Announcing the Winter '26 Honors Scholars
Meet the Honors Scholarship Recipients
The Honors Program is pleased to announce the Winter 2026 Honors scholarship recipients. Each semester, the Honors Program awards scholarships to students who demonstrate a commitment to Academic Excellence through their service and scholarship. These students are all currently engaged in their Honors coursework or thesis research and are contributing to the Honors community in a variety of ways. Read more about these students’ experiences below and click here to learn more about Honors scholarship opportunities. The deadline to apply for scholarships for Sping or Summer ’26 term is March 15th.
Khona Scholarship
The Khona Scholarship was established by the Khona family to benefit Honors students with business majors or minors who are currently working on their thesis.
Jonathan Dickson
Major: Strategic Management
Honors has shaped my undergraduate experience by pushing me to treat ambiguity as a design problem: define the question, build an evidence base, and iterate. The best part of my time in the program has been the way it fosters a habit of mind—approaching school, work, and life through an interdisciplinary lens that connects ideas across business, the humanities, and the sciences rather than keeping them in separate boxes.
My Honors thesis looks at how successful companies “stack” platforms over time. In plain terms, I am studying how a company starting with one kind of platform—such as a marketplace or developer ecosystem—adds another layer to drive new growth. I am examining company examples to identify patterns about what makes these expansions work, what tends to break, and how the patterns might inform future decisions for business executives. I chose the topic because platforms are some of the most influential business models today, but the step-by-step path from a single platform to a multi-layer system has not been thoroughly explored.
I spent last summer as an intern at the management consulting firm, Bain & Company, and will start with them full-time after graduation. I expect my Honors training and thesis research to translate into sharper problem framing, stronger research discipline, and more defensible recommendations when advising future clients. I plan to pursue an MBA after my initial years at Bain.
Honors has shaped my undergraduate experience by pushing me to treat ambiguity as a design problem: define the question, build an evidence base, and iterate. The best part of my time in the program has been the way it fosters a habit of mind—approaching school, work, and life through an interdisciplinary lens that connects ideas across business, the humanities, and the sciences rather than keeping them in separate boxes.
My Honors thesis looks at how successful companies “stack” platforms over time. In plain terms, I am studying how a company starting with one kind of platform—such as a marketplace or developer ecosystem—adds another layer to drive new growth. I am examining company examples to identify patterns about what makes these expansions work, what tends to break, and how the patterns might inform future decisions for business executives. I chose the topic because platforms are some of the most influential business models today, but the step-by-step path from a single platform to a multi-layer system has not been thoroughly explored.
I spent last summer as an intern at the management consulting firm, Bain & Company, and will start with them full-time after graduation. I expect my Honors training and thesis research to translate into sharper problem framing, stronger research discipline, and more defensible recommendations when advising future clients. I plan to pursue an MBA after my initial years at Bain.
Alia Youjin
Major: Accounting
Hi! My name is Alia Youjin, and I am from South Korea but grew up in Pakistan, as my father is from there. Growing up between cultures played a big role in shaping how I see the world and how I connect with people. Being Korean-Pakistani meant learning early on how to navigate different languages, traditions, and expectations, and it taught me the importance of listening carefully and staying open to perspectives different from my own.
Language has always been a big part of who I am. I grew up translating for people around me without really thinking about it, which eventually led to one of my favorite experiences, serving as an interpreter for the Korean and Pakistani governments when I was 18. It was scary and intimidating at first, but it helped me gain confidence and showed me how important communication is, especially when the stakes are high.
One of my goals is to graduate from BYU and attend law school. I believe the Honors Program is helping prepare me for that path by strengthening my writing, research, and critical thinking skills, while also helping me grow personally. I’m excited to continue being part of Honors and to keep learning from the experiences it offers.
Hi! My name is Alia Youjin, and I am from South Korea but grew up in Pakistan, as my father is from there. Growing up between cultures played a big role in shaping how I see the world and how I connect with people. Being Korean-Pakistani meant learning early on how to navigate different languages, traditions, and expectations, and it taught me the importance of listening carefully and staying open to perspectives different from my own.
