications has closed.

To recognize the great strides that our students make in each of these areas, each year the Student Pillar Awards will honor:

  • One 2nd and one 3rd year student who excel in Interdisciplinary Academics
  • One 2nd and one 3rd year student who excel in Undergraduate Research
  • One 2nd and one 3rd year student who excel in Leadership Development
  • One 2nd and one 3rd year student who excel in Community Engagement
  • One 2nd and one 3rd year student who excel in Global Engagement
  • Two graduating seniors who embody all four pillars of an Honors Education

Interdisciplinary Academics

Interdisciplinarity is the pursuit of knowledge by means of more than one discipline or field of study, especially in an attempt to understand complex problems. Pursuing interdisciplinary academics can mean taking classes or engaging in extracurricular activities outside your disciplinary home, but at its highest levels it entails breaking down or breaking through the traditional “silos” of these academic disciplines to reach across fields, modes of thought, or communities of practice to find novel ways to think, create, and thrive.

Undergraduate Research

Research is the production of new knowledge by means of scholarly inquiry, including creative pursuits. It requires dedication to answering questions that matter to individuals, communities and the world; strong reasoning, organizational, and interpersonal skills; an understanding of and commitment to research ethics; and follow-through to ensure that results are disseminated and shared with other scholars and the public.

Leadership Development

Leadership is the utilization of your best academic, professional, and personal qualities to empower others, build community, forward knowledge, and/or foster meaningful change in the world. Great and effective leaders demonstrate vision, take initiative, enact empathy and openness, learn and evolve, and ultimately, work inclusively with others to achieve shared goals.

Community Engagement

Our JMHC community bonds in an inclusive environment as members collaborate with each other and in service with local community partners outside Purdue to create equity and prosperity.

Global Engagement

We prepare students for the world by exposing them to new ideas, cultures and locations. Through specialized programs, events and study away opportunities, our students connect with faculty, each other, and people around the world.

Outstanding Senior

Outstanding Seniors embody excellence in all four pillars: interdisciplinary academics, undergraduate research, community and global engagement, and leadership development. The recipient of this award will also receive $500.