Golden Key’s scholarship recipients embody the pillars for which Golden Key stands and we are delighted to assist them in making their dreams a reality. We realize that many college students today require assistance repaying the investment they have made in their education. We are committed to helping members further their education and academic pursuits, so we created the Education Debt Reduction Award, which assists members with repayment of student loans. We are excited to announce the winners of the Spring 2014 scholarship, who are awarded $5,000 USD each.
The recipients (in no particular order) are:

• Jason Heap, Walden University, United States
• Linda Moore, University of New England, United States
• Sarah-Kate Hawkins, Walden University, United States
• Lynda Charles, University of Central Florida, United States
• Eric Barber, Ashford University, United States

Congratulations to the winners!

Here’s what two of the winners had to say upon receiving the award…
“I am very appreciative to the Golden Key International Honour Society for awarding me with a debt reduction scholarship. It has come at a very crucial moment in my career where I have just completed a doctoral degree, but the very nature of the project within that capstone project requires me to continue with the work that I began with my participants. I had some difficult decisions to make as to how I could dedicate extra funding of my own towards the continued work of this project, in addition to fulfilling requirements of student loans.” – Jason Heap
“This award is not simply financial but rather a testament to a truth I have accepted: this life is difficult but not impossible. I believe difficulty and adversity are truly opportunities and blessings in disguise – how we allow them to shape and influence our perceptions means the difference between someone who settles for what the conditions life has to offer versus someone who manifests their conditions.” – Lynda Charles
 
 
Don’t forget to apply for our Fall 2014 Scholarships before the 1 October 2014 deadline!
The full listing is found here: https://www.goldenkey.org/scholarships-awards/listing/
 

In accordance with our first annual SPARK Month, more than 100 SPARK events were held by Golden Key chapters around the world. Chapters that participated could apply to win an award for the best service initiatives. Today, we’re excited to announce those winners!
The first place winner ($500 USD) is the chapter at The University of Florida!
Two chapters tied for second place ($300 USD): the University of Virgin Islands – St. Thomas and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez.
And finally, third place ($200 USD) goes to the Ashford University chapter.

Congratulations to the winning chapters!

The University of Florida chapter set up a tutoring program for a local high school. About 20 students came to each session and receive help on homework assignments, basic course concepts and test taking skills. The GK members went from Monday to Thursday every week in October – a huge time commitment and dedication!
The University of Virgin Islands – St. Thomas chapter provided a mentorship experience for 6th grade students. The male session was titled “From Boys to Men Mentorship Experience” and focused on self-empowerment. It included interactive discussions, activities, a speaker and an appearance by a professional boxer named Julius Jackson. The female session, called “Queens’ Court,” focused on building self-esteem. Members with training in pageantry and professional etiquette served as guest speakers and there were several activities for participants.
The University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez chapter‘s event was called “Hands On!” which had a goal of impacting the lives of at-risk youth through practical multidisciplinary education and real-world preparedness. They partnered with student associations, representatives from companies and alumni to provide an all-day event aimed for kids ages 10-17. Fifteen kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Mayaguez and public schools of the Mayaguez area were given the opportunity to learn more about the different educational programs at their university as well as participate in several activities focused on team building, leadership and academics.
The Ashford University chapter met three times during October with at-risk youth at a local elementary school. On the first visit, they supplied the children with banks, discussed with them about saving money and challenged them to collect soda pop cans to earn money. On the second visit, they worked with the children on computer skills. Both of these visits helped to provide them for the real world. And, on the third visit, they worked on math and team building skills by playing a giant homemade Jinga game. The children counted the blocks together and also strategized. They used cooperation, self-control and patience to complete the game. The game helped to instill in them skills needed for school life and work life. And, they raised over $335.73 towards SPARK a Change.

The final chapter that we would like to highlight in our 2013-2014 North American Key Chapter blog series is Stony Brook University.
During the 2013-2014 academic year, the Stony Brook University chapter hosted numerous events dedicated to service. On April 25th, the chapter participated in Earthstock, an event to celebrate Earth Day and promote awareness of Stony brook University’s commitment to a green future. The members hosted a tabling session and promoted alternatively fueled methods of transportation, reducing their carbon footprint and recycling goods whenever possible. The next day, the Golden Key chapter participated in Relay for Life on the university’s recreation fields with the intention of raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. Chapter members put together a team and collectively raised money for months leading up to the event. The chapter also participated in the “English Pal Program” at Stony Brook University, which is a collaborative effort between the Golden Key chapter and the International Student Organization to pair English speaking students with foreign students to help assimilate them into the community. The “pals” would meet weekly to practice speaking English, attend different events and ultimately build lasting relationships. This program continues to be an incredible success with up to 500 participants per semester!
One of the largest events that the Stony Brook University chapter hosts is their Prospective Member Event that was held during the spring semester. After receiving the list of eligible members, the chapter president sent out emails to each individual on the list to congratulate them on their academic success and to invite them to the event. The event started with a a dessert reception. Then prospective members were educated on what Golden Key is, the membership process and the benefits of becoming a member. The chapter also discussed the numerous events that they host on campus and the leadership opportunities available by being a part of the chapter. The chapter found this event to be incredibly successful with prospective members having a broader understanding of Golden Key.
Congratulations to the Stony Brook University chapter and all of the other Key Chapter winners for the 2013-2014 academic year!