Join the Honors Program Literary Society! We are a group of JMHP students who meet regularly to read and discuss books together and to go beyond the typical idea of a book club. We have discussions and activities related to literature, storytelling, fandoms, etc. 

We understand everyone has busy schedules, and you are not required to keep up with certain readings to participate. For example, in past meetings, we discussed our favorite tropes in literature and our favorite book to movie adaptations.  Meetings of the HPLS will be posted in the JMHP events calendar.

The John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP) Outstanding Student Award is given every year to celebrate one graduating student who best exemplifies the spirit of the JMHP during their time at Georgia Tech.

The John H. Martinson Honors Program fosters curiosity, creativity, and connection amongst a select group of highly motivated students.  The John H. Martinson Honors Program Outstanding Student Award is given to one graduating senior who best exemplifies excellence in academic achievement, leadership, creative endeavors (of any kind), curiosity, and community building.

The award will be presented at the annual Georgia Tech Student Honors Ceremony and includes a cash prize of $1,000.

Eligibility: Any JMHP student who has achieved the distinction of “Completion of the John H. Martinson Honors Program” (15+ credit hours) is eligible to apply.  Students must have graduated in the current academic year to be eligible to apply (e.g., students who graduate in summer 2025, fall 2025, or spring 2026 are eligible for the award given in spring 2026). 

Nominations: Self nominations are accepted via an online application.  Applicants must:

• respond to essay prompts,
• include a copy of their resume, and
• verify their GT ID so that a transcript can be checked. 

The application for the 2025 award is now closed.  The application for the 2026 award will open in January, 2026.

The John H. Martinson Honors Program Student Challenge Fund was created to encourage students to consider service-oriented experiences, motivate attendance to academic or leadership conferences, and support innovative projects of students’ own design.

• up to five (5) individuals will be funded each fall and spring (up to 10 total per academic year) with a maximum funding of $500 per student,
• students completing an innovative project may do so as part of a team, with maximum funding of $1,500 per team,
• teams may complete one application if applying for up to $500, but must complete separate applications if applying for additional funding (for example, a team of two could request up to $1,000 with two applications for $500 each and a team of three could request up to $1,500 with three applications for $500 each),
• service trips, conferences, or projects must be of a secular nature, 
• the request must be made at least two weeks in advance of the event,
• you must keep track of your expenses (including specific mileage for driving trips) with itemized receipts that document payment and match your itemized budget request in order to be reimbursed (no exceptions-see screenshot below for an example),
• expenses cannot be paid using a "buy now, pay later" service such as Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, Sezzle, PayPal, or Shop Pay,
• you must submit your receipts within 10 days of completion of the trip or project (no exceptions), 
• if you fail to use your funding during the semester in which it was awarded, it will not roll over–you must reapply in a future semester, and
• students must indicate on the application whether they are current employees of Georgia Tech (e.g., a student assistant, TA, RA, employee in a GT office, etc.).  Current GT student employees MUST complete a spend authorization request in the Workday financial system at least one week prior to any kind of travel, such as to a conference, for a service trip, to complete a project, etc. (no exceptions).
  • Reimbursement policy for GT employees (including student employees)
  • Reimbursement policy for non-GT employees   
     

Please click on the links below for more information about examples of experiences or projects. These examples should help you choose or design your own trip or project for submission, but it is not meant to limit your options. If you are interested in participating in a service trip/project or attending a conference, you should apply to the programs themselves. After being accepted, you can then submit a proposal to be reimbursed from the John H. Martinson Honors Program.  

EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE EXPERIENCES OR PROJECTS

• GT Civic Engagement Alternative Spring Break
• GT Trailblazers
• GT Habitat for Humanity
• Service trips with other secular organizations (or of your own design)
• Attendance at an academic or leadership conference
• Development of an innovative project**

**The SCF award will fund reimbursement of approved and documented materials, supplies, or services used by the student(s) in the design or creation of qualifying innovative projects.  Approved projects must:

1. Involve the design, creation, or performance of an invention, work of art, publishable writing, community initiative, or the like.
2. Hold potential for significantly advancing students’ understanding, skills, or accomplishments, or students’ qualifications for winning a grant, scholarship, fellowship, or award.
3. Be performed independently by the student or student team and not as part of any student’s coursework, co-op, internship, or employment activities or responsibilities.

Deadline for JMHP funding proposals: rolling applications, due at least two weeks before the start of the trip/event/project.  Only five (5) students per fall and spring semester will be funded.  We will notify you if all funding for that semester has already been allocated to other projects.    

Proposal submission requires an accompanying budget. Download this template to create your budget (requires GT login) and this form to submit your proposal.  Proposals without a budget will not be considered. 

All funds for spring 2025 have been dispersed.  The application will reopen in the fall 2025 semester. Some limited funding may also be available for summer 2025 and will be announced here.

Being a college student in today's global environment can be very stressful.  If you're feeling stressed out, lacking a sense of purpose, or need to recharge your sense of well-being, then consider participating in an off-campus silent retreat.  

Because of the generosity of some anonymous donors, John H. Martinson Honors Program students are invited to participate in a silent retreat at Ignatius House Retreat Center.  There will be multiple options to attend across the fall and spring semesters, with all expenses paid (approximately a $350 value).

The retreats held at Ignatius House Retreat Center in Sandy Springs are open to ALL students regardless of religious or secular spiritual tradition (or no spiritual tradition at all).  Retreats run from Friday evening through Sunday at 12:00 PM and include private rooms and baths and gourmet meals, all situated on a beautiful 20-acre wooded campus.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND HOW TO APPLY