Month: July 2013

Scholarship Recipient Highlight: Ifemayowa Aworanti, 2013 Emerging Scholar Award

Scholarship Recipient Highlight: Ifemayowa Aworanti, 2013 Emerging Scholar Award

Our congratulations go out to Ifemayowa Aworanti, a rising junior and the Chapter President at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, on being named the recipient of the 2013 Emerging Scholar Award! Golden Key’s Emerging Scholar Award recognizes a sophomore who has made a significant difference […]

Schools Implementing Iris Scanners to Identify Students

Schools Implementing Iris Scanners to Identify Students

When an app notification asks “Would Like to Use Your Current Location”, do you ever feel compelled to click “Do Not Allow” solely because giving out that kind of information seems frightening? We are in a day and age when access to unlimited knowledge is […]

Would You ‘Pay It Forward’? Oregon’s Tuition-Free College Plan

Would You ‘Pay It Forward’? Oregon’s Tuition-Free College Plan

Earlier this month, the Oregon state legislature approved a plan conceived by the Economic Opportunity Institute, and put into action by several Portland State University students, to provide free tuition to students attending public universities or community colleges in the state. The only stipulation is that students participating in the program pay back the state through a percentage of their income after graduation. The program, called “Pay It Forward, Pay It Back”, was passed unanimously through Oregon’s Senate and House earlier this month, and the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission will soon be developing a pilot program.
The “Pay It Forward, Pay It Back” plan is drawing a lot of attention, as well as applause. Although it is not the first of its kind, this proposal will allow an alternative plan of action for future college students seeking higher education without the financial means. In one of the suggested models, students who graduate from a four-year college will have 3% of their paychecks deducted for roughly twenty-five years after they have graduated college, rather than pay a set amount in interest rates until the loan is paid off and living with debt that can reach up to six figures. This means that the amount that is paid back to the state is based solely on the amount that the individual makes. The same will apply for graduates from two-year colleges, but the percentage taken out of their paychecks will be cut down to 1.5%. The program is quite advantageous now considering that the interest rates of subsidized Stafford loans were recently doubled– a problem that could potentially affect millions of future students.
The program is not ready to be put into action yet. Although the program has passed through legislature, there are still obstacles to overcome. The commission still has to answer the question of how the State is going to come up with the start-up funds for the program, which could amount to as much as $9 billion. They also have to put together a pilot program that can go into effect prior to the 2015 legislature.
Regardless, many people are excited about the possibility of the program becoming reality. Due to the appeal of such a potentially beneficial program, other states such as Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin have expressed interest in utilizing a similar program. If the “Pay It Forward, Pay It Back” program was a possibility in your state, would it be worth utilizing? Could there be possible drawbacks that outweigh the benefits of the program?

Ameriprise Financial offers discounted financial planning to Golden Key members

Ameriprise Financial offers discounted financial planning to Golden Key members

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. has joined with Golden Key International Honour Society to offer Golden Key members a discount on financial planning services. As a special benefit, members can take advantage of a free, no obligation financial review – to learn first-hand how a financial advisor […]

Bangladesh Creatively Solves Their Education Difficulties

Bangladesh Creatively Solves Their Education Difficulties

What happens when one of the most densely populated countries in the world becomes a victim of floods and rising water levels? Bangladesh is a delta with an incredibly high density of river systems that are also highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. […]

I Stand For Video Series: Conclusion

I Stand For Video Series: Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed all the videos in our “I Stand For” series!  Golden Key’s mission is to enable members to realize their potential through the advancement of academics, leadership and service. Golden Key members stand out with their academic excellence and hard work, stand up as leaders and for causes they believe in, and stand together to make a difference. This blog series explored values that members believe in, showcased our International Summit conference and service events, gave you insight into Golden Key and more.
If you’ve missed any of the blogs in this series, you can view them all here:

  1. What Do You Stand For?
  2. Golden Key Members Stand For
  3. Welcome to Golden Key
  4. Stand Out
  5. Stand Up
  6. Stand Together
  7. Global Stand | Community Service
  8. Why Golden Key
  9. 2012 International Summit

You can also find even more videos on Golden Key’s YouTube channel.
To wrap up this series, we are going to leave you with a little bit of fun. Below you can find our “Summit Outtakes” video, which gives you a behind the scenes look from interviews with members that attended the International Summit.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfrxmk1ys1Q&w=560&h=315]  
For more information about Golden Key, please visit www.GoldenKey.org.

Is Scotland’s Progressive Education System a Step in the Right Direction?

Is Scotland’s Progressive Education System a Step in the Right Direction?

Could education be more efficient by taking a more informal approach? Scottish education minister, Michael Russell, certainly thought so. When the Scottish Parliament came to be, Russell believed that their schools were not performing as well as they could. He found the subjects in the […]

Journey to Machu Picchu

Journey to Machu Picchu

Golden Key’s Director of Canada, Ian Sankey, will be traveling to Peru through G Adventures. “Perfect for those looking to experience the region’s archaeological and cultural treasures in a short amount of time, this adventure includes a 4-day trek along the Inca Trail. This is […]