Alumni Activities
Ms. Dusty Dye graduated from Berry in the spring of 2009
with a BAH degree in history. She then moved on to the University of West
Georgia to pursue a master’s degree in history with a concentration in Public
History. She will graduate in August 2011.
Ms. Dye recently shared her reflections on writing an Honors
thesis:
"I have lately
been reminded of the tremendous value of my experience in the Honors Program at
Berry. In particular, my work on my Honors senior thesis has been absolutely
indispensable as I embark on writing my master's thesis. Interestingly enough,
my research topic for my master's thesis actually grew out of the interest in
Colonial America that I developed while researching Colonial Williamsburg for
my senior thesis. I'll be writing on funereal culture in South
Carolina during the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. I've
translated my research on mourning customs(which I have
been engaged in for over a year) into a paper that won an award for graduate
research, an outdoor exhibit at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta that will open in
February of next year, and a forthcoming presentation for the National Council
of Public History about historic interpretation in sacred spaces like
cemeteries. I could actually go on further, but I only wanted to let you know
how much the Honors Program has benefited me in my education and career. I
honestly believe that my master's thesis would be almost impossible to complete
without my previous experience. I'm well on track (and somewhat ahead), and I
owe it all to the Honors Program."
Justin Neal, who graduated in
2002 with a major in economics and a minor in government, married
his fellow forensics team member Lindsey Hutcherson. Since graduation,
he has become a Certified Financial Planner through the CFP Board and
earned his Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial
Consultant designations from the American College.
Justin currently works for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
as a financial planner. He has recently been asked to direct the
college intern program for his office. He was also recently appointed by
Governor Perdue to the Board of the Department of Human Resources for
the State of Georgia.
Here are his comments on his memories of the Berry College Honors
Program:
“The Honors program provided some of the most intellectually
stimulating experiences and classes that I participated in during my
college years. I looked at Honors classes with anticipation and
expectation. The curriculum allows creative and contextual exploration
of different subjects with an emphasis on the way different subjects
cross-pollinate and influence each other. It was the purest experience
of what liberal arts was intended to produce. It was a delight to sit
with other focused bright minds and seek truth and knowledge with open
encouragement from some of the sharpest and most interesting professors
that Berry has to offer. I was pushed and pressed to excel and grow
in my intellectual development.”
Here is Justin’s “hindsight advice” to current or prospective
Honors students:
“Please do not forget to study abroad. I was able to study in
England, and I can honestly say that failure to take advantage of the
opportunity to travel, live and study in another country and culture is
one of the worst tragedies for any student, and especially one who
participates in the Honors program.”