Language has always been a big part of who I am. I grew up translating for people around me without really thinking about it, which eventually led to one of my favorite experiences, serving as an interpreter for the Korean and Pakistani governments when I was 18. It was scary and intimidating at first, but it helped me gain confidence and showed me how important communication is, especially when the stakes are high.
One of my goals is to graduate from BYU and attend law school. I believe the Honors Program is helping prepare me for that path by strengthening my writing, research, and critical thinking skills, while also helping me grow personally. I’m excited to continue being part of Honors and to keep learning from the experiences it offers.
Robert K. Thomas Scholarship
The Robert K. Thomas Scholarship is named after the founder of the BYU Honors Program. Dr. Thomas “felt a special affinity for the aspiring few and truly believed they would set a standard that would raise the level of academic achievement throughout the university.” This scholarship is awarded to Honors students each semester who are currently working on their thesis.
Sydnee Beck
Major: Political Science
Minor: Global Women's Studies
My name is Sydnee Beck, and I’m from Logan, UT. I’m a political science major and global women’s studies minor. Some of my favorite things are the outdoors, chocolate, my family, friends, and fiancé, Taylor Swift, Dr. Pepper, running, and Jesus.
I have loved being a part of the Honors Program! My favorite part is the unexpected connections courses, especially the “Strong Bodies, Resilient Minds, and Healthy Relationships" class that changed the way I viewed wellness. I have also loved meeting brilliant honors students and teachers that inspire me to become a better thinker and person.
For my thesis, I am studying how religion affects political ambition in Utah men and women. I am running a survey to gather how church cues on the importance of political participation influence desire to run for office and look forward to seeing what affect has on the aspiration of men and women, church members and non-members, and wealthy and not wealthy. I hope that my research will explain the difference in political ambition and help explain how to get more women in office. After I graduate in April, I plan to go to law school. The skills I’ve learned in the Honors Program, such as critical thinking, problem solving, interdisciplinary thinking, and pushing for success, will be valuable assets for me as I learn the law.
Minor: Global Women's Studies
My name is Sydnee Beck, and I’m from Logan, UT. I’m a political science major and global women’s studies minor. Some of my favorite things are the outdoors, chocolate, my family, friends, and fiancé, Taylor Swift, Dr. Pepper, running, and Jesus.
I have loved being a part of the Honors Program! My favorite part is the unexpected connections courses, especially the “Strong Bodies, Resilient Minds, and Healthy Relationships" class that changed the way I viewed wellness. I have also loved meeting brilliant honors students and teachers that inspire me to become a better thinker and person.
For my thesis, I am studying how religion affects political ambition in Utah men and women. I am running a survey to gather how church cues on the importance of political participation influence desire to run for office and look forward to seeing what affect has on the aspiration of men and women, church members and non-members, and wealthy and not wealthy. I hope that my research will explain the difference in political ambition and help explain how to get more women in office. After I graduate in April, I plan to go to law school. The skills I’ve learned in the Honors Program, such as critical thinking, problem solving, interdisciplinary thinking, and pushing for success, will be valuable assets for me as I learn the law.
Carter Glass
Major: Music Performance (Brass)
Upon entering BYU for my undergraduate degree, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the Honors Program. The idea of being able to approach ideas and problems from angles I wouldn't otherwise was a huge incentive for me, and I craved the level of academic work that a thesis would require from me. What I didn't expect form my Honors experience was how much I would grow to love working, studying and learning in mediums that weren't music. I'm an avid film buff and amateur plant identifier on hikes, both traits that I can trace back to experiences in unexpected connections classes.
My thesis is a biographical survey of Utah-born cornet player Ernest "Red" Nichols' early life, including his performances with his father throughout the Greater Salt Lake area in the early 20th century. In my initial research, I traveled to the University of Oregon and looked at archival information and then combined that with historical newspaper records to gain an accurate idea of what Nichols' life was like, before he became a key figure in the early "hot" jazz scene in New York.
