ETSU officially received its charter from the Golden Key International Honor Society during the chapter’s first induction of 278 new members on Nov. 12.
The event held in the Culp University Center was standing room only as new inductees, their families, and friends took part in this historic event.
“Chartering Golden Key signifies that ETSU students are outstanding and have leadership potential to accomplish the lofty goals and aspirations set by the National Golden Key Honor Society,” said Dr. Deborah White, assistant vice president for student life and leadership, who was the keynote speaker at the event.
In White’s keynote address, she touted the importance of service to one’s community. To add emphasis, she read several statements written by ETSU students on their experiences while performing various forms of community service.
“My keynote address focused on the importance of community service to the community,” White said. “This will, we hope, become a major focus for the Golden Key chapter here at ETSU.”
Scholarships were also awarded to senior Patricia Vega and junior Carolyn Spence. The scholarships worth $500 each are awarded annually to new inductees in each chapter.
“When I found out that I was to be the junior scholarship recipient, I was deeply honored that this prestigious organization would bestow the recognition on me,” Spence said. “I am quite thrilled, and equally grateful.”
“I was elated to see that the senior scholarship recipient (Vega) was an international student from Mexico City, Mexico,” said Heather Hageman, Golden Key Council student representative.
Hageman, a student of South-west Texas State University and a member of Golden Key since 1998, represents the views of students from six countries and 130 nationalities in all matters that are brought before the Golden Key Council.
Hageman said the council decides which universities who have petitioned for a charter will be granted a charter. We also set criteria for scholarships and determine what sorts of new ones to create.
Hageman gave the official charter to faculty advisor, Dr. Kurt Loess, professor of management in the College of Business, and the first president of the chapter, Mary Katherine “Kit” Coomer for signing. The charter was then presented to Dr. Steven Bader, senior associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students.
“It was great to see a year’s worth of hard work on the part of many people come together with such success,” Coomer said.
“We thought 50 to 150 new members would be great, but to have inducted 278 new members far surpassed our expectations,” Loess said.
The charter granted to ETSU was one of only six that were awarded last year.
The chartering process started last November, after ETSU had been approved for chartering by the Golden Key Council several years earlier.
Mark Cosgrove, associate director of chapter development, began his task of establishing a new chapter at ETSU. Cosgrove contacted Dr. Ugar Yavas, professor ofmarketing, and Dr. Loess, and in a series of phone conversations discussed how Golden Key would work with the students and administrators in introducing a chapter of this honor society to ETSU.
“I was most impressed by their (Golden Key’s) commitment to support and guide the institution in this process,” Bader said.
Several trips would be made to the campus to bring together the students and faculty for the express purpose of starting a new chapter.
With a handful of students and the approval of Dr. Rebecca Pyles, director of ETSU’s honors programs, Golden Key could now register on campus as a new student organization and begin its membership drive in earnest.
With a game plan established for introducing the honor society to the more than 600 eligible students at ETSU, Cosgrove along with mid-south regional director, Heather Wells, worked tirelessly with Loess, Coomer, and seven other dedicated students during the fall semester membership drive.
“As the recruitment process started, I was frankly surprised and gratified to again see representatives from the national office back on campus,” Bader said. “I was most impressed by their (Golden Key’s) commitment to support and guide the institution in this process.”
Golden Key International Honor Society arose from humble beginnings at Georgia State University in 1977, where a group of highly motivated students saw the need for an organization that recognized students solely on academic performance.
Their desire to foster academic achievement and at the same time represent the diversity of students on campus fueled their dreams of creating Golden Key.
Today, Golden Keys boasts a membership of 1 million lifetime members, some of which are now in leadership positions in 150 different countries.
“Golden Key offers so many benefits to the students and the community alike,”Coomer said. Golden Key allows academically talented students to give back to the community through service projects.
Among the 278 new inductees, five honorary members were also inducted: Dr. Paul Stanton, president, East Tennessee State University, Dr. Linda Garceau, dean of the College of Business, Bader, Pyles and White.
“It is always special to be asked by the students and faculty to be a part of something that they are so committed to,” White said.
Coomer said, “As successful students, we have been blessed with opportunities that many people have not had.”
“With those blessings comes the responsibility to pass them on. It truly is a win-win situation,” she said.

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