Faculty and students in the Honors College commemorated the college’s 50th anniversary on Friday with a reception in the Slonaker House.

The event served as an opening celebration for future events and programs the college will host for the rest of year, according to Honors College Dean Patricia MacCorquodale.

“I think it is a wonderful kickoff to what will hopefully be a wonderful yearlong celebration,” MacCorquodale said. “It’s a big milestone and it is great looking back to see how much the college has grown in terms of its students and what it has to offer.”

During the event, guests were able to participate in a trivia competition in which players attempted to “stump a student” in the Honors College. They were also invited to cast their vote for the best study abroad photo submitted by UA students, as well as donate money to the Honors College’s new study abroad endowment.

“We have a lot of alumni out in the world and we want our students to be able to connect with them,” MacCorquodale said. She added that the establishment of the endowment and the college’s efforts to build relationships with former and current students are “really important.”

In 1962, the Honors College, which was originally known as the Honors Program, initiated 75 students with the help of a council composed of 13 UA faculty members. Today, the college works with more than 3,000 honors undergraduates and recently received a new residence hall, Árbol de La Vida, to house 719 of its students.

“What is nice about the Honors College is that you have a smaller community feel, but you are still attached to the rest of the university,” said Josilyn Tan, a marketing sophomore and honors student. “I think that the older the Honors College gets, the more it becomes a tradition of the UA and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

The Honors College’s website has an interactive timeline that marks significant events and people from the college.

“I think that the Honors College is really a jewel at the University of Arizona. We’re known across the country for having one of strongest academic programs for honors students and producing wonderful alumni,” MacCorquodale said. “So I think it’s really important to reflect on our success, but also think it is important to see how that success builds for the future.”

In addition to the new study abroad endowment and building a stronger relationship with alumni, one of the bigger events the college is planning this year will be a talent show staring honors students. This will take place at Homecoming and a reception at the Slonaker House will be held after.

“I’ve noticed that everyone (who is an honors student) has some awesome talent that they are really good at,” said Joseph Demirjian, a sophomore studying molecular and cellular biology. “And when you get involved, you really notice that.”

The next event for the anniversary is a collaboration with the Peace Corps and is scheduled on March 28.