Honors Program receives two national awards for student engagement and innovation
Published August 5, 2026

MONROE, La. – Honors Program earned two national honors at Pathways 2026, a student success conference hosted by Suitable in Philadelphia, Penn., from July 22-24. The Honors Program received both the Distinguished Program Award and the Highest Engagement Award, recognizing the innovative design and exceptional student participation of the Honors FLIGHT Program. Suitable is a software platform and app thatassistsuniversities in boosting student engagement outside the classroom.
FLIGHT (Forging Leaders, Inspiring Growth, and Harnessing Talent) is Honors' nationally recognized experiential learning curriculum. Through guided pathways, students intentionally develop competencies in research, leadership, cultural engagement, civic responsibility, career development, and school pride while building a comprehensive record of learning beyond the classroom. As students master each competency, they earn digital badges that communicate their achievements to employers,graduateand professional schools,demonstratingnot only what they have learned, but how they have applied that learning in meaningful ways.
The Distinguished Program Award recognizes institutions that havedemonstratedthe highest level of excellence in implementing Suitable to advance student success. According to Suitable, the award honors programs that align their platform with institutionalmission, create innovative student experiences, and make a lasting impact on student engagement.
“The Distinguished Program Award recognizes the vision behind the FLIGHT Program,” said Dr. Joshua Stockley, director of the Honors Program. “From the beginning, our goal was never simply to track student involvement. We wanted to create a culture where everyhonorsstudent intentionally connects classroom learning with leadership, research, service, and professional growth.We'rehonored that Suitable recognized not only the outcomes we have achieved, but also the intentional design and long-term commitment that made those outcomes possible.”
The Honors Program also received the Highest Engagement Award, recognizing programs that achieve exceptional levels of sustained student participation. The FLIGHT Program hasmaintained100 percent student engagement for three consecutive years, placing among a select group of programs nationwide toaccomplishthis distinction.
During the past academic year alone, honors students completednearly 10,000experiential learning activities across more than 1,600 unique opportunities, ranging from undergraduate research and academic conferences to community service, internships, leadership development, and professional networking.
“While achieving 100 percent engagement is certainly an accomplishment, whatmakes me most proud is what those numbers represent,” Stockley said. "Our students have built a culture where learning extends well beyond the classroom. They are conducting research, serving their communities,participatingin internships, developing professionally, leading organizations, and embracing opportunities that prepare them for lives of purpose. Engagement has become part of who our students are, and that culture is what these awards truly recognize.”
Since its implementation, the FLIGHT Program has become a defining feature of the Honors experience and has received multiple national recognitions for innovation and student success. The program has also served as a model for expanding experiential learning and digital badging initiatives across the university, state, and nation.
About the FLIGHT Program
The FLIGHT Program (Forging Leaders, Inspiring Growth, and Harnessing Talent) connects students to campus and community activities through a point-based system, awarding digital badges thatshowcasecompetencies on résumés and professional profiles. Powered by Suitable, the program helps students track progress, engage in events, and build co-curricular transcripts, equipping them with practical and relational skills valued by employers, graduate schools, and competitive opportunities worldwide.
For more information, visit:
About the Honors Program
The Honors Program is a nationally recognized, award-winning program that attracts intellectually curious students eager to challenge themselves withnew ideasand collaborate with like-minded peers. Open to all majors, the program integrates seamlessly with anydegreepath. Honors students engage in deeper academic exploration, benefit from close faculty mentorship in smaller classes, andparticipatein experiential opportunities such as the FLIGHT Program.
For more information about the Honors Program, contact Dr. Joshua Stockley atstockley@ulm.eduor (318) 342-3216, or visit.
