The Ā鶹¹ū¶³ Honors College celebrated the arrival of its newest class of students at the Annual Ice Cream Social, held Thursday evening, August 14, 2025, outside the Honors College.
The event, a long-standing tradition, brought together first-year honors students for an evening of community, conversation, and sweet treats from New Baltimore Ice Cream, which served flavors such as Blue Moon and Cookiesān Cream. Each student received a commemorative Honors College t-shirt featuring the 60th anniversary logo on the sleeve, marking six decades of Honors College excellence that will be officially celebrated this fall during Kent Stateās 2025 Homecoming weekend. Students proudly wore their new apparel for a class photo at the close of the evening.
In addition to enjoying ice cream, students connected with peers through an interactive Bingo activity designed to spark conversation. Participants checked off boxes by meeting classmates with different majors, residence halls, skills, and hobbies. Local Kent businesses and organizations supported the activity by donating prizes.
The social also provided opportunities for students to meet members of the Honors Leadership Academy and Peer-to-Peer Success Mentors. The Peer-to-Peer mentors will serve as guides and support systems for first-year students as they begin their college journey.
āThe Ice Cream Social is a wonderful way for our incoming class to start building connections,ā said Honors College community coordinator and academic advisor, Erin Ahrens. āIt reflects the spirit of the Honors College community, where students support one another both academically and personally.ā
This yearās event not only marked the beginning of the studentsā college experience but also kicked off a milestone year for the Honors College as it enters its 60th anniversary celebration.