They’re smart.
Not just your ordinary, every day college student smart.
The members of the Golden Key International Honour Society have to maintain a 3.6 GPA.
“I’m a very driven student,” said Kelli Cousins, accounting and psychology junior. “I study a lot and take good notes during class to keep my grades up.”
But 73 new members this year didn’t just join MSU chapter of Golden Key, one of 400 chapters around the world, for the title.
“By becoming a member of Golden Key, you gain so much more than a line on your resume,” said Alex Ochoa, piana performance senior. “You become part of an extended network of peers, mentors and connections all working together towards common goal.”
Newman Wong, chapter adviser, echoed the importance of group members doing community service, noting that service is part of the group’s foundation.
“We believe we could help the needy in our community,” Wong said. “Participation is not required. But the more one is involved, the more one would get out (of being in the organization).”
Zeltzin Reyes, engineering junior said, “I decided to join for the opportunities.”
Cousins said she also appreciated the opportunities the organization, which has been at MSU since 2012, provides.
“I asked my professors about Golden Key and they said it would be a good experience and an honor if I joined,” said Cousins, adding that she would like the opportunity to become the treasurer because she is an accounting major.
According to Wong, the chapter met the organization’s silver standard last year, doing community service projects including two costume 5K fun runs, canned food drives for the bank, and three book drives. This year Golden Key members will place boxes around campus for students to donate their old textbooks for the National Council for Family Literacy. Wong said they hope to have the boxes up at the end of the semester.
Ochoa said the National Council for Family Literacy book drive is his favorite community service project.
Wong said Midwestern has had close to 400 students since Golden Key has been a part of campus. He said Golden Key also inducts honorary members. Among the five honorary members inducted this year are MSU Provost Betty Stewart and Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barham.
Internationally, the organization provides $1 million in scholarships, awards, partnerships and other opportunities. Midwestern will give five members a $100 scholarship.
The organization, that only accepts sophomores, juniors and seniors, is committed to having scholastic achievement, integrity, innovation, respect, collaboration, and diversity and has more than 2 million members, including dignitaries like Elie Wiesel and Bill Clinton.
CHAPTER LEADERSHIP | Alex Ocha, president | Savannah Acheson, vice president | RuthAnn Ross-Vesprey, secretary | Jackson Simmons, treasurer | Shari Smith, campus and community outreach director | Suprena Poleon, public relations director | Zeltzin Reyes, fundraising director
