News

Maya Jones with Versailles court gown she created for her Creative Arts Fellowship project.
September 21, 2023

FHC Creative Arts Fellowship student creates 18th-century Versailles court gown

Maya Jones, a junior in the Frederick Honors College majoring in history and theater arts, participated in this summer's Creative Arts Fellowship through which she created an 18th-century Versailles court gown.

Jones became interested in historical fashion during the pandemic and wanted to make a dress in the style of the French court. She entered college looking for an opportunity for the funding and extensive time to research and create such a gown. Of her creative process, Jones stated:

Isabella Hsia presents findings from the SHURE-Grid program to fellow students and researchers
September 14, 2023

Technically Media: What this Pitt engineering student learned from a summer spent analyzing the power grid

Frederick Honors College sophomore Isabella Hsia gained a new understanding of how the energy and cybersecurity fields overlap through the interdisciplinary SHURE-Grid program.

Person walking in front of Frick Fine Arts fountain
August 29, 2023

Pittwire: 2 Pitt students earned Voyager Scholarships

Erin Lancaster and Anjolaoluwa Oludayo are both juniors in the David C. Frederick Honors College, and their wins solidify Pitt’s status as a top producer of Voyager Scholars among public universities for the second year running.

Students who participated in the SHURE-Grid program stand on the stairs of the David C. Frederick Honors College
August 17, 2023

Pittwire: In this program, Pitt students are working to protect the electric power grid

Through the Frederick Honors College Office of Research, students were invited to participate in a pilot interdisciplinary program supported by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

Four Frederick Honors student ambassadors showing off Pitt pride at recruitment event
August 1, 2023

FHC Ambassador Applications Open

The Frederick Honors College wants you to become an FHC Student Ambassador! FHC Ambassadors offer invaluable assistance to our staff during student recruitment events throughout the academic year. FHC Ambassadors receive Honors OCC credit, FHC swag, and more! Interested students should apply by September 5, 2023.

From left: Gabby Yearwood, managing faculty director of Pitt's Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice; Nicola Foote, dean of the Frederick Honors College; and Justin Hansford, Howard University law professor and member of the United Nations' Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
June 8, 2023

Pittwire: Frederick Honors College representatives presented at UN side event

Dean Nicola Foote gave a keynote on the school’s and Pitt’s commitment to supporting transformative social change and the Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent.

Split photo of two students, Kaylee Huber (left) and Ethan Crosby (right).
June 6, 2023

Pittwire: Frederick Honors College supports 35 students through Brackenridge Fellowship

Among this year’s 35 Brackenridge recipients are two students—Kaylee Huber and Ethan Crosby—from Pitt-Greensburg’s honors program, the first time a cohort has included students from a regional campus.

Headshot of Michael Meyer
June 2, 2023

Pittwire: FHC's Michael Meyer becomes first Pitt Berlin Prize recipient

Professor Michael Meyer, an electus faculty fellow in the Frederick Honors College, will receive support and resources from the The American Academy in Berlin as he works on his book “Taiwan Rising: Biography of a Modern Nation."

Headshot of Ryan Steinly by Aimee Obidzinski
May 24, 2023

Pittwire: Ones to Watch - Ryan Steinly

A Frederick Honors College student fluent in language and justice.

View of the Cathedral of Learning through blooming spring trees.
May 16, 2023

Pittwire: 15 Pitt students were named Gilman scholars

Among the recipients are two Frederick Honors College students: Kira Klein and Stacey Ngo.

Student walking through the Common Room of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning
May 8, 2023

Pittwire: 10 Pitt students are 2023-24 Fulbright winners

“The Fulbright is one of the most competitive awards available and it is truly outstanding that so many of our students this year have been selected as Fulbrighters,” said Nicola Foote, dean of the Frederick Honors College.

Headshot of scholar mentor Josh Cannon on the 36th floor of the Cathedral
May 2, 2023

Pittwire: 4 Pitt students earned Boren Awards to study language abroad

Joshua Cannon, a scholar-mentor in the David C. Fredrick Honors College, is passionate about helping students with scholarship and fellowship applications — especially when they’re Marines like him.

Raja Krishnaswamy pointing to David C. Frederick sign on 35th floor of the Cathedral of Learning.
April 28, 2023

Meet RJ Krishnaswamy, one of Pitt's youngest graduates of the Class of 2023

Frederick Honors student, RJ Krishnaswamy, will graduate on Sunday at age 16 with his bachelor of science degree in computer science and move on for a master's degree next year as part of Pitt's 4+1 program.

Headshot of Anna Li, Pitt's first Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship recipient
April 25, 2023

Anna Li is Pitt’s first-ever recipient of a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

Lesha Greene, director of national scholarships and post-graduation success in the David C. Frederick Honors College, assisted Li with her application essay for the fellowship. Greene, who is also an immigrant from the Caribbean islands Saint Kitts and Nevis, said she’s proud of Li for receiving the honor.

