Each academic semester, Florida State University's Honors Program recognizes graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves by completing three exceptional academic achievements, earning the distinction of Outstanding Senior Scholar:

• Maintaining a 3.9 GPA or higher, graduating Summa Cum Laude;
• Challenging themselves and enriching their education by completing the University Honors Program, in which they completed a minimum of 18 Honors points;
• Earning Honors in their Major by completing a research or creative project.

To achieve any of these distinctions is a noteworthy accomplishment; achieving all three is a rarity. Mallory Malman, who graduated in Spring 2023 with dual bachelor's degree in English-Editing, Writing, and Media and History, earned a well-deserved spot on this semester's list.

FSU awarded honors medallions to a total of 331 high-achieving graduates during a May 1 ceremony at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. In addition to the Outstanding Senior Scholar honor, Malman is an FSU Presidential Scholar, Class of 2023, serving as director of the Diversity & Inclusion Board in her third year, a Phi Beta Kappa Amnesty International member, and a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. She also won the English department's 2023 Cody Harris Allen Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Writing. In 2022, she won the John and Susan Ausley Undergraduate History Award.

Q&A WITH MALLORY MALMAN

(Conducted via email)

How do you think earning the Outstanding Senior Scholar recognition will benefit you as you pursue your post-undergraduate endeavors?

I aim to pursue my Ph.D. in History, so completing an Honors in the Major thesis at this level is a huge advantage. It gave me great experience into undertaking a longer form paper, which will hopefully make the dissertation less intimidating. As an undergraduate, I completed a research paper that is comparable to the type of work I plan to do for my dissertation. Being recognized for my work is a huge honor.

The Honors site reads that students need to “complete three exceptional academic achievements.” How did you plan your semesters to tailor your time to these program requirements?

I completed most of my honors requirements in my freshman and sophomore years largely by taking Honors Experience courses and participating in UROP. I planned to do my Honors Thesis my senior year, and did some preliminary work on it the summer prior.

Could you please describe the inspiration behind your honors thesis project and give a summary description of the contents? Please discuss working with your project director.

My project director, Associate Professor of History G. Kurt Piehler, told me my freshman year, “it is never too early to start thinking about your Honors Thesis.” So lots of ideas had been churning in my brain for a few years before I decided on my topic. I actually had quite a roller coaster and had to switch topics in the middle of my prospectus semester. I originally planned to do a case-study on a voting rights case in Thomasville, Georgia, however the records were really difficult to find and would have been too expensive.

So I decided to think about my other research and historical interests. I have always been really fascinated by the ways history and literature overlap, and I wanted my project to highlight that. Thus, I chose to focus on Zora Neale Hurston, best known for writing “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” My thesis, “Writing History: A Metahistorical Analysis of Zora Neale Hurston’s Works,” centered two of Hurston’s novels “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” and “Seraph on the Suwannee,” in conversation with archival records. Grounded in historiographical theory, this thesis showed how Hurston as a writer and anthropologist depicted a historically accurate version of 20th century Southern life and racial, gender, and class dynamics in her novels. It gives critical insight into how storytelling in novels can be utilized for historical purposes, when there is inconclusive or missing archival information.

Did you have any downsides or struggles when completing the three exceptional academic achievements and how did you overcome them?

It was definitely a challenge to write and defend my Honors Thesis in my final semester. Juggling the business of graduation, job applications, and defending my thesis could be overwhelming at times. However, I made sure to keep a to-do-list and stay on top of my tasks to make sure they all got done on time.

What advice would you give to any English students who want to earn the Outstanding Senior Scholar achievement?

First, when you write your thesis make sure you pick a topic you are genuinely interested in. Research is always more fun when you enjoy what you are doing. If you don’t enjoy your topic, you are less likely to want to produce a quality paper. I would also recommend to start your prospectus in the Spring of your Junior year, and defend in the Fall of Senior year. Like I mentioned, juggling the defense semester and final semester can be really challenging, so avoid it by getting the thesis done sooner.

What plans do you have for post-graduation?

I plan to take a gap year or two, and work in Los Angeles or Washington D.C. Then, I aim to get a History Ph.D. and become a Historian.

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