MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 3, 2026) — Milligan University welcomed more than 60 students and faculty from universities across the state Feb. 27-28 for the Tennessee Collegiate Honors Council Conference, marking the first time the university has hosted the annual gathering.
The event also represented the first time a liberal arts institution of Milligan’s size has served as host, providing a unique opportunity to showcase the university’s commitment to academic excellence and the depth of scholarship taking place in its classrooms.
The Tennessee Collegiate Honors Council Conference exists to connect honors programs across Tennessee and provide a platform for students to present their research and creative work. Throughout the two-day conference, students participated in panel sessions and poster presentations spanning a variety of academic disciplines.
Milligan’s Dr. Michael Blouin, professor of English and president of the Tennessee Collegiate Honors Council, served as host for the event.
“It was a privilege for Milligan to host this year’s conference and welcome honors students from across Tennessee to our campus,” said Blouin. “This gathering highlights the impressive research being conducted by undergraduate students throughout the state. We were especially proud to showcase the intellectual curiosity and academic rigor of our own students while fostering collaboration among institutions committed to excellence in honors education.”
The conference featured a keynote address by Dr. Tony Magistrale at the University of Vermont on “Poe’s Multimedia Legacy,” exploring the enduring cultural impact of Edgar Allan Poe’s work across various forms of media.
Many Milligan students presented their research during the conference, including senior Bryant Magness of Johnson City, Tennessee. For Magness, the conference reflected the impact the Honors Program has had on his own academic journey.
“I am so grateful for the ways the Honors Program has enriched my experience at Milligan,” said Magness. “Right out of the gate, I was integrated into a community of peers with a similar excitement for learning and thinking that inspired me to grow as a thinker and a human alongside some of my best friends. The program has helped expand the scope of my education to push me to study abroad, engage in meaningful research conversations and seek out meaningful opportunities for scholarship that I never would have found without it.”
By hosting the conference, Milligan demonstrated its ongoing investment in providing high-impact academic opportunities that prepare students for graduate study, professional careers and lives of meaningful contribution.
For more information about Milligan’s Honors Program, visit milligan.edu.