The Dallas College Honors Student Organizations hosted the Honors Awards Ceremony on April 25 at the Richland Campus Arena Theater, bringing together over 80 honors students and a total of 150 attendees, including families, advisors and faculty, for a night of celebration and recognition.
The event took the time to acknowledge student achievements from across the seven campuses, particularly those involved in the Honors Program and the Honors Student Organization.
The event was led by Jesus Gonzalez, president of Richland’s HSO, who began preparing nearly a year in advance to bring his vision to life. “To put how much I had to prepare into perspective, I reserved the theater back in May of 2024, almost a full year before the event,” Gonzalez said.
Originally started in 2022 as a small gathering by previous Honors Student Organization officers, the awards have grown into a campus-wide celebration. Brookhaven’s Special Academics Program Lead and HSO Advisor Hedy Watkins said, “Events like these allow for honors students to come together at the end of the year for a fun time and see their peers.”
The ceremony placed special emphasis on students in the Honors Program. Honors students are individuals who are often overshadowed by the larger, more widely recognized organizations, according to Gonzalez. The goal was to give both the program and these students their own moment of recognition and to highlight their hard work in both academics and campus service.
One of the evening’s most notable features was the presentation of Certificates of Congressional Recognition, made possible through outreach efforts to state legislators earlier in the year. U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne responded by contributing personalized certificates and recording a motivational message for the honorees.
Student honoree Alejandro Arballo described the experience as celebratory. Being recognized alongside peers he’s grown with during his time at Dallas College left a lasting impression. He said, “Receiving an official congressional certificate made the moment feel especially rewarding.”
The event was an overall major success for the Honors Student Organizations. According to Gonzalez, there are plans in the works for this ceremony to be an annual event alternating between the seven campuses.
