Congrats Honors Scholars!

Pictured above, left to right (top row): Lily Jensen, Andres Pena, Janna Balasbas (bottom row) Cole Grizzel, Matthew Collado, Jacob Thomas.

The Honors Program is pleased to announce the Winter 2025 Honors scholarship recipients. Each semester, the Honors Program awards scholarships to students who have demonstrated Academic Excellence through their service and scholarship. These students are all currently engaged in their Honors coursework or thesis research and have contributed to the Honors community in a variety of ways. Read more about each of them below, and click here to learn more about Honors scholarship opportunities.

Khona Scholarship

Cole Grizzel
Major: Finance
Cole is a senior majoring in Finance and minoring in Economics. He credits the Honors Program with fostering his intellectual curiosity and growth, as it has been a space where he can explore topics about which he's curious for the sake of learning—not just for a grade. This emphasis on knowledge for knowledge’s sake helped him uncover previously unimagined interdisciplinary connections, enriching his academic journey. One of Cole’s best undergraduate experiences was Professors Rowan and Duerden's Unexpected Connections course, where he learned to tell transformative stories. “That course helped me to better understand myself, which has been so valuable as I’ve gone through school,” he reflects. The skills he developed there have been instrumental in his honors coursework and thesis.

Cole’s thesis examines the effects of U.S. commodities market activity on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the energy sector. His research explores how changes in asset values drive M&A activity and how the macroeconomic situation of the energy market influences firms. By analyzing data on transaction values, frequencies, and trade volumes, Cole aims to uncover correlations and causations that reveal how companies unlock value for shareholders. This research aligns with Cole’s career goals as he prepares to join Jefferies’ energy investment banking team in Houston. “The skills I’ve gained through the Honors Program and writing my thesis will translate into advantages in the workplace,” Cole notes. These abilities will set him apart as he pursues future goals, including obtaining a CFA charter and attending a top MBA program.

Robert K Thomas Scholarship

Lily Jensen
Major: English
I feel so grateful for the kind mentors, professors, and students who have helped me grow in the Honors Program! Taking classes with an interdisciplinary focus alongside passionate and diligent students has helped me consider new perspectives and questions. I loved being a TA for Professors Jennifer Nielson and Rex Nielson for their class, “Foodprints.” In this class, we looked at the science and culture that contribute to what we eat, how we grow food, where we get our food from, and how we can live in more sustainable ways. I was able to see how different minds come up with solutions to the world’s most pressing problems—such as hunger and climate change—and how working across disciplines can make solutions more effective.

My Honors thesis will build on research I did in London on the Theatre and Media Arts study abroad this last spring term. In my research, I am looking at what contemporary theatre is doing to create hope. Theatre as a medium offers a unique mode of communicating hope because of its ability to draw an audience together to experience a live story. My thesis analyzes Jez Butterworth's 2024 play, The Hills of California.

I plan to attend graduate school in the future, studying English. I'm so happy that I chose to be in the Honors Program!

Hector Andres Pena Vega
Major: Mechanical Engineering
I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, but moved to the U.S. primarily seeking the best possible academic education. I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in German. After starting at BYU, I learned about the Honors Program and knew I needed to take advantage of this opportunity to engage in research and publish my own work. The Honors Program curriculum ignited curiosity and wonder for topics I might not have encountered otherwise. The Honors Program allowed me to explore subjects such as the nutritional and physiological requirements for vampires in fantastic literature, as well as the concept of infinity, its properties, and how humanity has interacted with it—topics I would never have studied in my engineering program.

My honors thesis involves the design, manufacturing, and engineering validation of a fetal monitor capable of detecting the kicks and movements of a developing baby in the mother’s womb. This device will help parents monitor fetal movement, which is linked to healthy development. I believe engineering should serve humanity, and I’m excited to pursue an honors thesis that could initiate something impactful, with the potential to improve the lives of millions of mothers and families.

I plan to pursue a joint program for a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA. My honors thesis advisor has agreed to forward my thesis to the master’s level. I aim to further develop this type of product, start a company, and commercialize the technology I am developing with my thesis.

West Honors Scholarship

Janna Balasbas
Major: Neuroscience
Janna is a first-generation international student at BYU. She is an aspiring physician who strives to bring a global perspective to healthcare and is passionate about studying the human brain. Janna was raised as a Filipina and has had significant exposure to Middle Eastern culture. Her unique background has shaped her cross-cultural understanding and desire to address complex global challenges. Attending honors classes has been a transformative part of her academic journey. She sees the Honors Program as a platform to explore the intersection between culture and intellect and create world solutions. For Janna, being part of the Honors Program is not just an academic pursuit but an opportunity to be part of an engaging and supportive campus community. She hopes to inspire other international students to explore the program and experience the value of its unique interdisciplinary approach. She is excited to deepen her engagement with the Honors community by connecting with faculty, staff, and fellow students.

Honors Endowed Scholarship

Matthew Collado
Major: Political Science
Hi, my name is Matthew Collado, and I am from Connecticut. I am a first-generation freshman student studying Political Science. Since high school, I’ve been passionate about advocating for others and understanding how policies impact different communities. I hope to influence relevant policy changes that can help people in need. Eventually, I aspire to have a career in law and, in the long run, become a politician. I am driven by a desire to create more equitable systems and ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities they deserve. Through my studies and future career, I want to use my voice and education to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Joining the Honors Program will help me pursue a career that prepares me for the real world. The program will allow me to expand my knowledge and push my academic limits through challenging courses, interactions, and involvement with other students from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. My first semester in the Honors Program was a great experience because I learned to take an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, which expanded my knowledge. We had the opportunity to interact with others from different majors, allowing us to build on each other's knowledge and tackle questions together. From this experience, I want to continue expanding and growing by interacting with others, learning from their perspectives, and further developing my skills in collaborative problem-solving.

Jacob Thomas
Major: Genetics, Genomics & Biotechnology
My name is Jacob, and I am from Nottingham, the home of the legend Robin Hood, in England. Despite being many miles from my native home, I found my new home in the Honors Program! Learning from inspirational faculty and conversing with my fellow interdisciplinary disciple scholars has paved the way for my future. The Honors Program is like starting an exhilarating quest to weave a tapestry of my purpose in our wide world as I learn to make contrasting subjects come together to create beautiful, enlightening, unexpected connections. Honors is all about seeing the great beauty of God’s colorful world and creations from a broad spectrum of perspectives.

My honors journey has been my highlight of the BYU experience. My favorite moment so far has been the networking dinner that inspired me to pursue the program and expand my own network in the intellectual community. I am excited to begin my unexpected connections classes next semester!

I've always dreamt big about what I could do to create a positive impact in the world. I know God has a plan for me in His work and I fully intend to see it through with what I learn here. My ultimate goal is to unravel the secrets of DNA and to seek optimal ways to learn to comprehend the God's craftsmanship. I wish to always stand true to the light Christ has given me, and let it shine as a beacon of hope to help illuminate the world in His light.