By Lee Chaney, Staff Writer
The sound of excited whispers floated from the audience as last Friday night’s inductees lined up to receive their foundations of leadership certificate, the final step to becoming a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
With 877 chapters, this collegiate honors society is the largest in all of the United States; founded by Gary Tuerack in 2001, the organization now holds over two million members. Pellissippi State started its chapter back in 2017 and has inducted around 2,500 students since.
There are a couple steps to being inducted into the nation’s largest collegiate honors society, however. Students must first receive an invitation from the National Society of Leadership and Success, then maintain a certain GPA, pay a $95 one time membership fee, and complete a five-step process involving career development workshops. These meetings are meant to foster leadership skills like self-discipline and time management.
This year’s ceremony was especially significant because it marks the first solely student-lead semester of Pellissippi State Community College’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Red, black, and white balloons decorated the Clayton Performing Arts Center as Pellissippi States’s director of Student Engagement and Leadership Dr. Sharon Couch took the stage to start the event, giving an inspiring speech about personal growth and success. Couch congratulated the inductees:
“Tonight, you’re here to celebrate a meaningful milestone – your induction into a community committed to leadership, growth, and impact… What I love about this is that you earned your place here. Not only through academic achievement, but through your potential to lead and inspire others. The wonderful thing about this induction is that it is not the… end. It is the beginning of a journey.”
Afterwards Couch recounted an allegory about determination and perseverance and walked students through the steps of the ceremony. The audience congratulated the inductees, who then turned to thank their families and friends in the audience. Afterwards Couch invited several current members to share their views on and experience with the organization.
As the students lined up preparing to receive their diplomas, a congratulatory video was played. The video featured messages from National Society of Leadership and Success alumni and celebrities like actor Chadwick Boseman and former president Barack Obama wishing the new inductees success in the future. The students filed on stage as their name was called, each making their way to center stage to shake the vice president’s hand and receive their foundations of leadership certificate, making their membership into the National Society of Leadership and Success official.
Afterwards the reception hall was filled with excited chatter as inductees and families mingled over refreshments. The night closed with an air of hopefulness as students were encouraged to finish the school year strong and continue on their path to success.
The ceremony was an inspirational production and concluded by giving students the tools they will need to move upward in their careers. Inductees will now have access to several opportunities including scholarships, a job board, and recommendation letters exclusive to National Society of Leadership and Success members, providing them with much needed skills for years to come.
