The Irvin D. Reid Honors College began its Fall 2015 recruiting efforts by hosting Scholars Day on November 15-16.

481 students participated in Scholars Day - an invitation-only event where the Honors College recruits its freshman class among the university's most promising first-year applicants. Students were invited to attend Scholars Day if they were awarded either the Presidential, Distinguished, or Gold scholarships.

Scholars Day brought 1,031 students, parents, and guests to campus over the two-day event.

"It is always a wonderful experience to meet these outstanding students when they come to campus for Scholars Day," said Jerry Herron, Dean of the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. "This is our opportunity to get to know more about these young scholars and share with them all that Wayne State University has to offer."

In order to gain membership in the Honors College, students must submit an essay and sit for a group interview. Students also compete for additional scholarship awards as well as a seat in the Honors College.

Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson and Dean Herron began the day by welcoming everyone to Scholars Day. Following the opening ceremony, students split into two groups: Group A students wrote their essay and sat for their interview, while Group B, consisting of students and parents, went to the Academic Resource Fair to learn more about the various academic departments and offices around campus before switching places with Group A.

The essays and interviews were proctored by WSU staff, faculty, and Honors College alumni.

Living Detroit Project Coordinator Janet Andrew was amazed at the caliber of students she interviewed. "The students I had the opportunity to talk with at the Scholars Day event were not only great academics, but very impressive in demonstrating strong leadership abilities and presentation skills," she said. "I was so amazed at their commitment already in high school to helping their communities and to healing the world through their work with school organizations or by volunteering. Most of them seemed also clear that they wanted to make sure they found the right path for their own future growth in a college that continued to challenge them both as students and as citizens of the world."

During the essay and interview, Dean Herron presented parents with his first day in HON 1000 lecture, followed by a question and answer session. Senior Chad Coleman and Junior Arielle Armstrong-Martin also gave a presentation to the parents about their Wayne State and Honors College experiences.

When the interviews concluded, students and parents reunited and took a walking tour of campus either before or after eating lunch in Towers Café.