Honors Ambassadors

Honors Ambassadors (HA) is a student-run group of current honors students who represent the Honors College at open houses, question-and-answer panels and other recruitment events. Honors Ambassadors are available to host prospective students on select days during the year. Host-a-Days allow new students to explore the everyday life of an Honors student, from classes to campus activities. Honors Ambassadors are the bridge between prospective and current Honors students and a powerful resource for attracting students to UMD.

Students who are interested in becoming an Honors Ambassador can fill out the application here. Applications are due on Sunday, September 22 by 11:59 p.m.

Meet Our Student Coordinators

Hi there! My name is Vianne Hughes, and I’m the HA event coordinator. I’m part of the class of 2027 and am in the Honors Global Challenges and Solutions program. I am on the pre-med track pursuing a double degree in Psychology and Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in dietetics. Along with being an HA, I’m an active member of the Terrapin Trail outdoor activities club and a peer support group leader for a nonprofit organization. As the HA event coordinator, I work to facilitate scheduling and volunteer sign-ups for our events. I look forward to forming more connections with both current and prospective Honors students!

— Vianne Hughes ’27

Hi everyone! My name is Ally Rizzo (they/them), and I’m part of the Honors Humanities class of 2026. I am an intended marketing major with a double minor in viola performance and arts leadership. I am involved in extracurriculars such as The Observer and Sigma Alpha Iota. As engagement coordinator, I work to spark interest in Honors Ambassadors and create a strong community among current members and prospective students. This program has allowed me to connect with peers across all honors programs, which has been a fantastic experience.

— Ally Rizzo ’26

Meet Our Staff Advisors

Hello! My name is Abby Benton, and I am the Recruitment and Programming Graduate Assistant for the Honors College. I just recently graduated from UMD with a B.S. in Accounting and Information Systems and am pursuing an M.S. in Accounting. In this role, I will be working with our Honors Ambassadors (HAs). Having the opportunity to work with HAs is so exciting because I get to collaborate with motivated students who want to help promote all that UMD has to offer. HAs are crucial to helping prospective Terps learn about UMD and provide real insights into what it is like to be an Honors Student. I am so excited to begin working with current and prospective students and representing the University of Maryland Honors College!

— Abby Benton

Greetings and thank you for your interest in joining the Honor Ambassadors team! As the Assistant Director of Recruitment & Inclusive Communities, my role is to oversee and support this exceptional student-run organization. What does being an Honors Ambassador (HA) mean? It means you are the student representation of the Honors College, as a whole. It is through your knowledge, experience and commitment that prospective students are able to make a sound decision on if UMD Honors should be the place for them to call home. Plus, by being an active HA, you are able to connect with other Honors College students who may be in different living-learning programs (which can be beneficial for your own self-growth). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself or the recruiting and programming graduate assistant.

— Chantelle Smith, Assistant Director of Recruitment & Inclusive Communities