The HONORS Impact
The HONORS Impact
When Prairie View A&M University Honors Program Director Dr. Quincy C. Moore III posted a group photo of the spring Class of 2025 on LinkedIn, the caption said it all:
“The Class of 2025 is ready to impact the world.”
And it’s true—this one photo captures a cohort of students who have thrived, led, and elevated every space they’ve entered. Their achievements reflect not only individual brilliance, but the power of an Honors Program rooted in opportunity, leadership, and service.
Among them are:
And that’s just the spring Class of 2025.
"The PVAMU Honors Program is dedicated to developing scholars who are intellectually curious, socially aware, and globally minded. Our mission is to offer a transformative academic experience that strengthens critical thinking, deepens expertise, and ignites a passion for service-driven leadership."
— Dr. Moore
A History of Excellence
Founded in 1984 under the leadership of PVAMU’s fourth president, Dr. Percy A. Pierre, the Honors Program, originally established as the Benjamin Banneker Honors College, was created to attract high-achieving students and prepare them for advanced academic and professional pursuits. The program aimed to significantly increase the number of minority scholars entering graduate and professional schools, earning terminal degrees, and rising to leadership roles in research, education, and professional fields.
To ensure a strong beginning, President Pierre appointed two renowned educators, Dr. Ron Sheehy and Dr. Jewel Prestage, to guide the college’s development. As the program’s first and second deans, they laid the academic and intellectual foundation for what would become one of the University’s most rigorous and forward-thinking academic communities.
Benjamin Banneker Honors College, cir. 1984
Benjamin Banneker Honors College, cir. 1984
Though the Banneker Honors College was suspended in 1998, the vision didn’t fade. In the fall of 2010, former PVAMU President Dr. George C. Wright supported the establishment of an Honors Program in keeping with the mission of the University. The late Dr. James A. Wilson, Jr., associate provost for Academic Affairs, relaunched it with a bold mission.
“My goal coming was to create a program that would develop students with full, unexpected profiles that would rival students at other well-known universities,” he said in an interview with 1876 magazine. “We’re creating a community of student scholars who will leave their mark on the University during their academic careers and beyond and pay it forward in their communities even at a global level.”
As the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to found an Honors College, Dr. Wilson knew Prairie View A&M had a legacy to uphold. His vision brought back an enriching Honors experience, centered on academic rigor, leadership, cultural awareness, and global exploration. Since then, the program has continued to bring PVAMU excellence to a national and international stage.
Building on the foundation laid by Dr. Wilson and those before him, the program continues to thrive under the leadership of Dr. Moore, who remains committed to advancing the Honors legacy.
“PVAMU’s Honors legacy is grounded in brilliance and fearless inquiry,” said Dr. Moore, who has led the program since 2018. “I take this role with pride and determination to carry this history forward.”
Dr. Percy A. Pierre
Dr. Percy A. Pierre
Dr. Ron Sheehy
Dr. Ron Sheehy
Dr. Jewel Prestage
Dr. Jewel Prestage
Dr. George C. Wright
Dr. George C. Wright
Dr. James A. Wilson, Jr.
Dr. James A. Wilson, Jr.
Dr. Quincy C. Moore III
Dr. Quincy C. Moore III
Scholars Who Lead with Intention
PVAMU Honors students are known for being sharp, driven, and purpose filled. They come from diverse backgrounds but share a common ambition: to lead thoughtfully, learn deeply, and serve meaningfully.
In the classroom, they pursue excellence. Beyond it, they apply their skills through internships, leadership roles, and service-learning. They embrace global, academic, and community opportunities that push them to grow.
"These students aren’t just aiming for high GPAs; They’re imagining the future, weighing the ‘what ifs,’ and working to leave every space better than they found it."
— Dr. Moore
Honors students also build cross-disciplinary experience and receive dedicated support from Honors Program staff as they prepare for life after graduation, including application reviews and mentorship, letters of recommendation, mock interviews with alumni and industry partners, and access to test prep and admissions resources.
