Ashlyn Anderson is in the Cole Honors College and is also a student-athlete.

UNA and the Honors College Provide Path for Involvement

Nov. 30, 2023



Caroline Conkle , at cconkle@una.edu

Eleventh in a Series

The University of North Alabama is home to the Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College. Its mission is to provide students with a great college experience that translates into postgraduate success. The College is full of many students with different majors, backgrounds, and aspirations. 

As a student in the Cole Honors College myself, I am writing a series of profiles on other students in the College and how their time at UNA and as an Honors student is preparing them for future success.

Ashlyn Anderson is a junior at UNA. She is a nursing major, a member of the Cole Honors College, and a member of the UNA cross country team. Here she is in her own words.

Q: Why did you choose to come to UNA?

A: I chose to come to UNA because of the welcoming community that both the city and the university has to offer. Being several hours away from home, UNA has become my home away from home. 

Q: If you were to give your younger self advice about coming to college, what would you say?

A: If I were to give my younger self advice about coming to college, I would tell myself to get involved and be intentional about my time here. There are so many great opportunities to meet people of all different backgrounds while at college, and all it takes is putting yourself out there! 

Q: What drew you to Honors? Why did you want to join?

A: When considering the Cole Honors College, the thought of being part of a community on campus caught my attention. The staff and students were so welcoming and helped make the transition into college much easier. There are also several other perks, such as early registration, smaller classes, social events, and scholarship opportunities.

Q: If you were to tell someone to join the Honors College, what would you say?

A: I would encourage new students to join the Honors College because it can open the door to so many new friendships and opportunities on campus.

Q: How do you feel UNA is preparing you for success?

A: Both UNA and the Cole Honors College have prepared me for my life after college and brought me some of my best friends!

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering credential, certificate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs in the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. The first-choice University for more than 10,000 on-campus and online students, UNA is on a bucolic campus in Florence, Alabama, part of the historic and vibrant Shoals region. Lions Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I’s ASUN Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/