After graduation, I intend to receive a masters degree in musicology, which my Honors experience, and specifically writing my thesis, has prepared me for. My experience writing my thesis has helped me to understand how to write and research about music effectively, and the interdisciplinary nature of the program as a whole is critical to how I want to approach my education going forward, pulling from multiple different research traditions and approaches.
Upon entering BYU for my undergraduate degree, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the Honors Program. The idea of being able to approach ideas and problems from angles I wouldn't otherwise was a huge incentive for me, and I craved the level of academic work that a thesis would require from me. What I didn't expect form my Honors experience was how much I would grow to love working, studying and learning in mediums that weren't music. I'm an avid film buff and amateur plant identifier on hikes, both traits that I can trace back to experiences in unexpected connections classes.
My thesis is a biographical survey of Utah-born cornet player Ernest "Red" Nichols' early life, including his performances with his father throughout the Greater Salt Lake area in the early 20th century. In my initial research, I traveled to the University of Oregon and looked at archival information and then combined that with historical newspaper records to gain an accurate idea of what Nichols' life was like, before he became a key figure in the early "hot" jazz scene in New York.
After graduation, I intend to receive a masters degree in musicology, which my Honors experience, and specifically writing my thesis, has prepared me for. My experience writing my thesis has helped me to understand how to write and research about music effectively, and the interdisciplinary nature of the program as a whole is critical to how I want to approach my education going forward, pulling from multiple different research traditions and approaches.
Jaycelin Eyre
Major: Psychology
Minors: Design Thinking/Communications
When I joined the Honors program, I set myself on a path of academic ownership. With a range of options in the Unexpected Connections classes, leadership experiences, the Great Questions essay, and thesis topics, Honors helped me practice intentionality in designing my learning experience. One of my top Honors highlights was the Art of Transformative Storytelling class. In a storytelling session with classmates, I shared about how I’m overcoming what others have told me about my identity as a woman. That class led me to find my purpose as a leadership coach and researcher studying identity and decision-making in the workplace.
My passion for this topic led me to pursue my Honors thesis topic: how do motherhood stereotypes influence women’s decisions about high-status roles? I found this question after knocking on the office door of my mentor, Dr. McKenzie Rees, in the Marriott school. She hired me on the spot as an RA, helped me create the conceptual model, and put full initiative of the paper into my hands. Then she introduced me to professors at other schools, research conference opportunities, and her PhD prep bootcamp. Dr. Rees is an incredible mentor, and it’s because of the Honors thesis requirement that I get to work as closely with her as I do. I plan to pursue a PhD in Organizational Behavior, and the Honors program has helped me not only become a competitive candidate, but also given me the academic rigor I’ll need to learn and excel.
Minors: Design Thinking/Communications
When I joined the Honors program, I set myself on a path of academic ownership. With a range of options in the Unexpected Connections classes, leadership experiences, the Great Questions essay, and thesis topics, Honors helped me practice intentionality in designing my learning experience. One of my top Honors highlights was the Art of Transformative Storytelling class. In a storytelling session with classmates, I shared about how I’m overcoming what others have told me about my identity as a woman. That class led me to find my purpose as a leadership coach and researcher studying identity and decision-making in the workplace.
My passion for this topic led me to pursue my Honors thesis topic: how do motherhood stereotypes influence women’s decisions about high-status roles? I found this question after knocking on the office door of my mentor, Dr. McKenzie Rees, in the Marriott school. She hired me on the spot as an RA, helped me create the conceptual model, and put full initiative of the paper into my hands. Then she introduced me to professors at other schools, research conference opportunities, and her PhD prep bootcamp. Dr. Rees is an incredible mentor, and it’s because of the Honors thesis requirement that I get to work as closely with her as I do. I plan to pursue a PhD in Organizational Behavior, and the Honors program has helped me not only become a competitive candidate, but also given me the academic rigor I’ll need to learn and excel.