A Program with Purpose
Today, the Honors Program offers an immersive, interdisciplinary education that prepares students for graduate school, top-tier careers, and meaningful impact.
Its six core objectives reflect that mission:
- Promoting academic excellence in and beyond the classroom
- Expanding representation across diverse majors
- Supporting students in building strong academic and professional profiles
- Encouraging global learning through study abroad and service
- Connecting students to on- and off-campus research opportunities
- Placing graduates into elite graduate programs, professional schools, and companies
The program also fosters intellectual engagement outside of traditional classroom spaces. Since its relaunch, the Honors Program has brought five TEDx events to the Prairie View A&M campus, giving students and alumni alike a platform to exchange bold ideas, spark dialogue, and share their voices with a global audience.
“These objectives reflect what PVAMU stands for—productivity and global readiness,” said Dr. Moore.
A Highly Selective Experience
Each year, the Honors Program draws a growing number of applicants from across the country and beyond. Admission is highly competitive, with students selected based on academic achievement, leadership potential, and a commitment to excellence. The program has expanded significantly in recent years—from about 100 scholars in 2018 to 186 in 2024—with projected enrollment expected to top 225 in Fall 2025.
Alumni of the program have gone on to:
- Complete Ph.D. programs at Northwestern, Vanderbilt, and Weill Cornell
- Attend medical school at Howard University and the University of California, San Francisco
- Earn selection as Barry Scholars at Oxford, PELICANS Fellows, and Marshall-Motley Scholars
- Conduct research at MIT, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and more
- Secure roles at organizations such as Boeing, ExxonMobil, Shell, Eli Lilly, the U.S. House of Representatives, and NASA
One standout example is Taylon Owens ’22, the first PVAMU student to attend the University of Oxford, where he earned dual master’s degrees as a John and Daria Barry Scholar.
The Honors Program enhanced my collegiate experience by equipping me with global knowledge to be a real change agent while also allowing me to see the very world that I strive to make an impact on," he said.
“Our students are prepared not only to compete, but to lead. The program is designed to take their potential and amplify it on a national and global scale.”
— Dr. Moore
“I count the Honors Program as my most impactful experience throughout college, my journey to medical school, and most importantly, my growth into the young woman I am today. Because of it, I am a better person, leader, future physician, mentee, and mentor.”
— Reagan Hagewood ‘24
" There is no program or organization that shaped my college experience more than the Honors Program at Prairie View A&M. It showed me that I was truly capable of making a difference and placed me in a community of scholars constantly striving to be the best and reach the highest levels in their respective areas of study. "
— Chayse Lavallais '19
The Real Impact
Behind the awards and accolades are transformative journeys.
“Every semester, the Honors Program staff gets a front-row seat. A student who once doubted themselves finds their voice and rises as a leader. Another takes the stage, sometimes literally, representing PVAMU in spaces they once only dreamed of. We are able to watch first-generation college students discover the thrill of research, the possibility of travel, and the power of community impact, often for the very first time. And they realize they belong. That moment never loses its magic,” said Dr. Moore.
For many, the Honors Program is more than a credential; it’s a community, a launchpad, and a lifelong network.
“Our version of Honors is not rooted in elitism; it’s rooted in elevation. We help students become whole, well-rounded versions of themselves, then equip them to go out and make the world better.”
The application for incoming freshmen opens in the fall and closes in early spring. Current PVAMU students and transfer students may apply each semester as space permits.
Learn more at pvamu.edu/honorsprogram.
This story is a part of the Excellence Lives Here series led by the Office for Marketing and Communications at Prairie View A&M University.
Credits
Story by Marchita Shilo
Creative by LeWebster Lacy ’10, Liz Faublas-Wallace, and Michael Thomas ‘13 (Kreadiv & Koo Agency)
Built with Shorthand