The Las Positas College Honors Program is taking a major step toward expanding their student program with the launch of its first academic journal. Developed by a dedicated group of students, the journal aims to showcase the depth and quality of academic work produced within the program while creating a lasting platform for student research.
The Honors Journal highlights student research across various disciplines. Submissions were accepted from March through April, with subjects ranging from science-based research to technology and engineering.
Irena Keller, director of the Honors Program, said the journal provides vital opportunities for students enrolled in the program to build their professional portfolios.
“We want to prepare our students,” Keller said. “Then we want to provide all of those opportunities.”
In addition to submitting written work, students in the program are encouraged to present their findings.
“Students can present here at LPC and other honor symposiums,” Keller said. “They can present poster talks too. Since we didn’t have our own journal, it’s usually difficult to get published outside the it’s very competitive, especially in peer-reviewed journals.”
The culmination of this effort was announced at the LPC Honors Symposium, held on Wednesday, April 29. During the event, organizers revealed the nine papers chosen for the journal’s first edition. The announcement marked a milestone for both the selected students and the Honors Program.
The journal also serves as a recruitment tool to encourage more students to join and get involved in the program.
“One of the biggest hopes is that it’s gonna show good examples of what an honors paper means for students who are not yet in the program,” Keller said. “ (For) students who haven’t joined the program yet, don’t know what they signed up for, looking at the journal can help them gather an idea.”
The team of advisers and students behind the journal spent weeks cultivating a journal worth reading.
“The team of students did an amazing job,” Keller said. “They literally, from the ground, created the whole journal with peer reviews, editors, designs and marketing. All of them worked hard, and they made it happen in a very short time.”
The first edition is scheduled to release in May in both digital and print formats. Physical copies will be available in the library and Honors Lounge.
The collection is more than just a book of essays; it is physical proof of student initiative and academic ambition. Beyond individual recognition, the journal also reflects the evolving identity of the LPC Honors Program.
For many students, this will be their first experience being published in an academic setting, an achievement that can strengthen transfer applications and support their success at four-year institutions.
By prioritizing research and publication, the program is aligning itself with the expectations of four-year universities. This preparation helps students succeed in upper-division coursework and future research opportunities.
Looking forward, the Honors Journal has the potential to become a lasting tradition at LPC. If expanded, it could serve as a central platform for student voices across all academic disciplines. For now, the debut edition stands as a significant achievement—one that highlights the impact of student initiative within the academic community.
As the journal prepares for its debut, it represents the culmination of months of work and a new chapter for student scholarship at LPC.
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TOP PHOTO: LPC’s Honors Program is launching its first academic journal to showcase the depth and quality of academic work produced within the program. (Courtesy of Envato Elements)
Maggie Vander Ende is a staff writer for The Express. Follow her on Instagram @maggie.vanderende.
