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The Office of Undergraduate Education

Honors Convocation Tradition

Honors Convocation is an annual celebration at UT Dallas where undergraduate students are recognized for their distinguished academic achievements. Students earning Latin Honors and Major Honors are invited to attend. The tradition of Honors Convocation dedicates time prior to commencement for the academic community to gather and recognize the very best of the University's undergraduates who are prepared to make significant contributions to their professional field or graduate programs.

2012 Honors Convocation Ceremony

The Spring 2012 Honors Convocation will be conducted on May 17th, in the Activity Center.

Please note the following:

  • If you do not attend Honors Convocation, you may pick up your medallion at commencement.
  • Only students graduating in the spring and summer will be provided a medallion at the Honors Convocation ceremony. Students who graduated in fall should bring the honors medallion they were provided for fall commencement.


Notify the university of your intent to attend the Honors Convocation ceremony using the Honors Convocation RSVP Form.

The Honors Convocation Ceremony

At this event, students who are graduating with Latin Honors or Major Honors will be recognized and given a UT Dallas honors medallion, which is to be worn during commencement to signify their honors recognition. The ceremony will include recognition of the Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award and President's Teaching Excellence Award. Audience members will also enjoy a presentation from the keynote speaker, as well as congratulatory words to the students from President Daniel and Provost Wildenthal. Dean Piñeres, deans of the seven UT Dallas schools, and several of the University's most decorated faculty will join students in this celebration. Students who are invited to participate in this tradition are also encouraged to invite family, friends, and faculty who inspired or mentored them during their academic career at UT Dallas to attend.

Recognition of Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award

The Honors Convocation ceremony includes the formal recognition of the Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award. The recipient of this award is inducted as an honorary member of the UT Dallas Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, which is one of the Country's oldest and most prestigious honor societies. The Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award recipient presents the keynote address at Honors Convocation.

The 2012 Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award Recipient

UT Dallas alumni Derrick D. Morgan has been selected to receive the 2012 Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award. Mr. Morgan completed his bachelor’s degree in government and politics at UT Dallas in 1999 and later earned his juris doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2002. He has served as the Chief of Staff to Dr. Edwin J. Feulner of The Heritage Foundation since April 2010. As a top advisor to the President and a member of senior management, he is involved in all facets of operating one of the leading think tanks in the world. After practicing law in a major international law firm and before joining The Heritage Foundation, Mr. Morgan counseled officials in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. Most recently he served on the Republican Policy Committee as the policy expert for all Senate Republican members and their staff. His policy papers and insights on energy, environment, labor and agriculture issues were delivered to every Republican office before every vote. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Mr. Morgan served Vice President Richard B. Cheney for four years as Staff Secretary. Mr. Morgan has remained engaged with the university through his service on the Board of Advisors of the Pre-Law program at UT Dallas.

Recognition of Latin Honors

UT Dallas Honors Convocation also recognizes undergraduates who will graduate with the traditional Latin Honors designations. Students must have completed a minimum amount of coursework at UT Dallas to be recognized with Latin Honors per the University's Undergraduate Catalog.

Summa Cum Laude, or with highest honors, is the recognition of the greatest academic success in the UT Dallas undergraduate experience. Students earning Summa Cum Laude honors must graduate with the designated grade point average and be in the highest five percent of their academic school.

Magna Cum Laude, or with high honors, is the recognition of students who have continuously met the academic challenges of the university and their discipline and emerged triumphant. These students must graduate with the designated grade point average and be in the next ten percent of their academic school.

Cum Laude, or with honors, is the recognition of students who have sustained academic excellence during their undergraduate career. These students must graduate with the designated minimum grade point average and be in the next fifteen percent of their academic school.

Visit the Office of the Registrar Latin Honors webpage for more information.

Recognition of Major Honors

During the Honors Convocation ceremony, students who earn Major Honors from their academic school through successful completion of the school's Honors Program are also recognized. Each program provides two levels of recognition: Honors and Distinction. Student must have completed a minimum amount of coursework at UT Dallas to be recognized with Major Honors.

Convocation Student Information

The Honors Convocation ceremony will last approximately one hour. Business casual (no jeans or shorts) is the suggested attire for all guests. Invitees are encouraged to arrive an hour prior to the ceremony. All students who will be recognized must sign-in at the Honors Convocation check-in desk. Honorees will be given a UT Dallas honors medallion at check-in. After checking in, honorees will line up and process into the ceremony. There is no limit to the number of guests and the event is free to all honorees and their guests. The university will not provide a location, nor is responsible for backpacks, purses, or other personal belongings during the ceremony. Please do not bring those items or leave them with your guests.