UNM Honors College gears up for Honors Week Oct. 27-31

The UNM Honors College hosts its 2025 Honors Week from Oct. 27-31. Honors Week events are intended to expose students to the wide variety of interests and expertise within the Honors College, while providing opportunities to develop connections across many topics and to the College's three C's: Community, Curiosity and Creativity. The week-long schedule of events will replace classes for that week.

During the week, instructors will coordinate events that highlight the expertise and interests they each bring to Honors. Honors students will attend at least two of the events, but are welcome to attend more. Attendees must bring their Lobo ID, as card swipes will be the method of recording participation.

Honors Week will have nearly 50 events for students to choose from, ranging from scavenger hunts to pickleball games - there is something for everyone during this Honors College showcase. Below are several of the planned events. For a complete schedule, visit Honors Week.

Mini Explora
Date: Monday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.
Duration: Three hours
Location: Honors College Flex Lab (Classroom 1020)
Student capacity: 12 in lab; students can wander in and out
Sponsoring faculty: Carmen Sorge

The Explora interactive experimental learning center is an Albuquerque staple for anyone interested in science. Come to the Honors College Flex Lab to get a taste of Explora and interact with simple science samplers such as colored shadows, filters, optics, waves, sound and more.

Narcan Training
Date: Monday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m.
Duration: One hour
Location: Honors College Forum
Student capacity: 20
Sponsoring faculty: Amy Farnbach Pearson

In 2021, more than 100,000 Americans died of opioid overdoses, while New Mexico ranked among the top 10 states for drug overdose deaths per capita. Narcan (naloxone) reverses opioid overdoses, and fentanyl testing strips help prevent them. Learn how to use both methods safely and practice the process to be ready in case it is ever needed. The training will be provided by the UNM Campus Office of Substance and Alcohol Prevention (COSAP).

Medieval Mischief: Performing Mankind
Date: Monday, Oct. 27, 1 p.m.
Duration: 75 minutes
Location: Honors College Classroom 1004
Student capacity: 15-20
Sponsoring faculty: Richard Obenauf

Jump into the hilariously irreverent world of Mankind, a late medieval English morality play that has entertained audiences for more than five centuries. Written in the 1470s, Mankind has been preserved in a single surviving manuscript, combining slapstick comedy, bawdy humor and biting satire with serious questions about temptation, morality and the purpose of life in the Middle Ages.

Students will hear a brief introduction to the play's historical context before taking the stage to perform selected scenes in Obenauf's modern translation.

The Beauty of the Beat: Hip-Hop Production
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.
Duration: Two hours and 30 minutes
Location: Honors College Conference Room 1052
Student capacity: 18
Sponsoring faculty: Johannes Barfield and Will Barnes

This interactive workshop focuses on the art of hip-hop music production. Students will experiment with an Akai MPC 2000XL sampler/drum machine, vinyl records and a record player to discover how beats are built from scratch. Using a collection of historically significant records, students will explore the process of creating drum patterns and sampling sounds that helped shape rap music.

Fun With TTRPGs
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m.
Duration: One hour
Location: Honors College Classroom 1004
Student capacity: 20
Sponsoring faculty: Jonatha Kottler

Learn about the history of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), the best games for getting started, tips and tricks for character creation, how to game master, and everything regarding Dungeons & Dragons. Explore independently made tabletop games, pre-made adventures and free resources available to any player. Prizes will also be available for attendees.

Games for Writing
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 5 p.m.
Duration: One hour
Location: Honors College Forum
Student capacity: 30
Sponsoring faculty: Jonatha Kottler

For writing lovers who struggle with the discipline of writing, attend this fun, low-pressure workshop and learn several quick, engaging games designed to spark ideas and break through writer's block.

Scribendi Open Mic
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.
Duration: Two hours
Location: Honors College Forum
Student capacity: 100
Sponsoring faculty: Amaris Ketcham

The annual Scribendi Open Mic will be held during Honors Week. Students are invited to bring their poems, stories, songs, stand-up, art and more to share at this year's event, hosted and emceed by the Scribendi staff.

Scribendi is a nonprofit, annual print publication that features creative work from undergraduate honors students nationwide. It began as a publication of the University of New Mexico and has grown to include more than 800 institutions in the Western Regional Honors Council and National Collegiate Honors Council.

E-Textiles
Date: Thursday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.
Duration: One hour
Location: Honors College Flex Lab (Classroom 1020)
Student capacity: 18
Sponsoring faculty: Mary Tsiongas and Megan Jacobs

Students will create a simple e-textile sampler using conductive thread, LEDs, batteries and basic electronic components. Through this hands-on exploration, attendees will gain a foundational understanding of simple circuits and leave with a stitched, functional sample of their own design.

Pickleball Party
Date: Thursday, Oct. 30, 12:30 p.m.
Duration: One hour
Location: Outdoor tennis courts, north of Johnson Field
Student capacity: 30
Sponsoring faculty member: Ryan Swanson

Pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport in the United States. Come see why at the Honors College Pickleball Party, where you'll learn the rules and jump right into playing. Equipment will be provided.

For more information on the other 40 events happening during Honors Week, visit the complete Honors College Event Calendar.