The Henry Ford II Honors Program  

The Henry Ford II Honors Program at HFC offers a challenging and demanding academic program in which students and faculty form a learning community. Students are expected to excel academically as they develop their skills in composition, speech, independent research and critical thinking.

Henry Ford II Honors Program faculty members challenge students to explore their intellectual interests and achieve their academic potential. Students also work closely with assigned faculty mentors to gain admission to four-year transfer institutions of their choice, as well as identify and apply for transfer scholarships.

Established in 1978, the Henry Ford II Honors Program offers students a structured program consisting of core courses and requirements in humanities, English composition, science, math and foreign language. In addition, the program is designed to teach students to think critically and conduct research through various methods, including the use of libraries, computer databases and the Internet.

In their second year, students work one-on-one with highly motivated honors faculty members in the unique setting of Directed Studies. In Directed Studies, students research subjects under the supervision of Henry Ford II Honors Program faculty.  Students are encouraged to work on projects that can be presented or published. Those in the performing or creative arts are encouraged to work on projects that can be exhibited, performed or broadcast. Second-year students also enroll in the capstone course, “Great Works.”

Applicants should have an overall grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher and/or an ACT score of 26 or higher. Currently enrolled HFC students must have completed 12 or more hours in 100-level or higher courses as a full-time student or have completed 15 cumulative hours in 100-level or higher courses as a part-time student before application. Applicants should apply early in their senior year of high school because applications are considered year-round. The program is open to part-time and full-time students.

Applicants must submit an Honors Program application form along with their high school transcripts and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor. High school applicants must also submit a general college application and official high school transcripts to the HFC Admissions Office.

As of the winter 2016 semester, there are 64 students currently enrolled in the Henry Ford II Honors Program at HFC. For questions or further information, contact Dr. Michael Daher, director of the HFC Henry Ford II Honors Program, at 313-845-6460 or [email protected].

– Kurt Anthony Krug 

Honors Students Speak Fondly About UROP Experience at the University of Michigan    

Hector Ochoa and Victoria Peruski recently spoke fondly of their experiences in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) at the University of Michigan (U-M) College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA) in Ann Arbor. Both students received this opportunity through their work in the HFC Honors Program.

Founded in 1988, UROP is a national award-winning program which creates research partnerships between undergraduate students and U-M faculty and research scientists. UROP is now open to students from all Michigan community colleges.

Hector Ochoa

Ochoa and Peruski were two of eight Honors Programs students who participated in the 10-week community college summer UROP program. At the end, they presented their findings to their peers and the U-M faculty.

“It was a great experience for many different reasons, one of which was the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research. I worked in a lab with professionals performing carbon dioxide research, which was very memorable. UROP is set up to help students grow as scientists and professionals. For me, it helped me grow as a person and boosted my confidence. It broke me out of my comfort zone when I did the oral presentation. As a result, I feel more comfortable doing public speaking,” said Ochoa, of Detroit.

Ochoa attended John Marshall High School in LA and transferred to Asher Adult High School in Southgate, graduating in 2014. Ochoa is slated to graduate from HFC in 2016 with his associate degree in General Science. From there, he plans to transfer to U-M and major in Physics.

“When I first arrived at HFC, I wasn’t involved in much. But I became one of the leaders of Phi Beta Kappa (the honors society). I learned how to interact and it helped me grow in character. Because of the Honors program I learned about the UROP Program for community college students at the U of M. Participating in it was one of my best experiences in my community college career,” said Peruski, of Brownstown.

Victoria Peruski

Peruski graduated from Woodhaven High School in 2013. She graduated from HFC with her associate degree in General Science in late 2015. She transferred to U-M in early 2016, where she’s studying Neuroscience. Her ultimate goal is to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist.

“The accomplishment of HFC Honors Program students in the UROP program has become a yearly occurrence. Their persistent achievement reflects the depth and rigors of undergraduate research opportunities offered every semester in the HFC Honors Program – a training ground of sorts for UROP projects. The HFC Honors Program serves committed, hard-working students as a springboard into the pool of marvelous opportunities offered by UROP at U-M in Ann Arbor,” said Dr. Michael Daher, director of HFC’s Henry Ford II HFC Honors Program.

To learn more about the Honors Program at HFC, please visit https://hfcc.edu/programs/honors-program.