Developing purposeful business leaders
The Gies Honors Program invites high-potential undergraduate students to enhance their business education and make a difference in their communities by providing access to courses, activities, and experiences that will assist them in developing into purposeful, driven leaders.
Gies Honors manages various honors programs, as well as distinction and recognition of academically high-achieving undergraduate students within Gies College of Business.
Honors Programs
Gies Scholar Program
The Gies Scholar Program is a selective, cohort-based program designed to develop high-potential students into strong business leaders who not only excel intellectually but also understand that with success comes responsibility to serve their communities, their alma mater, and each other.
James Scholar Program
The James Scholar Program is a campus-wide honors designation for Gies Business students who have demonstrated high academic potential and a strong motivation to pursue their purpose as future business leaders and scholars.
Honors Recognition
Dean’s List
Once per semester, the Dean's List honors students with GPAs in the top 20% of the College. Students who are awarded Dean's List recognition will be notified by the Office of Undergraduate Programs after the semester has concluded and grades have been posted (typically in late January following the fall semester and in late June following the spring semester).
Dean's List recognition is visible on a student's transcript and is posted by the campus News Bureau.
Beta Gamma Sigma
Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive through a business program accredited by AACSB International.
The top 10% of sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Gies Business will be invited to apply for membership in the University of Illinois Chapter of the International Business Honor Society. Invitations to join Beta Gamma Sigma will be sent to any eligible undergraduate students in the spring semester.
Dean’s Scroll
The Dean’s Scroll Award, created in 2008, is an annual award presented by the Deans of the Gies College of Business to ten graduating seniors of the College. The award seeks to honor and recognize the seniors who have demonstrated leadership skills that have benefited the Gies College of Business and its students. In order to be recognized as one of the Gies College of Business’s top ten graduating seniors, the student should have not only excelled in the classroom, but also outside of the classroom with a goal of always furthering the mission and vision of the Gies College of Business.
Any Gies Business undergraduate student receiving a bachelor's degree in August, December, or May in an academic year is able to apply for the Dean's Scroll. The application for Dean's Scroll is sent to all graduates in early March.
Graduation Distinction
Bronze Tablet
The University of Illinois began the tradition of inscribing the Bronze Tablets with the names of students receiving University Honors in 1925. A new tablet is hung in the Main Library each year. The Bronze Tablet serves as recognition of sustained academic achievement and is exclusively reserved for the top 3% of each college’s graduating class.
All graduates from an academic year (August, December, and May) are considered for Bronze Tablet. This distinction is determined in the Spring semester each year and recipients are notified in April.
College Honors
College Honors are awarded at to graduates with an overall GPA and Illinois coursework of 3.50 for Honors, 3.75 for High Honors, and 3.90 for Highest Honors. This distinction is awarded at degree certification and will be viewable on a recipient's transcript and diploma.
2026 Dean’s Scroll Class: Neela Gilbert, Lalit Gurrapu, Joel Guzman, Dylan Ivanov, Jonathon Jacome, Christine Leung, Ariana Mizan, Dhwani Patel, Krista Phillips, and Saul Torres
Have a question? Connect with our team.
- Cory Ohms, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs
- Rachel Newell, Senior Assistant Director of Gies Honors