MSJC Honors Students Shine at 59th Annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference
11/24/2025
Six students from Mt. San Jacinto College’s (MSJC) Honors Enrichment Program joined Program Co-Directors Christina Yamanaka-Vu and Erik Ozolins, along with Honors Biology Faculty member Michael Plotkin, at the 59th Annual Conference of the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) in San Diego, held November 7–9.
The annual NCHC Conference brings together honors educators and students from across the nation to share innovative practices, research, and community-building strategies. MSJC’s delegation actively contributed to the event by attending sessions, presenting original research, and showcasing the college’s thriving honors community.
Two MSJC Honors students, Matt Piercy and Christian LaMattery, presented research posters based on projects completed in the college's Honors coursework. Four additional Honors students delivered a group oral presentation titled “Communities within Communities: How Honors Mentors at a Two-Year College Build Partnerships Across the College Campus,” highlighting the impact of peer leadership within the program and across MSJC. The presentation was given by Elissa Ferguson, Abby (last name withheld upon request), Isabella Munoz, and Noah Burley.
MSJC Honors Co-Directors Christina Yamanaka-Vu and Erik Ozolins also served as presenters and facilitators in multiple sessions, further demonstrating MSJC’s leadership in Honors education.
In addition, Professor Erik Ozolins was formally recognized during the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) annual conference with the prestigious Ron Brandolini Award for Excellence at a Two‑Year Institution. This national honor, announced earlier in October, celebrates outstanding faculty and administrators at two-year institutions who demonstrate distinguished leadership, innovation in honors education, and significant impact on student success.
At its core, the recognition highlights Ozolins’ multifaceted contributions as an inspiring mentor whose work is deeply entwined with student achievement, program growth, and institutional excellence.
MSJC Superintendent/President Dr. Roger Schultz praised the accomplishment, stating:
“Professor Ozolins exemplifies the very best of MSJC—dedicated, student-centered, and relentlessly committed to academic excellence. His leadership in the Honors Program has transformed opportunities for our students and elevated the college’s reputation on a national stage. We are extremely proud to see his outstanding work recognized with this well-deserved honor.”
The award shows MSJC’s commitment to creating a vibrant academic environment in which students develop research capabilities, intellectual curiosity, and readiness for transfer, and underscores the college’s national reputation in honors scholarship and equity-minded leadership.