When selecting each year’s Honors Professor, it’s not just whose most popular, but who most inspires. This year, the contest was so close that two professors were named — English Asst. Prof. Bonnie Blackwell and Philosophy Prof. Richard Galvin.

Of Galvin, one student said, “He intimidates, fascinates, frustrates and inspires, all at the same time.” With the two professors, center, are Honors Program Director Kathryne McDorman and the Honors Convocation speaker, Robert Pinskey, the nation’s poet laureate.

Pinskey has been canvassing the country for its favorite poems, now online at www.favoritepoem.org.