About the Program

Honor Bound is an organized group of American Indian, Alaska Native, and other Indigenous Honors College students at Montana State University. The program began in 2021 as a pre-semester initiative aimed at recruiting and mentoring Indigenous students entering the Honors College. Since then, it has grown into a broader initiative offering mentorship, academic support, monthly meetings, cultural activities, and immersive learning trips.

Honor Bound seeks to support underrepresented student populations by fostering academic excellence, leadership development, and cultural connection within a community of peers.

Mission & Vision


As Montana’s land-grant university, MSU is committed to broadening participation in higher education and improving student success. Honor Bound reflects that mission by offering a space for Indigenous Honors students to build community, explore identity, and excel academically.

Pre-Semester Program

Held each August, the Honor Bound Pre-Semester Program is a week-long introduction to MSU, the Honors College, and the lands surrounding Bozeman. Students engage in activities rooted in personal reflection, community-building, and Indigenous knowledge.

The 2025 program includes:
- Move-in and welcome meals with families
- Art-making, storytelling, and reflection circles
- Excursions to Tippet Rise, Madison River, and Hyalite Canyon
- Time on the land with Native educators and guides
- Participation in Native Pathways to Success Orientation
- Cultural learning at Yellowstone National Park and Lamar Buffalo Ranch

Opportunities & Activities

  • Monthly Gatherings & Mentorship
    • Upper-division students act as mentors for newer members. The program builds a sense of community and family that continues throughout the academic year.
  • Cultural & Academic Trips
    • Honor Bound students have participated in educational trips, including two recent spring visits to Kauai. There, they partnered with IWIKUA, a nonprofit focused on sustainable farming and cultural learning. Students worked on the farm and explored Native Hawaiian traditions and ecological knowledge.
  •  Community & Identity
    • Students describe Honor Bound as a space to reconnect with culture, explore identity, and find support on their academic journey. It is a space where Indigenous students can thrive as scholars, leaders, and community members.

Student Experience

“As a group we work to foster a sense of community and belonging while pursuing academic excellence in each student's respective field... Above all else, Honor Bound is a supportive family that allows individuals to explore their interests and identity as Indigenous students in the university context.”
— Grace Epperson, Seldovia Village Tribe

“This experience highlighted the profound connection between indigenous culture and ecological stewardship... Witnessing how indigenous knowledge could shape my future contributions in architecture was truly empowering.”
— Brooke Sangray, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Cree

“When I joined Honor Bound I didn’t really have any connection to my community and ancestry... Being an urban Indigenous person it can be easy to feel isolated. Honor Bound has made MSU a bit more of a home.”
— Grace Epperson

Learn more about teh student expereince in this  Bitterroot Magazine article!

How to Join

Incoming American Indian, Alaska Native, and other Indigenous students in the Honors College are encouraged to participate in the Pre-Semester Program and join the Honor Bound community.

To express interest or learn more, contact us:
Email: [email protected]


Program Director: Steven Davis – [email protected] | (406) 994–2822
Student Coordinator (Summer 2025): EmmaLee – (406) 994-4109

More Information

Read: Honor Bound in the MSU News 

Read: Student testimonials in Bitterroot Magazine

Watch: Honor Bound & Student Experience 101