GCU News Bureau
Grand Canyon University’s National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter has gone platinum for the second consecutive year.
The academic honor society, one of the student organizations in the Honors College, distinguished itself by earning Platinum Star Status. Since it began in 2014, it has earned the distinction three times – in 2018-19, 2020-21 and this most recent academic year.
Only about 10 of the more than 300 chapters spanning campus colleges across the country receive the honor, reserved for top performers and based on their ability to uphold the organization’s three pillars: scholarship, leadership and service.
The GCU chapter also received the Merit Award for its inaugural Integrity Week campaign, a weeklong series of workshops, information sessions and guest speakers that addressed the role of integrity in our lives. GCU’s Integrity Week is rooted in the NSCS, which dedicates one week in February to integrity. GCU’s chapter wanted to extend the reach of that event to the rest of the campus and combined its efforts with those of the University’s Academic Integrity Committee, established on campus in 2020.
“We feel abundantly blessed to have earned these honors and are exceptionally proud of the Merit Award for our efforts during Integrity Week,” said Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli. “The University has collectively made very intentional and purposeful efforts in promoting integrity and character across GCU’s campus in 2021-22, and NSCS’ student-facing Integrity Week Campaign served as a strong launching pad for the conversation and future initiatives on this topic. We feel honored to have been such an integral part of this initiative.”
Besides Integrity Week activities, the University’s NSCS chapter also helped organize the student-produced Next Generation Leadership Conference, which included a series of panelists and keynote speakers who touched on the importance of using the gifts and lessons God gave them for a greater purpose. Society members participated in Honors College Commitment to Service Week, in which students delved into more than a dozen service projects over six days, and they also hosted professional development webinars.
When selecting its Star Status chapters, the NSCS takes into consideration such factors as member engagement, effective professional development activities, an active online social media presence, officer leadership, new member recruitment, fundraising for various nationwide initiatives and involvement with the Integrity Week campaign.
To be invited to join the honor society, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.4 or higher and must have completed 12-60 credits.
Achieving Platinum Star Status and receiving the Merit Award weren’t the only honors for the organization this year.
The NSCS named Naegeli and Honors College and Study Abroad Program Manager Anya Cofrancesco Chapter Co-Advisor Team of the Year this spring.
“It is a huge deal for us,” Naegeli said of the distinction earlier this year. “But it’s also very honoring and humbling to receive the recognition, knowing how competitive these chapters are.”
Cofrancesco added, “It’s not without our students. It’s them who create, build and host events and us, as co-advisors, who come alongside them to help them in the process and ensure that we have another successful year.”
Chapter officers in 2021-22 were Callista Mendoza, president; Amara Murray-Bell, executive vice president; Bali Fitzpatrick, vice president of public relations, recruitment and social media; Taylor Campbell, vice president of community service; Aurora Ream, Professional Development and PACE Chair; Skyler Brill, Secretary/Treasurer; and Harold Lind, Online Member Engagement Chair.
GCU touts the largest NSCS chapter in the country, with almost 7,000 ground and online members.
Students interested in NSCS can reach out to Naegeli at [email protected].
****
Related content:
GCU Today: Honors College continues to churn out scholars
GCU Today: Collegiate Scholars chapter one of best in nation
GCU Today: Collegiate Scholars chapter grows to largest in U.S.
