This week is National Volunteer Week in the United States. Golden Key member Nelson Oliveira, webmaster at the Stony Brook University chapter, tells us about the chapters service efforts in this volunteer highlight. My motivation to volunteer is to make a difference in somebody’s life, day […]
On April 16, 2013, Golden Key hosted its second Virtual Career and Graduate School Fair. The fair, which was sponsored by Dream Careers, allowed Golden Key members from the US and Canada the opportunity to interact and network with graduate school representatives and company recruiters. More […]
Cassandra Taylor: My motivation to volunteer is the smiles and appreciation I receive from those we help. The feeling is indescribable. Seeing the look on a child’s face when they receive their first book or the gratefulness in a person’s eyes when you serve them a hot meal. It’s a great feeling to give and once you start, you want to give as much as you can and help whenever you can.
Janelle Col: Motivation stems from knowing for just a few hours I may have made a difference in someone’s life. Just the ability to reinforce that someone does care and they do matter is such a rewarding experience.
Tiffany Kilbas: To learn about the neighborhoods outside mine and the neighbors within mine. To meet new people and have new experiences. But mostly, to help someone who needs it.
Ayana Younge: My motivation to volunteer comes from the fact that I know there are people in this world that do not have the things (materials, support, love, relationships, opportunities) that I do. Why not spend an extra dollar or an extra hour to give back to someone who is in need. Plus, I love seeing the looks on people’s faces when they receive something they value, or are in a positive environment they are not used to.
Michelle Pereira: My motivation to volunteer is simply to give back to others who aren’t as fortunate as the rest of us. I recognize the plights that a lot of the people we serve go through having gone through similar ones myself and I just think it’s something that everyone should do at least once a month. People appreciate the simple acts of kindness, cliché as it sounds especially when they have nobody or little other people supporting them.
Vivian Lee: My favorite part about serving the community is seeing all the people that come together to help those in need. Everyone has troubles and bad days. It’s a wonderful sight to see everyone come together as a unit, abandon their worries for just a minute, and work together for a greater good. It is hard work sometimes, but it’s so beautiful to see people expressing empathy through altruism and spreading love instead of hate.
Eleni Mastorakos: My favorite part is meeting people and helping those in need. I generally like events that are connected to education, so for example, reading to students, making projects with students. I really try to make time in my schedule but it is hard. My goal is once a month however sometimes I have to skip due to homework/studying/work.
Tiffany Kilbas: My favorite part about Golden Key/serving is people and students from diverse backgrounds all coming together to unite in a cause while aiming for personal growth.
Nicholas Carrillo: My favorite part about serving the community is that I am able to immediately see my efforts make a positive impact. My favorite part about serving with Golden Key is that they create an enjoyable environment and experience while working towards a positive goal.
Janelle Col: Favorite part is being surrounded by my fellow peers making a difference in something we believe in.
Nicholas Carrillo: My favorite volunteer project was at the U.S.S Iowa. It was my first time walking around a battleship and I enjoyed it as we guided numerous veterans. It was fantastic hearing the different experiences each veteran had and the camaraderie they all shared. It was one of the most rewarding experiences to hear how thankful they were that we would take the time to do that for them.
Christian Que: I always love volunteering at the New Member Recognition Event because I see the validation that everyone feels when they accomplish something as daunting as pursuing academic excellence.
Tiffany Kilbas: Favorite: Huntington Elementary Dr. Seuss Birthday event; Most fun: Habitat for humanity Geneva Build; Most Rewarding: Seasons Ontario Arts and Crafts with low income seniors.
Ayana Younge: A project I especially enjoyed was working with foster youth at a College Readiness event at USC. I enjoyed this day (and staff) so much that I am actually a regular volunteer for United Friends of the Children (the non-profit organization that organized the event).
Michelle Pereira: The last one I attended was at the Union Rescue Mission which surprisingly I had been wanting to go for two years prior to that evening! I was able to go with my sister and my sister doesn’t volunteer often, but leaving that night after a few hours she really enjoyed it! She now sees the importance of lending out a hand which is amazing to me. She wants to go back every month and it’s a little difficult now that she’s expecting her first child, but meeting the fellow volunteers and the people we served made the experience so rewarding for her so it definitely doubled the rewarding feeling for me, as well!
Nicholas Carrillo:I tend to participate in volunteer services with children either by tutoring or teaching them chess. I also volunteer with our campuses student government and the local events they host.
Christian Que: We love to participate in whatever event we are able to participate in, considering our schedule.
Janelle Col: Literacy, health screenings, local beautification projects.
Tiffany Kilbas: Health projects, blood drives and run walks
Ayana Younge: The types of volunteer service I usually participate in is working with homeless individuals or youth.
Michelle Pereira: I usually volunteer for women’s events or any events having to do with supporting people with disabilities mainly, but I’m open to any type of volunteer opportunity.
Golden Key has teamed up with Dream Careers for the “Global Internship Initiative.” Through this initiative, Golden Key members receive priority access and a waived application fee to nearly 5,000 of the most coveted internships in 11 cities throughout the world in an effort to increase […]
We have reached out to more professionals and graduate students for advice to students who will be entering the workforce or graduate school. Check out what these alumni have to say and let us know your thoughts. Part 3: While I was in graduate school, I […]
–This post was written by Danesha Winfrey, President of The University of Memphis chapter of Golden Key.–
The Region 2 Summit was held in Memphis, Tennessee from March 1-3, 2013. The night before our Golden Key chapter had a packing party. We gathered a bunch of U of M, Memphis, and Golden Key swag to give to our fellow delegates. There was a buzz in the air of the Fogelman Building. We knew we were about to pull off something big!
