Sept. 24, 2018

Silver Star awarded to National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter

By Grace Niemeyer, communication assistant

Northwest Missouri State University’s chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) has attained Silver Star status for the fourth consecutive year, signaling its commitment to implementing engaging student-centered activities on the campus and in the community.

NSCS is a nonprofit honors organization that recognizes and elevates high-achieving undergraduates who excel academically during their first and second years of college. It provides career and graduate school connections, leadership and service opportunities while giving out more than $1 million in scholarships, awards and chapter funds annually.

Silver Star status is awarded to chapters based on community and campus involvement and participation in organizational events such as professional development, service hours and giving back to the community. Gold Star status can be achieved with a student mentoring program and teaming with another on-campus organization.

“NSCS is close to earning Gold Star Status for this year, which is pushing us to work harder and become more involved,” Kearstin Stimmel, a senior biomedical sciences major from Independence, Missouri, who is president of the Northwest NSCS chapter, said.

Silver Star status distinguishes selected chapters among the more than 320 chapters throughout the country and recognizes those chapters for implementing engaging, student-centered events on their campuses and in their communities, including a new member induction ceremony and Integrity Week.

The Northwest chapter annually hosts Integrity Week and works closely with other organizations to promote a body of students, rather than individual organizations. Chapter members often serve the community through projects such as their canned food drive and Toys for Tots drive.

“Integrity week is a very important week for us to show what NSCS is about and to show students what can happen when they show integrity in the five areas of academic integrity, wellness integrity, professional integrity, integrity to our personal characters and social integrity,” Stimmel said.

Jacque Loghry, Northwest’s assistant director of student support services, serves as the chapter’s advisor.

“The chapter has truly proven their commitment to the ideals that NSCS holds dear,” Stephen E. Loflin, the chief executive officer and founder of NSCS, wrote in a letter to Northwest. “Jacque Loghry, NSCS officers, members and the entire community should take pride in the chapter’s accomplishments. Their exceptional work is not only a credit to them as a chapter, but as students of Northwest Missouri State University as well.”

Students must be a freshman or sophomore in the top 20 percent of their class and have at least a 3.4 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Qualifying students will receive an invitation to join in the mail or through email during the spring semester.

For more information about the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, visit www.nscs.org/.