Honors Spotlight

Sara Linderman
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: December 2022
Instagram: @sara_linderman

Sara is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia (and a handful of other places). She is looking forward to attending physical therapy school following her graduation from BYU. If you were to catch Sara on a normal day, she would probably be running experiments on mice brains, volunteering at the Utah State Hospital, catching up on her physical therapy applications... Read more about Sara here.

Daira Sofia Velasco Vega
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Graduation: December 2023
Instagram: @velascovegadaira

My name is Daira Sofia Velasco Vega, and I am an international student, and I am in my sophomore year at BYU. I was born in Cochabamba Bolivia and raised in the same city. I was born in a poor area of the city, but my mother worked hard to give me a good education. Read more about Daira Sofia here.

Ashley Rands
Major: Music Performance
Graduation Date: April 2023
Instagram: @ashley.rands

I'm a trombone performance major in the BYU Philharmonic and BYU Synthesis from the Nashville, Tennessee area. When I'm not practicing, I'm listening to music and reading. Read more about Ashley here.

Brenna Peterson Reid
Major: English
Graduation: Dec. 2022

I love to read and write, and I hope to find a career as a YA fantasy novelist. I also love to draw and paint, and to admire the works of other artists. Read more about Brenna here.

Dr. Kirwan is a favorite professor in both the Psychology and Honors Departments. In addition to directing BYU’s new MRI Research Facility, he studies the brain mechanisms that allow people to form and retain memories of events. Read more about Dr. Kirwan here.

Samuel Benson
bensonsamb@gmail.com
Major: Sociology and Spanish Studies
Graduation: April ‘23
Instagram: @sam_benson3

I’m a journalist, a one-time postal carrier, and a curator of fine Spotify playlists

Why did you decide to join the Honors Program?
I wanted an educational experience that stretched me and forced me to study things outside of my initial interests or comfort zone. Honors has certainly done that. Read more about Samuel here.

Scout Siebert
Major: Neuroscience
Graduation: April 2024
Instagram: @scout.siebert 

I'm Scout Siebert, and I am a sophomore studying neuroscience. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, but I spent my life moving and living overseas. I have lived in eight countries, and I had the opportunity to graduate high school in Lusaka, Zambia. Read more about Scout here.

Jordan Spriggs
Major: Political Science
Graduation: April 2023

I'm the guy with the Spiderman mask. I didn't mean for that to be my call sign, but now that COVID-19 has lasted so long, that's how most of my teachers remember my face. Then again most of my life has been a contradiction. Read more about Jordan here.

Allie Smith
Major: Psychology
Minor: Global Women's Studies
Graduation: April 2024
Instagram: @_allie.j.smith_

One of my favorite parts of being alive today is being caught up with all the Marvel movies and shows. I watch entirely too much TV, but I love putting everything together, especially in that universe. I also like knowing random movie or celebrity trivia and will watch most romcoms that come out. Read more about Allie here.

Rebekah Olsen
Major: English
Minor: Art History
Graduation Date: April 2022
Instagram: @beckaolsen

I'm an English major, “for the purest and dullest of reasons: because [I love] to read” and an Art History minor for much the same reasons (Jeffrey Eugenides). I love giving and receiving book recommendations and have been known to walk into low trash cans on campus because I'm incapable of putting a good book down. Read more about Rebekah here.