Headshot of John Martinson
April 24, 2023

Leading Honors College Philanthropist Chooses Pitt for $2 Million Gift

John H. Martinson knows a great honors college when he sees one. This year, Martinson added the University of Pittsburgh to his list.

Headshot of Grace Fleury, 2023 Goldwater scholar
April 13, 2023

FHC junior Grace Fleury named Goldwater scholar

Fleury is the University's 64th winner of the award, which is the most prestigious scholarship aimed at STEM students.

Hand point to map
March 22, 2023

Pittwire: 4 Pitt students were named 2023 Critical Language Scholars

Among this year's Pitt winners is Hiba Siddiqui, a junior in the Frederick Honors College and Dietrich School majoring in psychology, who will study Urdu in India.

Professor Michael Meyer (left) and Dean Nicola Foote (right) at 2023 Faculty Honors Convocation.
March 17, 2023

FHC Electus Faculty Fellow earns 2023 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award

Michael Meyer was honored with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award at this year’s Faculty Honors Convocation by Chancellor Patrick Gallagher in recognition of his dedication to his students and his craft.

Vidya Surti
March 6, 2023

Frederick Honors College student Vidya Surti elected to Allegheny Regional Asset District citizen advisory board

As a member of the board, Surti, a third-year FHC student majoring in English and anthropology in Pitt’s Kenneth P Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, will comment on policies and procedures in RAD’s operations and grantmaking process.

Selam Mekbeb-Gillett (left) and Ron Idoko (right) show poster boards featuring their accomplishments at A Night of Celebration: Honoring Local Heroes of Black Resistance
February 20, 2023

Pittwire: Meet 6 local heroes of Black resistance

FHC's Associate Director for Honors Education in Social Innovation, Ron Idoko, and FHC undergraduate and Dean's Award recipient, Selam Mekbeb-Gillett, to be honored as local champions for equality, inclusion and anti-racism initiatives.

Wide view of Pittsburgh campus with Cathedral of Learning.
February 10, 2023

Pittwire: Pitt named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students for 2022-23

FHC’s Office of National Scholarships leads the way in preparing Pitt students and alumni for their applications to study, teach English, and conduct research internationally as part of the Fulbright program.

Year of Emotional Well-Being Graphic
February 8, 2023

Two Frederick Honors College students receive funding for Year of Emotional Well-Being projects

FHC students Michelle Khattri and Marrissa Muchnock received funding for their respective projects, the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh Youth Arts Program and Stay Ready Medical Education.

Students walking outside of Cathedral of Learning.
February 6, 2023

Emergency and Travel Funds Available

The Frederick Honors College offers financial aid through the Dean's Emergency Fund and the Frederick Honors College Travel Fund.

Lamp post with Pitt emblem banner.
January 30, 2023

6 Frederick Honors College students named Humanities Center undergraduate research fellows

Harmony Arungwa, Meghana Dodda, Matthew Hickey, Anna Kirwin, Alex-Jaden Peart, and Vidya Surti are members of the 2023-24 class.

Student reading poetry book.
January 20, 2023

FHC student Edha Gupta led a group now being honored by the King Center

When Pennsylvania’s Central York School District rescinded a diversity resource list, effectively keeping around 300 books from being taught in classrooms, the Panther Anti-Racist Union sprang into action. Led by Edha Gupta, now an undergraduate student in the David C. Frederick Honors College, the group’s actions and protests resulted in the school district reversing its decision.

Frederick Honors College student Vidya Surti
January 13, 2023

Frederick Honors College student Vidya Surti appointed to the board of directors of Radiant Hall

Vidya Surti, a third-year student FHC student, said she is passionate about disability inclusion, community impact and nonprofit leadership — values that align with the goals and mission of Radiant Hall.

Alex Firestine
December 1, 2022

Meet Pitt’s first Mitchell Scholar

The prestigious scholarship will support Frederick Honors College student Alex Firestine as he earns a master’s degree at the University of Galway.

Students grab food at a carbon-tracked buffet for the 2022 Sustainability Supper hosted by the ScholarCHEF scholar community.
October 24, 2022

Chancellor’s Scholars host dinner focused on sustainability

How often do you think about food sustainability? For the Chancellor’s Scholars who are involved with Scholar, Community, Honors, Ecosystems, Food (ScholarCHEF), this is a regular topic of conversation, concern and empowerment.

David Frederick and Sophie Lynn
October 19, 2022

Pitt Magazine: Honor Role

Alumnus David Frederick’s multimillion-dollar gift will benefit students and connect Pitt to the University of Oxford.

Grid of four headshots featuring Voyager Scholarship recipients from top left to bottom right: Yali Beit-Arie, Braydan Issermoyer, Kiera Ledermann and Sydney Wilhelmy.
October 18, 2022

Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Four Pitt students among 100 winners of new Obama Foundation scholarship

Three Frederick Honors College students have received the new Obama Foundation Voyager Scholarship, making Pitt among the schools with the most students to receive the highly-selective scholarship.