We would like to spotlight Florida International University for being named a Key Chapter for the 2012-2013 year.
For most of the Florida International University chapter’s general meetings, they would have a guest speaker come talk to the members. These speakers, ranging from advisors to trainers, would articulate the importance of maintaining academic excellence while in school and how one can be involved in extra-curricular activities while maintaining a strong, academic status. These workshops also provided the members with essential tools that they can use throughout their college tenure and on into their careers. The chapter found them to be helpful not only in that they assisted members with their academic work, but also furthered member engagement in the chapter. The workshop topics were: National Student Exchange, Graduate School, Financial Aid Information and Tips, Health and Fitness in College and Academic Advising.
One of the Florida International University Golden Key chapter’s most successful events was hosting their Regional Summit. Although this was an exciting time for the chapter, it was also a very hectic one. Preparations for the event began early and required a plentiful amount of membership involvement. Both members and officers made the event possible- some served as tour guides, some checked people into the event and others helped with the meals and presentations. The workshops hosted by the university and other Golden Key chapters were an incredible success as they were a perfect venue to share ideas and develop new ones. A special event was held for delegates in which they all went to Dave and Buster’s arcade for the evening. This served as a great opportunity for the various chapters to get to know each other. Overall, the Regional Summit was an incredible accomplishment and an honor for the Florida International University chapter to be a part of- fulfilling the goal of hosting a successful event proved to be a gratifying experience.
Congratulations to the Florida International University for their exemplary effort and achievement during the academic year, as well as being named a 2012-2013 Key Chapter.

With college football bowl season rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time to enter Golden Key’s BCS National Championship Raffle. By entering, you have the opportunity to win tickets to the BCS National Championship in Pasadena, CA or the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, GA.


Grand Prize:

* two sideline game tickets in Section 20 to the BCS National Championship
* airfare for two provided by Bank of the Internet
* three night accommodation at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
* $500 cash

This game organizes the two best college football teams in the country based on polls, former coaches and players and the average of participating ranks determined by computers. Located in Pasadena, CA, this game will occur at the famous Rose Bowl on January 6, 2014.

First Prize:
* two club level sideline game tickets to the Chick-fil-A Bowl
* airfare for two provided by Bank of the Internet
* two Pre-Game Bash tickets
* two FanZone tickets
* a parking pass
* two night accommodation at the Hilton Atlanta for New Year’s Eve

Composed of the #2 ACC team and #5 SEC team, this is the ninth oldest bowl game in the United States. This bowl is the highest attended, non-BCS bowl game and claims two of the top six bowl game broadcast ratings in ESPN history. Attend the game on December 31, 2013, and celebrate New Year’s Eve in Atlanta, GA.

Last year’s winner of Golden Key’s Dollars for Scholars Raffle, Michele Dashiell of American Public University System, attended the Chick-fil-A Bowl on December 31, 2012. The game was a hard fought battle between the Clemson Tigers and LSU Tigers that ended with Clemson winning by one point in the Georgia Dome.

This year should be equally as exciting with numerous dominant teams from both conferences. While Missouri, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina and Texas A&M are chasing after powerhouse Alabama’s number one spot in the Southeastern Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference is buzzing with three teams in the Top Ten- Florida State, Clemson and Miami. All of these teams are in contention for the BCS National Championship, as well, but they have stiff competition in the Midwest and West Coast with Oregon, Stanford, Ohio State, Baylor and Oklahoma all chasing after a bid to the big game.

This isn’t just an opportunity to see a bowl game– this is a chance to explore two major cities without the financial hassle! With free airfare, hotel rooms and tickets, you can actually take in all that Pasadena and Atlanta have to offer. You can visit the Old Pasadena Historic District for shopping or check out the Gamble House landmark, and you are always just miles away from the heart of Los Angeles. While in Atlanta, you can visit the Georgia Aquarium, take a tour of the World of Coca-Cola or just explore all that downtown has to offer! This is the perfect opportunity to explore a new and, hopefully, warmer city!
Don’t spend thousands of dollars on vacation at the end of this year when, for $25 a ticket, you can enter Golden Key’s BCS National Championship Raffle. Increase your odds and support Golden Key Scholarships by purchasing more entries into the raffle! Winners will be drawn and announced on December 9, 2013.

If you would like to purchase a raffle ticket and do not have a PayPal account, please send in a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment and contact details on a 3″ x 5″ card (name, address, email and phone) to:

Golden Key International Honour Society
C/O The Golden Key Raffle
1040 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 900
Atlanta, GA 30338

Entries that are mailed must be postmarked on or before November 27 to guarantee your entry into the raffle.

In continuance of our Key Chapter blog series, we would like to commend The University of Florida Golden Key chapter for being named a winner for the 2012-2013 academic year. The chapter participated in forty-five events during this time, which does not include socials or fundraisers but rather events that pertain to academics, leadership or service. They University of Florida chapter was also recently named winner of the Golden Key Chapter Facebook Contest for category 1!
A few years ago, The University of Florida chapter adopted a street in Gainesville that they were required to clean at least every other month. During the school year, however, chapter members gathered for clean-ups seven times, which is close to one clean-up per month. The chapter felt that the gatherings were a pleasant opportunity to bring everyone together, especially during busy times in the semester, and also provided a casual forum to discuss upcoming events. On a separate occasion, the Golden Key chapter partnered with other groups on campus to participate in Gator Green Team, which is a sustainability effort that aims to increase recycling at home football games. Volunteers would bring recycling materials to tailgaters and explain how to recycle and the benefits that come from it. They would also stand at the entrances of the stadium with recycling bags for people to properly dispose of their garbage rather than let it pile up in trash cans. On Halloween they held their second annual “Milk and Bookies Drive”. This is an organization that prompts people to host their own book drives; the witty title refers to the parties, which consist of milk and cookies, that are held for attendees who donate books. The drive was effective and rewarding, producing more than one hundred books to be donated to underprivileged children.
One of the more successful events held by the University of Florida Golden Key chapter was “Rock for the Hungry”, which is a benefit concert designed to attract students and raise awareness for local music while simultaneously raising money for Children’s Table. This is a local, non-profit organization that provides families in need with fresh food. The chapter had a set-back in that they could not sell tickets to the event, but they found another way to raise the funds- they held several fundraisers and a raffle. The prizes for the raffle were donated products that were solicited by chapter members from local businesses, and the winner of the raffle was announced the night of the show. The event was an incredible success in that the chapter helped to eradicate food insecurities in the community and the event called for participation and involvement, which led to a strong bond between members and students.
Congratulations to The University of Florida chapter for being named a Key Chapter winner! You earned it and we look forward to hearing of your future success!