When one thinks of an Honors program, the first thing that comes to mind is likely not serving one’s community. However, Longwood understands that one cannot be a good citizen leader without giving back in some way. Longwood has numerous service opportunities that take place throughout the year, some of them directly through Honors.

Honors rewards those with high numbers of volunteer hours with points that go towards their “house,” a friendly competition akin to the House Cup from Harry Potter. While this seems like a small factor, this encourages many people to give back in many ways.

Honors does not take a passive role in supporting the community. The leaders actively seek out opportunities for one to serve and even get involved themselves. A couple of examples of this are Heartland Horse Heroes, a horse rescue based in Buckingham, VA, and The Jingle Bell Run, an annual 5k hosted in Farmville. Each of these opportunities assists in giving Honors students an appreciation for the world around them, which is necessary for any adjusted adult in society.