Source: Kendra Schuler, kschuler@k-state.edu
Hometown connection: Bucyrus, Manhattan, Norton, Osawatomie, Wamego and Waverly.
News release prepared by: Rosie Hoefling, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011
Success, involvement earn campus chapter of National Society of Collegiate Scholars national recognition
MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University honors organization has received a national award for its continued success as a chapter.
K-State's chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars was awarded Silver STAR Status at the society's 2011 convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"I'm very proud of our chapter for achieving a Silver STAR Status, and I am excited that I was able to be a part of it. I hope our chapter is just as successful this year,” said Kendra Schuler, senior in biology, Manhattan, and chapter president.
Chapters can attain one of four STAR status levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Each level is determined based on the quantity and quality of events a chapter held the previous year. The K-State chapter was recognized with the award for its program success, community service, member engagement and on-campus involvement.
According to Schuler, the K-State chapter's various activities include conducting an induction ceremony for new members; facilitating a middle school outreach program, PACE; and hosting an annual Integrity Week where students pledge to adhere to a high level of integrity in their lives.
Members also host recruitment events, attend the society's annual convention, participate in regular chapter meetings and volunteer their time at service events.
"We have given back to the community in the past by tutoring at the Douglass Community Center and volunteering at the Manhattan Emergency Shelter," Schuler said. "We will continue to do so this year by participating in service projects such as volunteering at the K-State blood drive and trick-or-treating for canned goods on Halloween to donate to the Flint Hills Breadbasket."
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an honors organization for high-achieving freshmen and sophomores, with more than 300 student-run chapters at universities across the country. Students are inducted into the organization each year based on a 3.4 grade point average requirement and an academic standing within the top 20 percent of their class.
K-State recently inducted 420 new members into its chapter. Although inducted in their freshman and sophomore year, students are still considered members of the organization as juniors and seniors. The chapter adviser is K-State's Carol Gould, executive coordinator of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance.
In addition to Schuler, the chapter's current executive officers include:
Michelle Hall, junior in kinesiology, Bucyrus, secretary; Katherine Reitan, junior in social work, vice president of public relations, and Ashley Wagner, senior in psychology and sociology, historian, both from Manhattan; Tonielle Fiscus, sophomore in psychology, Norton, treasurer; Casie Adams, senior in nutritional sciences, Osawatomie, vice president of the chapter's PACE mentoring program; Amanda Oakley, sophomore in food science and industry, Wamego, vice president of community service; and Lauren Johnson, senior in mass communications and political science, Waverly, executive vice president.
