Honors First-Year Orientation
Hello New Honors Scholar!
Your honors journey starts here. From August 15–18, 2026, incoming scholars in the Mahurin Honors College will kick off the year through H4 — a dynamic honors orientation experience designed to help you connect, settle in, and start strong before the semester begins.
H4 is more than an orientation. It’s your first opportunity to build friendships, meet mentors, connect with faculty and staff, and discover what it means to be part of the Honors community at Western Kentucky University. Through engaging programs, traditions, team activities, and plenty of fun (yes, including the beloved honors skits), you’ll gain the confidence, support system, and insider knowledge to navigate your first year with purpose.
During H4, you will:
- Connect with fellow honors scholars, peer mentors, faculty, and staff
- Learn how to make the most of your Honors experience both inside and outside the classroom
- Explore opportunities like research, leadership, education abroad, service, and campus involvement
- Get comfortable navigating campus and college life before classes begin
- Build lasting friendships and become part of a supportive community from day one
H4 is completely free to attend, but registration is required so we can plan for your participation.
Register for H4!
Important Dates & Details
- H4 Dates: August 15–18, 2026
- Early Move-In for Residential Students: Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Commuter Students: Absolutely welcome and encouraged to participate
- Registration Deadline: July 31, 2026
- Cost: Free
While H4 is now a standalone Honors experience and no longer part of M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, we still encourage students to register for M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan as an additional opportunity to prepare for life at WKU.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the Hill and celebrate the beginning of your Honors experience.
We are hard at work on the official program of activities for H4 - stay tuned for updates.
Meet the H4 Direction Leaders
Direction Leaders (DLs) are experienced honors student leaders who help guide the H4 experience for incoming scholars. Serving as mentors, facilitators, and team leaders, DLs work alongside counselors and Honors staff to create a welcoming, energetic, and supportive environment throughout the program. From leading activities and traditions to helping students build connections and confidence before classes begin, Direction Leaders play a key role in helping new honors scholars feel at home at WKU from day one.
Bowling Green, KY
H4 shaped my WKU experience from day one, and I want to create that same sense of connection and belonging for incoming honors students. Through my experiences as both a counselor and student leader, I’ve learned that strong leadership is about energy, adaptability, and helping others feel supported, motivated, and excited to be part of the Honors community.
Dale, IN
Working in entertainment and collaborative environments has taught me how to lead under pressure, connect with many different personalities, and create welcoming spaces for others. I want to serve as a Direction Leader so I can help incoming students feel comfortable, supported, and excited as they begin their WKU journey.
Buckner, KY
H4 inspired me from the moment I attended as a first-year student, and serving as a counselor only deepened my passion for helping students build lasting friendships and confidence at WKU. Through leadership roles in theatre, summer camps, and my workplace, I’ve developed strong communication, problem-solving, and mentoring skills that I hope to bring to the Direction Leader role.
Elizabethtown, KY
H4 played a major role in helping WKU feel like home, introducing me to friendships and experiences that continue to shape my college career. As both a camper and counselor, I’ve seen the impact thoughtful leadership can have, and I hope to bring positive energy, strong communication, and a collaborative spirit to help the next class of honors students feel connected from the very beginning.
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