Golden Key National Honor Society Brings "Bears To Baylor" April 7-9
Baylor University will host more than 150 students from 25 universities in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma during the Southwestern Regional Golden Key National Honor Society Convention April 7-9 on the Baylor campus.
In addition to attending convention meetings, the students, who represent the top 15 percent academically at their universities, will take part in "Bringing Bears to Baylor," a community service project that will provide local agencies with teddy bears for children in traumatic situations.
The collected bears will be on display at the convention breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday in Barfield Drawing Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center. Representatives from the Waco Family Abuse Center, Bears on Patrol and Compassion Ministries also will attend the breakfast and be presented with the bears.
"Many involved in Golden Key feel that there needs to be a service component to an academic organization," said Dr. Randy Wood, professor of curriculum and instruction in the School of Education and adviser for the Baylor chapter of Golden Key. "These students have no trouble getting geared up to study, but if they're not geared up for life, then learning has no value."
The conference, "Unlocking the Doors to the Future," will begin at 9 p.m. Friday in the Waco Hilton ballroom and features Baylor biology professor Ray Wilson, who will speak on "The Importance of Friendship." Dr. Steven Moore, vice president for student life at Baylor, will speak at Saturday's breakfast, while Texas Rep. Kip Averitt will address participants at a noon luncheon in Barfield Drawing Room. Students also will take part in leader training and chapter activity workshops before wrapping up with a recognition dinner and dance at the Texas Ranger Museum Saturday night.
Founded in 1977 at Georgia State University, Golden Key National Honor Society is a nonprofit academic honors organization that recognizes academic achievement and encourages altruistic service. More than 250 universities in the United States, Australia, Canada and Malaysia have Golden Key chapters on campus.
For more information, call Dr. Randy Wood at (254) 710-4944 or visit the Baylor chapter's web site at www.baylor.edu/~Golden_Key/gk.htm .