Students in South Dakota State University’s Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College have called it a close-knit community or another family. Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the honors college are still trying to keep those connections going.
From 11 a.m. until noon weekdays, the college held “Honors Hour.†The live Zoom chat does not have an agenda, according to Rebecca Bott-Knutson, dean of the Fishback Honors College.
“The goal behind ‘Honors Hour’ is to take an hour each day to facilitate the community in a different way,†said Camille Massmann, a graduate assistant in the college. The Cold Spring, Minnesota, native graduated from SDSU in 2019 after majoring in biochemistry and biotechnology and adding a minor in communication studies. She is pursuing a master’s degree in biological sciences, specializing in microbiology.
“The topic can be anything and everything; we look at it as another chance to get to know everyone better,†she continued. “A really big part of the honors college is the community or the family aspect that comes from meeting and interacting with people. The switch to being online has thrown a wrench in that community aspect.â€
In addition to “Honors Hour,†the Fishback Honors College also held online fitness events as part of its commitment to set aside time for mental, physical and emotional health. The events are intended to show the impact exercise can have on mental health and how to stay healthy in these stressful times.
