The Vanguard Honors Program: Leadership and Impact for the Kingdom

In the fall of 2019, Vanguard University welcomed 20 first-year students to campus and into the newly established Vanguard Honors Program (VHP). The program that launched that day aimed to shape leaders equipped to make a meaningful impact in the world through mentorship, rigorous academic studies, and a Christ-centered community.  

Since that journey began in 2019, students in the VHP have journeyed through a transformative academic experience that nurtures both intellectual growth and personal development, providing an environment where character and calling are prioritized alongside coursework, creating a holistic experience that prepares them to thrive personally and professionally.

A Foundation Built on Purpose

While a strong focus on critical thinking and academic excellence is a keystone piece to most honors programs, Vanguard’s Honors Program encourages students to find and embrace their deeper purpose. For Honors student Ari Kochan ’25, the program isn’t just about meeting academic standards; it’s about aligning her studies with her faith and calling to serve others. “[The Honors Program] encouraged me to take pride in my academics, all while keeping my purpose of showing God’s glory at the forefront,” said Kochan.  

Richard Park, D.Phil., Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics and Director of the Honors Program echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of helping students grow in character as much as education. “It’s easy for students—honors or otherwise—to get lost in the mix of all their classes and forget that they’re framed around this big idea of calling, which each of us has and is meant to fulfill.” By walking alongside students while they pursue their calling, honors professors can help them connect their education to their God-given purpose and explore what it means to live that out. 

The Role of Mentorship in Character Development 

Fostering character growth in students does not happen in a classroom setting alone, and Vanguard’s Honors Program is designed with this in mind. As the Honors Program prepares to add a minor to its offerings, Dr. Park highlights the mentorship aspect that will be a key part of the program. Students will be encouraged to regularly meet with two mentors—one in line with their professional journey and the other whose purpose is to be a character guide. “They’re meant to meet regularly with both these mentors to shape both their character and their calling,” said Park. This emphasis on mentorship creates an environment where students can grow not only in knowledge, but also in wisdom, emotional intelligence, and spiritual maturity. 

The impact of these mentorship connections is evident in the experiences of Vanguard Honors students like Rachel Lopez ’23. According to Lopez, “We were taught by so many skilled professors and administrators. I also gained a lot of leadership experience by being a part of the Honors Chapel Committee, which has helped me as a leader in my classes and in church as well.” Lopez’s testimony highlights how the Honors Program fosters leadership development and spiritual growth, equipping students to serve and lead in diverse contexts. 

A Community of Growth and Support 

While the Honors Program pursues academic excellence, it also seeks to create a space where students grow together, learn from one another, and support each other in their personal and spiritual development. The program accepts up to 40 new students each year, with a total of just 120 students across all four cohorts. This size allows the program to foster a tightly knit community of professors, students, and their families. “It does feel like this wonderful village where we’re all pouring into these young ones, and that in itself is irreplaceable,” said Park.

Leadership and Impact for the Kingdom

Perhaps one of the most powerful outcomes of the VHP is its focus on developing students who are academically successful as well as committed to making a positive impact in the world after they graduate. Intentionally designed to help students develop as leaders prepared to engage with the world in meaningful ways, driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to serve others.  

“From a kingdom perspective, it’s this wonderful opportunity of interacting with some very motivated and highly accomplished students in a concentrated time and place where we can pour into them as they go out and make a significant impact for the kingdom,” Park said.