Mortar Board Virtual Book Drive raised more than $25,000

The Mortar Board Virtual Book Drive, held July 26 - October 15 in conjunction with First Book and the national Reading is Leading initiative, was a huge success. The drive resulted in a whopping $25,586.24 raised nationally - just shy of a very aggressive national goal of $30,000. Funds raised will help to support local literacy initiatives, providing children from low-income families the opportunity to own their first new books.

Thank you to all the chapters who participated in this national initiative. This amazing commitment to support Mortar Board's national project, Reading is Leading, is truly a reason to celebrate.

Congratulations to our top Virtual Book Drive fundraising chapters!

First place - $500 prize
Hope College ($4,716.65 raised)

Second place - $250 prize
Kansas State ($3,402.86 raised)

Third place - $100 prize
Indiana University of Pennsylvania ($3,163.75 raised)

Honorable mention - $100 prize
University of South Alabama ($1,935.00 raised)

The top producing chapters were awarded a Borders gift card to use at the chapters’ discretion to buy books for a community organization of their choice.

Congratulations to our top regional section - OHIO!

In addition to individual chapters being honored for their contributions, the regional section with the highest total donation and participation rate was recognized. As a prize, the top section (Ohio) will be able to choose two programs to each receive 500 books from First Book.

Furthering your education?  Apply for a national fellowship.

Each year, the Mortar Board National Foundation awards fellowships to members of all ages in order to assist in financing their postgraduate education.  Thousands of dollars will be available for Mortar Board fellowships for the 2009-2010 academic year, with applications due on or before January 31, 2009. 

Recipients are chosen for academic excellence, recommendation, promise, financial need and Mortar Board involvement.  Since the establishment of the Mortar Board fellowship program in 1941, more than $500,000 has been awarded to members pursuing further study in graduate or professional school. 

• Learn more about Mortar Board's fellowships
• Apply for a national fellowship by January 31
• Be sure to have at least two recommendations submitted on your behalf

Mortar Board alumnus publishes first book and supports Mortar Board with proceeds

Kunle Oguneye, initiated into Mortar Board in 1996 at Valparaiso University, was born and raised in Nigeria. He has lived in the United States for the last 13 years, spending the last four of those years in the Puget Sound, Washington, area. He left a career in technology in order to pursue his love for children’s storytelling. Specifically, he recently published his first book, "Sikulu and Harambe by the Zambezi River," an African take on the Good Samaritan story.

As a special way to support Mortar Board's national Reading is Leading initiative, 50 percent of the proceeds of all books purchased at www.sikulu.com using promotion code "MB2008" will be donated to Mortar Board.

This winter, the semi-annual Mortar Board Forum magazine will feature a full-length story of Kunle Oguneye and how he transitioned from technology to writing and his African inspirations. So, how do you know if you will receive the Mortar Board Forum?

• The Mortar Board Forum is mailed to all members their first five years out of college. If you are a recent graduate, you should update your address to ensure you get the magazine.
• Members who are no longer within five years of their undergraduate degree can begin to receive the Mortar Board Forum by making a donation or subscribing for the low price of $5 per year.
• All members can download the electronic edition free of cost. Additionally, members may sign up to receive an e-mail notification when the electronic edition becomes available.

Share your Mortar Board stories with the commemorative historical book

Do you have great Mortar Board stories, photos or memorabilia?  Or, would you like to serve as a chapter's permanent historical liaison to assist with the book? Please contact the national Historical Publication Committee at history@mortarboad.org as they prepare for the publication of Mortar Board's centennial history book. 
Learn more here.

The semi-annual Mortar Board Forum magazine won't arrive in mailboxes until early winter, but keep informed of Mortar Board updates via e-mail.  The upcoming Forum will feature stories such as how a member transitioned from a technology career to writing children's books, a generational look at Mortar Board or project updates from chapters across the nation.  If you aren’t a Forum subscriber, there is still time to submit your information before the issue is mailed.  Start subscribing today!

Note to members

The Mortar Board National Office wants to know all about you - awards, new jobs, accomplishments, life events, and more!  Update us using an easy online form or by sending an e-mail.

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Kimberly Till
The University of Alabama, Initiated in 1976
2008 Mortar Board Alumni Achievement Award recipient

Kimberly Till’s amazing success includes her studies at Harvard Graduate School of Business, where she graduated with an M.B.A. and second year honors (1983); and Duke Law School, where she graduated with a J.D. with distinction (1980); as well as her remarkable White House Fellowship and Henry Luce Scholar experiences.

After just eight months as president, Kimberly was made CEO of the world’s second largest market intelligence and research company: Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) North America. This phenomenal accomplishment is the latest stop in what nominator Cathy Randall calls “a meteoric rise through the corporate world.” She has been a star in such organizations as Microsoft, AOL/Time Warner, Disney and SONY.
Kimberly currently resides in New York, where she tirelessly works on women’s issues as a member of the prestigious Women’s Forum. She also serves by invitation on the Council on Foreign Relations and is a member of the New York Economic Club and The Advertising Council.

Throughout her life, she has maintained a devotion to scholarship, a commitment to service and displayed unmatched leadership. In short, she represents everything that Mortar Board hopes alumni will become.

Each year at the Mortar Board National Conference, alumni members are honored with either the Alumni Achievement Award or the Distinguished Lifetime Membership Award. Nominations are accepted through March 15 of the award year. To nominate yourself or another alumna/alumnus to be honored in 2009, please use this form.

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