Harris-Stanford Honors Program
Modeled after college honors programs, Harris-Stanford collaborates with local, regional, and national partners to provide extraordinary civic engagement, extracurricular seminars, travel and other learning and leadership opportunities for motivated students. Among the partners is the prestigious Institute for the Public Trust, a non-partisan, non-profit organization based in Raleigh, N.C. Baylor is the first high school in the U.S. to be brought into the Institute’s leadership program.
Students admitted to Baylor as Cartter Scholars are automatically members of the Harris-Stanford Honors Program, as are any Cartter finalists who enroll at Baylor and other select members of the Upper School student body.
The Harris-Stanford Honors Program is named for legendary Baylor faculty members Bryce Harris and Jack Stanford, whose lives, careers, and legacies serve as examples for Baylor scholars and leaders. Modeled after college honors programs, Baylor’s Harris-Stanford program collaborates with local, regional, and national partners to provide extraordinary civic engagement, extracurricular seminars, travel and other learning and leadership opportunities for motivated students.
WHO PARTICIPATES?
Students admitted to Baylor as Cartter Scholars are automatically members of the Harris-Stanford Honors Program, as are any Cartter finalists who enroll at Baylor and other select members of the Upper School student body.
NINTH AND TENTH GRADE PROGRAM
Curriculum for the Harris-Stanford Honors Program for ninth and tenth graders encompasses many aspects of business, community and leadership, including philanthropy, government, justice and law enforcement, health care, arts and culture and economic development. Scholars have had behind-the-scenes tours of government offices, non-profits, and thriving small businesses, as well as seminars with leaders of private and corporate foundations, the chief of police and others.
ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH GRADE PROGRAM
Curriculum for the Harris-Stanford Honors Program for eleventh and twelfth graders includes presentations by nationally-known speakers through the prestigious Institute for the Public Trust, a non-partisan, non-profit organization based in Raleigh, N.C. Baylor is the first high school in the U.S. to be brought into the Institute’s leadership program. Speakers’ presentations include topics such as crisis communications, campaign polling, the art of compromise and public discourse, building a campaign platform and other resources on leadership to assist them in considering one day running for a leadership role and/or public office.
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
In addition, Harris-Stanford Honors students enjoy many experiential learning experiences, including:
- A three-day trip to North Carolina, including Tours of Duke University, the University of North Carolina, and North Carolina State University in conjunction with the Institute for Public Trust
- Individual mock on-camera interviews with a seasoned television journalist
- A day-long visit to the state capitol in Nashville, which typically includes lunch with a group of state representatives, a mock senate session, and presentations by elected officials, the governor’s Chief of Staff, and the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.