Schedule of Events (Student Union Jordan Ballroom)

• 1:15 p.m., Welcome from Andrew Finstuen, director of the Honors College and Barbara Morgan, distinguished educator in residence

• 1:45 p.m., Showcase of Learning with presentations by professors Eric Landrum on “The Psychology of College Decision Making;” John Gardner on “Engineering a Sustainable Future;” and Henry Charlier on “Catalysis Is Cool”

• 3 p.m., Tours of campus featuring Albertsons Library, University Housing, Honors College and Driscoll Hall, and the Interactive Learning Center

• 5 p.m., Academic reception with the deans and college booths

• 5:45 p.m., Awards banquet with speakers including President Bob Kustra and a special student presentation of “Ignite Boise State”

At the awards banquet, each student will be presented with a certificate for a $1,000-per-year renewable scholarship for up to five years of undergraduate study when they attend Boise State the semester immediately following high school graduation. Honorees also must participate in the April 18 Capital Scholars event to be eligible. Selection was based on college entrance examination scores and class rankings.

The Boise State Capital Scholars program is in its seventh year, with a total of 333 scholarship recipients. Last year, 54 Idaho high school juniors participated. Recipients have come from all parts of the Treasure Valley and the state, including Pocatello, Twin Falls, Lewiston, Garden Valley, Jerome, Idaho Falls, Wilder, Nampa, Caldwell and Post Falls.

The Honors College and its students have been key supporters of the series and have often hosted various speakers in Driscoll Hall, the Honors residence facility, for conversations related to the speakers’ areas of expertise. Nationally, many Honors Colleges house similar series for their respective universities.

“President Kustra’s decision to locate the DLS within the Honors College is an exciting development and a natural fit for the college,” Finstuen said. “Honors is a site for interdisciplinary conversations and learning for students representing nearly all fields of study at Boise State. The DLS matches that emphasis by bringing prominent speakers from a variety of disciplines to engage and challenge our campus and local community. This partnership also reflects the Honors College’s interest in serving the university and public at large.”

Despite the change in institutional sponsorship, a representative faculty committee will continue to oversee the selection of lecturers for the series.

The next Distinguished Lecture Series features philosopher Martha Nussbaum at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in the Student Union Jordan Ballroom. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Finstuen currently is director of Pacific Lutheran University’s International Honors Program and assistant professor of American church history in its Department of Religion. He will join Boise State over the summer.

“Dr. Finstuen’s vision for the Honors College, along with his experience and success with the multi-faceted demands of leading an honors college, truly set him apart from the many excellent candidates for this position,” said Sharon McGuire, Boise State vice provost for undergraduate studies. “He has proven experience building a quality program able to recruit and retain top students, the ability to develop a strong honors college curriculum, working closely with faculty members across many disciplines, and strategic fundraising experience – all key elements of this important job at Boise State.”

Finstuen has a doctorate in American history from Boston College with a focus on the history of American Christianity. Before assuming his current role at Pacific Lutheran, he served as interim assistant director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College and as a post-doctoral Lilly Fellow in the Humanities and History in the honors college at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

The Honors College offers talented, highly motivated students the personalized attention of a small liberal arts school while drawing upon the resources of a metropolitan research university. Open to majors from all academic disciplines, the mission of the college is to provide students with exceptional opportunities normally found only at expensive private institutions.

Finstuen succeeds Craig Hemmens as director of the Honors College. Hemmens will be on sabbatical in the fall to work on a manuscript and return full time to his position as a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice.