She increased the number of Honors courses at Miami University from 24 to 90. She brought in greater financial resources. She started new initiatives for Honors and Scholars students like faculty mentoring, summer tuition waivers, and first-year core courses. And after 25 years of service to Miami, Dr. Mary Kupiec Cayton was awarded the Honors and Scholars Medallion – a symbol of her dedication and hard work for the Miami University Honors and Scholars community.

Cayton, now chair of the Department of History at Miami, was selected from a multitude of faculty and staff members who have dedicated time to Honors and Scholars students. “We reviewed all faculty or staff members who have taught, advised, or mentored students, who have served on honors-related committees, or who have impacted the program in significant ways for the past two decades,” Honors and Scholars Program Director Carolyn Haynes said. “Dr. Cayton set high quality standards for the students, faculty, and staff of the program and helped us all reach new heights of excellence.”

Past winners of the medallion include Professor Emeritus Don Daiker and current Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Nault. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Brown University, Dr. Cayton says working with Honors students gives her a chance to assist them in pursuing their dreams and passions. “Honors students need challenges, and they will rise to the challenges you set for them,” she said. “I like to get to know those honors students, find out what passions they have, and help them to pursue them.”

Dr. Cayton originally began teaching for the Western College Program before moving to the College of Arts and Science. She also served as the first Associate Director for the Honors Program. Though she is no longer on the official staff roster, she continues to work with students in the Honors and Scholars program as often as possible. “One reason I’ve invested so much time in the Honors and Scholars program is that I believe it’s important to challenge students academically and culturally. We’re in a period now in which people get the message that it’s important to build up your credentials, and sometimes we don’t take the time to discover and pursue what we really care about.” Looking back on her time with Honors and Scholars, Cayton acknowledged the importance of the program. “Getting the Honors program squarely on the university radar was – and is -- something that is vital for a university of this kind to attend to,” she said. “The challenges we give our very best students reflect on the overall educational quality we’re providing for all students.” She added, “You can get a degree where you do the minimum and fulfill the requirements, but in order for you to get an education, you’ve got to go beyond just checking off the boxes. That’s exactly what President Hodge is saying we need to do, and I think it’s something the University Honors and Scholars program encourages students to do.”