Commonwealth Honors Academy

As the new year begins, many opportunities arise for the youth in our community, one of which being the Commonwealth Honors Academy hosted at Murray State University. This program contains three weeks of living on campus, exploring college life, partaking in two college level classes, being a part of community building activities, and so much more. The academy, hosted by Dr. Danielle Nielsen, offers six hours of honors-level university credit, an opportunity of six hours of tuition free university credit, and a four-year renewable $2000 housing scholarship on campus.  

The program is offered to juniors during the summer before their senior year. For three weeks, students who are accepted will live in college dorms, take one interdisciplinary humanities and fine arts course along with an elective class of the students choosing, participate in community orientated activities and games, and grow as an overall person. Classes will be based off of a collegiate grading scale (A= 90%-100%, B=80%-89%, etc.)  

Requirements for students wishing to attend include an approximate 3.5 or higher GPA, an ACT score (or equivalent PSAT or SAT) of 25 or higher (however it can be lower) and be of 16 years of age or older. 

Seniors graduating from this academy last year include Ashleigh Caldwell, Jesse Hutchens, Makenna Perkins, and Xavier Payton.  

This program is one of a kind and life changing. Any students who are interested should apply and attend during the summer. As stated by those who attended, “It feels like it takes forever, but the time flies.” For those interested, visit https://www.murraystate.edu/cha/ for more information on the application process.