Friday, March 1st:
On Friday, Golden Key’s Memphis Chapter welcomed guests from all over Region 2. The region consists of universities from Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. We also welcomed students from schools in Alabama and Mississippi! Golden Key Memphis Chapter was honored to host the Golden Key Executive Director, Brad Rainey, and the entire Regional Summit Board (Traci Gordon– Region 2 Associate Director; Beverly Forbes, Theodore Ross, Ricky Tran and others). There was school spirit in the air as it mixed with Memphis’s wintry weather. The event started with registration of the different schools. We handed out the Golden Key world tour t-shirts, networked and schmoozed with Mr. Brad Rainey. Mr. Rainey felt right at home, as Memphis is his hometown. Then, we had a mixer and Golden Key members were able to mix, mingle and eat. The food was great. There was everything from hot wings to spanakopita.
Next, it was time for our opening speakers. Dr. Rosie Phillips Bingham was our first speaker and our own Mayor Wharton, Jr. was the other. We started the opening session with the Vice President of Golden Key International Honour Society’s Memphis Chapter welcoming the delegates, advisors and administrators. Next, we had an introduction by our region’s Associate Director, Traci Gordon.
Then there were icebreakers. Region 2 went around and mingled with each other. We were asked by Ricky Tran to go outside of our comfort zone when initiating conversations. Region 2 seemed to bond instantly!
Saturday, March 2nd:
Saturday morning started with breakfast in the Fogelman Classroom Building on our sprawling University campus. We then had the pleasure of a presentation by the Executive Director. Mr. Rainey informed the group of our seven new charters in the United States, scholarships, as well as how Society funds are productively being spent. Mr. Rainey also spoke of our Chapter Standards and our accuracy of reports. He ended with an opportunity for Golden Key Members. It is an internship that provides housing, transportation, and the most important – a career! We had our group photos done by photographer Maggie Landry.
It was then time for our brunch. Memphis Golden Key arranged for our Tiger Cafeteria, the Fresh Food Company, to feed everyone. We ate and laughed. After playing hard, it was time for the Golden Key members to work hard. The workshops are the main reasons for attending summits as you can learn valuable lessons to take back to your chapter. Although we learned much information, it is all in an effort to enjoy our time as officers and to bask in the prestige and responsibility of being a Golden Key Member.
There were workshops that focused on BillHighway, the GIN system, becoming a Key Chapter, Better World Books and other service initiatives, and business etiquette. There were even “Roundtable Workshops” for the Presidents and the Advisors. All of the attendees were excited about the workshop topics offered. We listened intently and voiced concerns. We really felt like our voices were heard. It was comforting to know that someone else has been in our shoes, whatever our concerns may be. We provided feedback and displayed keen interest in the material. The friendships made helped solidify this level of comfort in sharing our concerns and suggestions.
After much note taking and feedback at the workshops, it was time for an intermission. This consisted of Golden Key having a break to decompress for dinner. Region 2 arrived at The University of Memphis’s University Center to have dinner in the River Room. The entertainment – New Session Band – provided such a delightful atmosphere in the River Room, overlooking the Student Plaza. The evening atmosphere was tinged with Memphis charm: the Memphis Golden Key Officers wanted to show our Region 2 that Southern charm. This was done with great food and dancing – surf and turf and the electric slide, anyone?
The Keynote Speaker was Dr. Barbara Bekis, the Educational Support Program Coordinator, U of M. She provided us with wonderful nuggets of advice and enlightened us with the books that she is reading. She spoke of how our knowledge can take us around the world. We ate and exchanged t-shirts as the band entertained us. Some of the Golden Key Memphis officers got up to dance (ahem, I was one) and then mostly everyone joined! We cupid-shuffled, Harlem-shook, wobble-wobbled, and electric-slid in unison! Then after the party, there was an after-party!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Our morning ended quietly. Traci, Danesha, Matthew, Darryl, and Sokoya arrived to dole out to-go bags. We said goodbye to our new friends and saw them off to their hometown with well wishes of a safe trip. The Regional Summit was a success! What better way to make friends and learn about a chapter to which one is devoted? Golden Key International Honour Society continues to unlock our potential!
Previously we shared advice from some of our alumni members for students who are planning to enter the workforce or go to graduate school soon. As we all know, life after college can be a very difficult transition, so hopefully some of this advice will give […]
–This post was written by Christina Schroeder, President of The University of South Dakota chapter of Golden Key.– The Region 6 Summit was held in Minneapolis, MN from March 1-3, 2013. On Saturday, March 2 the people of Minneapolis were driving to work, shopping, visiting family and […]
The “I Stand For” video series is designed to showcase all the causes and values that Golden Key members stand for.
The seventh video in our series is titled “Global Stand | Community Service.” In this video, you can see an overview of the Global Stand service project completed during the 2012 International Summit. There were a variety of projects performed by GK members in the refugee community in Clarkston, Georgia. With over 500 volunteer Golden Key members from all over the world standing together, more than 1,500 hours of community service was performed in just a few hours!
Global Stand:
For more videos, visit our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/GKIHS1977.
–This post was written by Nikki Vega, VP of Member Communication at California State University, San Bernardino.– The Region 9 Summit was held at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona March 1-3, 2013. Flagstaff is 7,000 feet above sea level! Talk about the cold, thin […]
GK SCHOLARSHIPS: Ather Sharif
GK Scholarships: Logan Thornton