Golden Key’s latest Virtual Graduate School Fair was held on October 22, 2013.  The fair brought members together for the opportunity to interact online with graduate school representatives. More than 1,600 Golden Key members participated in the virtual event!  These members represented more than 150 different majors and ranged from students getting their bachelor’s degree to those in a PhD program.  Attendees were able to gather valuable information about graduate school programs.
Students raved about the convenience and ease of using the virtual platform.  They were also very impressed by the vast selection of graduate schools represented.
Here’s what just a few students had to say:

• “It’s nice being able to chat with representatives from so many different universities all in one place, and to get some of my questions answered.”
• “I liked the fact that you can take your time thinking about the questions you want to ask. I think that in live fairs you get a little bit of pressure because there are many people waiting for their turn to talk with the representatives.  The representatives were very helpful; they pointed out different people whom I could contact for even more information about the program I am interested in.”
• “This is an opportunity I am glad that I did not pass on.”

Thirty-two graduate schools participated in the event. They included Boston University College of Communication, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Syracuse University LC Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, and University of Notre Dame, just to name a few.
Overall the graduate school representatives were very impressed by the turn out of prospective students and how busy it kept them.
Here’s what just a few graduate school representatives said:

• “Please do this again! I like to be able to reach out to multiple students simultaneously versus at grad fairs you typically address one student at a time.”
• “I think it went well! Quite a few interested students attend, many questions asked, and they even had a student start an online application following the morning session.”

The virtual concept of the fair allows members to participate at their convenience from the comfort of their own home.  Golden Key is proud to provide opportunities like this to help our members succeed.

We would like to highlight the University of California, Los Angeles chapter for being named a 2012-2013 Key Chapter winner.
Throughout the 2012-2013 academic year, the University of California, Los Angeles chapter held a wide array of events to benefit both their chapter and their community, however, two of which stood out amongst the rest. One of these events was the chapter’s participation in Relay for Life, which is hosted by the American Cancer Society. This event plays a large role at the University of California, Los Angeles. The money raised from the event goes towards cancer research and cancer patients. Students from multiple organizations participate in the spring event each year, so much so that UCLA is the Top Collegiate Relay in California and the seventeenth largest in the nation. For the past two years, UCLA has raised over $100,000 towards the fight with cancer. This occasion has become increasingly important to the Golden Key chapter in the past couple of years. Each member raises funds for months leading up to the event, and the chapter sets up a tent with activities for the twenty-four event, which helps to promote not only cancer awareness, but also camaraderie amongst the chapter and university students.
The University of California, Los Angeles Golden Key chapter also actively participates in Pathway, which is an extension of the university. It is a two-year certificate program that offers beneficial learning environment for intellectually disabled students. The program is taught by experienced instructors, but there is also room for volunteers to assist the students. The Golden Key chapter would assist these students by volunteered to tutor them and help them with their homework. This gave members the opportunity to use their knowledge and academic success to benefit others and gain a strong sense of fulfillment by helping students who are eager to learn. Witnessing the students learn and progress has been an incredible reward for the volunteers. Volunteering has also provided a beneficial step for the Golden Key collaborate with other clubs on campus and raise awareness of the chapter.
Congratulations to the University of California, Los Angeles chapter for their incredible service initiatives and dedication to improving their community!

In conclusion of our blog series on South Africa Travel Grant winners, we would like to share the experience of one more Golden Key member’s involvement in the 2013 South Africa Summit, Susanna Muradyan, an alumnus from the California State University, Sacramento chapter.
What did you like best about your visit to South Africa?
The people I met, both at the summit and while out exploring the many great attractions of South Africa.
What was the biggest surprise you encountered on your journey?
My biggest surprise was that the South African nation has 11 national languages!
What was the most valuable thing you learned at Summit?
The most valuable thing I learned was recognizing the importance of meeting, engaging and interacting with other members around the globe.
From what you learned at Summit, what will you bring back to your chapter?
The lesson that I learned and will share with my local chapter is to encourage them to apply for all scholarship opportunities to attend summits. Sometimes we limit our chances by never trying or assuming other applicants are better or more accomplished than us, and what I have learned is that you have to try, because you never know, you may just be the lucky winner!
Would you recommend attending Summits to other members?
I would definitely encourage all members to attend summits. It is a very fulfilling and exciting opportunity to meet members from all around the world, and it is a wonderful opportunity to share experiences, stories and goals. Nothing can beat interaction with like-minded people that encourage and inspire you!
As we wrap up this series on a few of the recipients of the South Africa Summit Travel Grant, we hope that these members’ experiences have motivated you to take part in the 2014 Golden Key International Summit from July 31 through August 3, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. By applying for a 2014 International Summit Travel Grant, members in North America are eligible to receive $500 USD and members outside of North America can receive $1,000 USD to go towards traveling to and from Boston.