What are the requirements of the First-Year SOAR Badge?
Building Honors Community
In this category, you will engage in events and activities designed to foster connections with fellow Honors students, faculty, and staff. These experiences will help you build meaningful relationships and deepen your sense of belonging within the diverse Honors community. Through reflection, you will also explore what it means to be both an individual Honors student and an active participant in a shared academic and social community. *1 event required (10 pts each)
Intellectual and Creative Engagement
Students in this category explore events and initiatives that inspire new ways of thinking, feeling, responding, acting, problem solving, and expressing ideas. These experiences strengthen their ability to think critically and creatively across different fields of knowledge. Through reflection, students gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of intellectual and creative engagement and develop the capacity to form meaningful conclusions that support future learning. *2 events required (10 pts each)
Community Service
As part of this requirement, you will complete a minimum of 3 hours of service or philanthropy on campus, in the Laramie community, or in your own community and submit a brief reflection in the SOAR app. You may choose an opportunity from the Civic and Community Engagement category in the Suitable app or complete service anywhere in the world—such as in your hometown or while traveling abroad. *3 hours required (30 points total)
Introduction to the Capstone Training Module
Through the Introduction to the Capstone training module in the Suitable app, you will begin the early stages of project development and management—a key skill for any profession. You will brainstorm and explore potential project ideas, identify possible faculty mentors, and consider sources of funding. By examining past student projects and presentations, you will also gain insight into the wide-ranging possibilities and creative scope of the capstone experience.
How do I get started?
Not sure how to get started completing your First-Year Badge? There are many resources to help you! The Honors First-Year Badge Guidebook provides how-to instructions for each part of the badge. The "Submit Your Own" guide explains how to submit activities you participate in that are not listed in the Suitable app. Lastly, you can contact a SOAR Mentor to get some guidance from a peer for more support!
