Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nev., Charlotte Aguon, a student of the ÐÔ°®ÎåÉ«Ìì, Reno, class of 2028, is pursuing a bachelor's degree in environmental science through the Honors Baccalaureate Pathway.
Aguon chose to attend the University for its environmental science program and the unique coursework available at the Lake Tahoe Wayne L. Prim campus. Her educational journey reflects the transformative power of challenging oneself through learning opportunities offered by the Honors College.
An opportunity offered by the Honors College for its students is to take an Honors Contract Course. Honors Contract Courses allow students to earn Honors credit in a non-Honors course through the completion of an additional project. These projects may vary depending on many factors including the major, the course content and whether or not the course is upper or lower-division. For example, if a student is majoring in marketing, they might design a marketing plan for a social movement group that they learn about in a Sociology course.
In her Geographic Explorations course, Aguon completed a presentation as part of an honors contract, which she described as a valuable experience that helped her clarify her goals for the class. Honors contracts allow an Honors student to work directly with a faculty member to make any credit-bearing course an Honors course. To date, Aguon has completed two Honors contracts for her pathway. Alongside her Geographic Explorations presentation, she pursued another contract in Professor Hanson-Morse’s Ancient and Medieval Cultures course (CH 201). Aguon was drawn to this humanities class because of its broad range of topics and engaging instruction.
Exploring ancient literature covering themes like family, love and religion, Aguon decided to create a painting for her Honors contract. Inspired by Professor Hanson-Morse’s enthusiasm for the subject, she aimed to delve deeper into the course themes. To further her exploration of ancient cultures, she chose to focus on the Roman gods Mars and Ceres for her painting.
In Roman mythology, Mars represents agriculture and war, while Ceres symbolizes fertility and agriculture. She saw this project as an opportunity to incorporate “the human aspect” into the broader field of Environmental Science. “Environmental Science is a vast field, and there is a lot of human history and emotion to consider,” Aguon shared.
For her painting, she textured the background using digital brush techniques to depict a Roman ruin, blending artistic creativity with historical inspiration.
Reflecting on her experience in the Honors College, Aguon appreciates the challenges and opportunities it has provided. She highlighted her Honors 215 Global Perspectives class as particularly enjoyable, noting how it deepened her understanding of diplomatic interactions worldwide. By combining her Honors coursework with standard classes, she feels that the Honors College has allowed her to personalize her education and explore a broader range of interests.
Aguon values the flexibility and creativity that honors contracts offer, allowing her to design unique projects outside the traditional course framework. Her painting of Mars and Ceres, for example, felt “familiar and comforting,” giving her a chance to explore new subjects in imaginative ways.
To fellow Honors students, Aguon advises integrating personal passions into their studies. “Do what you love,” she recommends. While art is not her primary focus, incorporating her artistic talents into her schoolwork has made her educational journey more meaningful. “I want to keep art in my life; that is important to me,” Aguon said.
As Aguon continues to think outside the box, her artistic vision and interdisciplinary approach serve as an inspiring example for other students seeking to enrich their academic experience.
