Melody Lee, J’Avani Stinson, and Esha Venkat won National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) awards for their outstanding work as John H. Martinson Honors Program (JMHP) students.
The trio will receive their awards at the NCHC Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 13, at 6:00 PM. All three will attend the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference from November 11-14 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Melody Lee Wins Portz Scholar Award
Melody Lee, a fourth-year computer science student, was selected as a 2026 NCHC Portz Scholar Award recipient for her paper “Studying Energy-Resolved Transport with Wavepacket Dynamics on Quantum Computers.”
The Portz Scholar Award, established in 1990, honors the work and legacy of John and Edythe Portz. The award recognizes up to four undergraduate honors students each year as a result of a research paper competition.
2026 Portz Scholars receive:
- A $350 stipend, disbursed at the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference
- Complimentary conference registration
- The opportunity to present their research during the Portz Scholars Panel
You can read Melody’s abstract here.
Learn more about the Portz Scholar Award here.
J’Avani Stinson Wins John J. Hanigan Scholarship
J’Avani Stinson, a fourth-year biology student, was selected as one of two recipients of the 2026 NCHC John J. Hanigan Scholarship. J’Avani is recognized for his passion for service, which he has demonstrated through his work on the JMHP Honors Leadership Council Civic Service committee and co-op at NASA Johnson Space Center.
The John J. Hanigan Scholarship, established in 2015, honors John Hanigan—a dedicated leader who managed NCHC’s financial investments and served on the NCHC Board of Directors. The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate a history of service and commitment to the spirit of volunteering, honoring John J. Hanigan’s legacy.
2026 John J. Hanigan Scholarship recipients receive:
- A $500 stipend for conference expenses, disbursed at the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference
- The stipend can cover conference registration, airfare, hotel accommodations, or personal needs the student may have in order to attend.
You can read more about J'Avani’s impact here.
Learn more about the John J. Hanigan Scholarship here.
Esha Venkat Wins Community Engagement Award
Esha Venkat, a first-year public policy graduate student and spring 2026 JMHP graduate, was selected as the 2026 NCHC Community Engagement Award recipient for her November 2025 JMHP service project with the Atlanta Community Food Bank. For this project, Esha mobilized more than 50 volunteers, including over 25 JMHP students, to sort 11,315 pounds of food, providing the equivalent of 9,429 meals for families across Georgia.
The NCHC Community Engagement Award was created by the NCHC Student Affairs Committee to highlight how honors education leads members to make a difference in their communities. This award is given to one service project each year to celebrate and emphasize student excellence outside of the classroom.
The 2026 NCHC Community Engagement Award recipient receives:
- Waived conference registration fees for up to two students
- A presentation at NCHC’s Annual Conference to highlight their service project
You can read more about Esha’s service project here.
Learn more about the 2026 NCHC Community Engagement Award here.
The John H. Martinson Honors Program congratulates Melody, J’Avani, and Esha on their outstanding achievements and wishes them a wonderful experience at the 2026 NCHC Annual Conference!
~Author: Jalana Smith, John H. Martinson Honors Program student assistant