By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – There won’t be any awkward silences during this dinner party.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney Honors Program is promising an evening of lively discussion when guests take a seat at the table for “Great Conversations: Dinner with a Twist.”
The event, scheduled for 6-8 p.m. June 21, gives community members a chance to engage with honors students and each other while enjoying a meal at Kearney Country Club, 2800 19th Ave.
“We want to interact more with the community. We think that’s good for us and we think it’s valuable to the community. This is a chance to do something fun together,” said John Falconer, director of the UNK Honors Program.
During the dinner, guests will be seated at tables of eight people, including a facilitator and student co-facilitator who will lead the conversation on a specific topic of general interest. The evening’s theme isn’t disclosed ahead of time to ensure attendees arrive with an open mind.
Falconer expects the event to be both enriching and interesting for guests.
It’s also an opportunity to support the Honors Program, which promotes academic, leadership and personal development through specialized courses, a learning community, scholarly and service projects and opportunities to study abroad. The four-year program is open to students who score at least a 27 on the ACT exam and finish high school with a 3.75 grade-point average or better.
Tickets for “Great Conversations: Dinner with a Twist” are $30 each and can be purchased by contacting Falconer at honors@unk.edu or 308-865-8497. The deadline to register is June 13.
Proceeds will support Honors Program activities, including a book club and alumni dinners, as well as a fund that helps offset costs for students studying abroad.
“That’s a big emphasis in the Honors Program,” Falconer said, noting that about 40 percent of UNK honors students spend time studying internationally.
There were 372 students in the UNK Honors Program during the spring semester, a number that’s expected to increase next fall.
