2026 Commonwealth Honors Academy welcomes 94 scholars

By Dr. Laura Sullivan-Beckers | Jun 23, 2026

MURRAY, Ky. — This year’s Commonwealth Honors Academy (CHA) at Murray State University has welcomed 94 scholars among nearly 300 applicants. Scholars represent a total of seven states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio.

The scholars represent nearly 60 different high schools from cities large and small. CHA students spend three weeks from June 6-27 taking challenging courses taught by award-winning faculty, engaging in personal growth seminars, learning from special guest speakers and enjoying fun extracurricular activities. The students get a real taste of what it is like to be a college student by living in J.H. Richmond Residence Hall and dining at Winslow Dining Hall. 

The mission of the Commonwealth Honors Academy is to educate, inspire, challenge and support the next generation. The scholars who are invited to attend have demonstrated not only their intelligence and drive, but also responsibility, maturity and compassion. The faculty and staff encourage CHA scholars to grow—not only in academic pursuits, but also as engaged and contributing members of a community.

CHA welcomed nine faculty members this year; four from Murray State in areas including engineering and physics, journalism and mass communication, biology and organizational communication, and five from other (K-12) school districts.

“CHA is a wonderful academic program that offers not only top-notch educational content, but also helps students learn how to navigate college life,” said Academic Dean of Commonwealth Honors Academy and Associate Professor of biology at Murray State University, Dr. Laura Sullivan-Beckers. “They figure out what it's like to work with new people, live with roommates and are exposed to lots of new ideas. It is always a great joy to see how much students develop in such a short period of time. For our faculty and staff, it is a very rewarding program that tends to invigorate our professional lives each year.”

The courses offered this year include a wide range of content: genetic engineering, argumentation and debate, dystopian literature, visual art, history of Puerto Rico and rise of Bad Bunny, global music, generative AI and media, Hamilton and the Revolutionary War, and cybersecurity.

Each student completes two courses over the duration of the academy, earning college credits and four years of in-state tuition at Murray State (provided benchmarks are met).