Sources: Jessica Heath, jheath@k-state.edu;
Jack Mosimann, josimann@k-state.edu;
and Candi Hironaka, cpitts@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.k-state.edu/mortarboard/
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-2535.
News release prepared by: Rosie Hoefling, 785-532-2535, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010

CAMPUS CHAPTER OF MORTAR BOARD ONE OF BEST IN NATION; MASTER'S STUDENT TO SERVE ON GROUP'S NATIONAL COUNCIL

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's chapter of Mortar Board, the national senior honor society, is among the best chapters in the nation. The organization also has appointed a K-Stater to its national council.

The K-State chapter was among the 22 chapters to take home Mortar Board's Golden Torch Award. The honor is presented to chapters that are superb, well-run and exceed the minimum standards, accomplishing significant achievements in chapter management and contributing meaningful service to their institutions. It's the seventh time in the last eight years the chapter has earned the honor.

Accepting the award at the recent Mortar Board national conference were Robert "Jack" Mosimann, senior in finance, Lee's Summit, Mo., chapter president; Josh Linn, senior in chemical engineering, Abilene, chapter vice president; Candice Hironaka, senior associate director of the School of Leadership Studies and chapter adviser; and Jessica Heath, in her role as a new Mortar Board National Council member.

Heath, a master's student in counseling and student development, Manhattan, is serving as a student representative to the 10-member Mortar Board National Council.

Mortar Board is a premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Since its founding in 1918, the organization has grown from the four founding chapters to 228 chartered collegiate chapters with nearly a quarter of a million initiated members across the nation. K-State chapter was chartered in 1928.

New Mortar Board members at K-State are selected in the spring semester of their junior year based on their exemplary service, scholarship and leadership. They also must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

Heath, who was a K-State Mortar Board member in 2008-2009, has many duties as a national council member. She meets with other national leaders of Mortar Board, travels as an official representative of the organization, and makes decisions that guide the long-term future of the organization. Her term will last until July 2011.

"I am honored and thrilled to be a part of Mortar Board's National Council," she said. "Mortar Board is a phenomenal organization, and it's unbelievable to me that I get to serve in this manner. As a student in Mortar Board, I gained so much, including opportunities to develop professionally, the chance to be mentored by amazing advisers and even getting to know my husband-to-be. Now it's my turn to give back to this fine organization."

Heath currently serves as a junior adviser to the K-State Mortar Board chapter. She is a graduate assistant at K-State's career and employment services and an alumna of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. The daughter of Russ and Melanie Heath, she is a 2005 graduate of Manhattan High School and a 2009 bachelor's graduate in personal financial planning from K-State.

After graduating in May 2011, Heath hopes to work in the student services department at a university.