By Josh Abner
The prestigious Key Chapter Award was presented to members of the University of Louisville’s chapter of Golden Key International Honor Society at the 2001 Golden Key International Convention in Dallas, TX.
The award honors chapters that have excelled in five major areas: communication, publicity, meeting management, chapter activities and leadership, as well as participation in regional and international programs. The selection of Key Chapter Award winners marks a 20-year tradition for the Society.
U of L’s successful year reflected a variety of both national and community service activities that built upon the chapter’s enthusiasm for the society. The chapter held a food and clothing drive for a “Make a Difference” Day, and it collected clothes for the Wayside Christian Mission and held a Sophomore/Junior Reception as a way for students to see Golden Key’s campus presence.
Local chapter Service Chair Adam Possner said this award “signifies that a lot of people have put a lot into this organization.”
One program that Possner mentioned was the group’s Kosair Children’s Hospital Food Delivery Program. “President Aimee Rogers runs the program. We all take food to the parents and families of Kosair infant patients who don’t have the chance to get out,” said Possner. The Kosair event was singled out as the chapter’s keystone event at the convention.
Delegates from the U of L chapter accepted the award at the convention’s awards banquet in front of 1,300 delegates from around the world. All chapters may try for the award; however, only the most outstanding are selected.
“This just shows that we’re committed to the community,” Possner said. “It encourages us to think of additional ways to give back to the community.”
The local Golden Key chapter is starting a new event this year called Service Day. On Saturday, October 13, any volunteers are welcome to attend and give community service at one of five different organizations, including the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen cleanup, taking nursing home patients out to bowl and working at a local animal shelter. The group will meet at 7:30 am to plan the day’s events and will work from 9 am – 12 pm. The volunteers will then return to the Red Barn for a barbecue lunch. For more information on Service day, contact the Golden Key advisor, Dr. Gail S. Rhodes at 852-5727.
The Golden Key International Honor Society is a nonprofit, international academic honors organization that provides academic recognition, leadership opportunities, community service, career networking and scholarships. The society has more than 300 chapters across the United States, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Membership into the society is reserved for only the top 15 percent of juniors and seniors in all fields of study.