Morgan Roundy
Major: Exercise Wellness
Minor: Gerontology
I joined the BYU Honors Program during my freshman year, initially drawn by the interdisciplinary courses that fulfilled GE requirements while encouraging deeper exploration. As I took Unexpected Connections courses, I became interested in the Honors emphasis on building meaningful connections across different fields of study. That interest eventually led me to serve as a TA for HONRS 320: Great Questions Tutorial, where I helped facilitate the kind of interdisciplinary discussion that first inspired me.
This semester, I will complete my Honors thesis examining how the Mediterranean diet functions as a protective factor against tobacco-induced lung cancer, with a focus on the Italian population. My experience in the Honors Program has allowed me to explore my academic interests while expanding the way I think across disciplines. After graduation, I plan to take a gap year to work before applying to graduate school.
Minor: Gerontology
I joined the BYU Honors Program during my freshman year, initially drawn by the interdisciplinary courses that fulfilled GE requirements while encouraging deeper exploration. As I took Unexpected Connections courses, I became interested in the Honors emphasis on building meaningful connections across different fields of study. That interest eventually led me to serve as a TA for HONRS 320: Great Questions Tutorial, where I helped facilitate the kind of interdisciplinary discussion that first inspired me.
This semester, I will complete my Honors thesis examining how the Mediterranean diet functions as a protective factor against tobacco-induced lung cancer, with a focus on the Italian population. My experience in the Honors Program has allowed me to explore my academic interests while expanding the way I think across disciplines. After graduation, I plan to take a gap year to work before applying to graduate school.
Generations Endowed Scholarship
Endowed by Honors alumni in the West family, this scholarship is awarded to Honors students early in their university career who are first generation college students to encourage participation and advancement in Honors.
Polli Pereyra-Salgado
Major: Cell Biology and Physiology
Minors: International Development/Molecular Biology
I joined the Honors program through divine inspiration. I felt strongly drawn to the interdisciplinary approach that the program fosters for disciple scholars. I am currently a pre-MD/PhD with a strong interest in international development and global health. My time at Honors has enabled me to seek learning opportunities in these fields to better prepare me to serve my loved community back home in Honduras. I have been given much and there is so much work to do out there!
There are so many things that I look forward to! From developing my Honors thesis to connecting with a broad variety of scholars with a similar faith background, there is so much to learn from everyone here at Honors. It is truly a privilege to be here.
Minors: International Development/Molecular Biology
I joined the Honors program through divine inspiration. I felt strongly drawn to the interdisciplinary approach that the program fosters for disciple scholars. I am currently a pre-MD/PhD with a strong interest in international development and global health. My time at Honors has enabled me to seek learning opportunities in these fields to better prepare me to serve my loved community back home in Honduras. I have been given much and there is so much work to do out there!
There are so many things that I look forward to! From developing my Honors thesis to connecting with a broad variety of scholars with a similar faith background, there is so much to learn from everyone here at Honors. It is truly a privilege to be here.
Honors Program Scholarship
Endowed by Honors alumni and other donors to the Honors Program, this scholarship is awarded to Honors students early in their university career.
Angeles La Fuente Rodriguez
Major: Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology
Minors: Molecular Biology/Chemistry
I’m Angeles (but everyone calls me Angie), a trilingual Bolivian who loves science, labs, languages, reading, travel, and good food (especially mangos!). My mission in Colombia helped me discover a love for cultural connection and learning from new perspectives. Through the Honors program, I’ve loved diving into interdisciplinary subjects, and I looking for the unexpected connections between science, culture, and big ideas around the world in the classes.
Minors: Molecular Biology/Chemistry
I’m Angeles (but everyone calls me Angie), a trilingual Bolivian who loves science, labs, languages, reading, travel, and good food (especially mangos!). My mission in Colombia helped me discover a love for cultural connection and learning from new perspectives. Through the Honors program, I’ve loved diving into interdisciplinary subjects, and I looking for the unexpected connections between science, culture, and big ideas around the world in the classes.