Molly Landis ’27
News Editor
On Wednesday, November 20th, students in the English Honors Program had the opportunity to present their thesis projects and the progress they have made so far this year at the English department’s Winter Celebration. Led by Professor Susan Sweeney, she presented the three groups of students as the “Antiquarians,” “Americanists,” and “Autobiographers.” Professor Sweeney established the English Honors Program in 1998 with the first group of students graduating in 2000. In the spring, she hopes to have a 25th-anniversary celebration to honor students of the program and to celebrate all those who have completed an English honors thesis. The English Honors Program is an opportunity for seniors who are interested in exploring a project related within the field of English. Invitations go out to eligible juniors early in their spring semester. The application requires that students have a thesis proposal and a recommendation from two separate English professors. It is very selective, requiring students to be ready to put in the work on their year-long project. If students are interested in learning more, they should visit the English department website or contact Professor Sweeney.
On the night of the Winter Celebration, nine honors students presented their projects ranging from “Boethius’s Paradox of Poetry and Philosophy” to “The Eternal Deaths of Emily Dickinson” to “Escaping Expectations: How Irish Women’s Contemporary Novels Inspire Young Women.” Each student presented their progress and projects and then students and faculty had the chance to ask these students questions about their work. Ben Lepper ‘25, whose project is entitled “The Boy on the Sixth Floor – A Memoir” stated, “It’s been an honor not only working alongside these incredible students, but also seeing their projects really take shape into something special. I am inspired by them every day and I only wish for my thesis to be half as good as theirs.” In regards to the presentation he said, “I can’t lie and say I wasn’t nervous presenting my work, specifically due to just how personal of a project it is, but I thought it went well. I enjoyed answering questions from professors and students afterwards far more, though. It’s always good to hear other perspectives on what I’m doing.”
Professor Sweeney, commenting on all of the students’ presentations, said “I am incredibly proud of the nine students who shared their work in progress at the annual Winter Celebration. As a professor, it’s incredibly moving to see a student’s research develop from an initial idea into a living, breathing argument, testing its strong wings and getting ready to take off! Each presenter spoke with clarity, passion, and contagious enthusiasm.” She continued by speaking to the praise that students and faculty raved to her about following the presentations. Students are now working to complete the first few chapters of their thesis before the Winter Break. Following the presentations, English majors had the opportunity to take an English major shirt: simply a shirt that says “English.” All guests also had the chance to ask any further questions they had for students about the thesis presentations.
Featured image courtesy of College of the Holy Cross
Copy Edited by Annamaria DeCamp ’27
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