The development of an honors program at Rogers State University a decade ago brought about significant positive changes to the campus, where more than three-quarters of the students are the first in their families to attend college. Throughout the years, these young scholars have elevated academic discourse across campus and delivered an impact felt well beyond their honors classrooms. Rogers State University holds the distinction of being Oklahoma's newest regional institution of higher education, but it has roots that go back to shortly after Oklahoma's statehood. In this article, the author briefly discusses the history of Rogers State University and how the honors program has increased student quality at a critical juncture in the university's history.