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NATIONAL NEWS

Alumni award nominations due November 15

Mortar Boards maintain a lifelong commitment to the ideals of our Society: scholarship, leadership and service. They are leaders in their disciplines, in their workplaces and in their communities.

Let's face it: Mortar Boards do amazing things!

We want to honor the contributions that our members make to the global community and to Mortar Board. Find out more about our prestigious national alumni awards and nominate the outstanding alumni that you know for one!

CHAPTER UPDATES

Spooky Service
By this time, most Mortar Board chapters have already completed at least a couple of service initiatives on campus. We've heard about some great ones so far! Most recently, though, many chapters used Halloween to foster connections between their campus and community. Check out these great photos from Halloween service events.

As reported in the Columbia Missourian, the Athena chapter at Stephens College hosted a trick-or-treat event for students from the Stephens College Children's School.	The Daily Trojan featured a story about how the Torch & Tassel chapter joined several other student groups to host a safe trick-or-treat for 1,500 children on the USC campus.	The Alcor chapter at Hope College spent an afternoon carving pumpkins with children from CASA, an outreach program offered by the college for local at-risk children.	The Frederick News Post featured a story on Safe Harvest, a campuswide event for local children organized by the Keystone chapter at Hood College.

Reading is Leading: Virtual Book Drive update

Mortar Board's national service initiative, Reading is Leading, is a way for our members -- both collegiate and alumni -- to help children and families establish a foundation for lifelong learning.

Access to books is essential to developing literacy skills, and many low-income families simply do not have that access. Now in its fourth year, the Virtual Book Drive is an event in which Mortar Board chapters partner with First Book, a national nonprofit organization that provides low-income children with books.

So far this year, our chapters have raised enough funds to provide over 5,000 books to children in need. Not only are they raising funds, but they are helping draw attention to and involving their campuses in addressing the the issue of illiteracy. We are so proud of the time and effort our chapters are giving to this important initiative.

ALUMNI UPDATES

We recently asked a few of our alumni to tell us how their Mortar Board experience helped them develop as leaders. Darlene Davies (San Diego State University, 1961) shared with us a particularly inspiring account of the impact Mortar Board made in her life. Here is an excerpt of her story:

Darlene Davies San Diego State University, 1961 When people believe in you, something magical happens. Your spirit soars and the impossible suddenly seems possible. That's the way it is with Mortar Board, an organization that encourages its members to reach beyond their grasp, to truly be their best. Imagine how that attitude could change the world. When I was tapped for membership in Cap & Gown at San Diego State College, now the Jane K. Smith Cap & Gown Chapter of Mortar Board at San Diego State University, in 1961, I was barely 21 years old, the mother of a toddler, the wife of a graduate of SDSC and a theatre arts major. Other students on campus were not well known to me, but it turned out I was known to them because of my acting in SDSC productions and on many other stages in San Diego. Thus, to my total astonishment, I was tapped for Cap & Gown during an SDSC class. I strove to return the favor over the ensuing years by nominating accomplished women for leadership positions, honors and awards. I learned to perform those acts of generosity from Cap & Gown Mortar Board. Through Mortar Board, I've stayed in touch with many generations of university students. Every city, county or state board to which I've been appointed has been a reminder to me of the vast possibilities for leadership afforded me. I like being part of my community. That comes from Mortar Board. The honors I've received have all been seeded by that first experience with Cap & Gown. Now, 1961-2011 equals 50 years with Mortar Board. I'm immensely grateful.

Don't miss the full version of Darlene's story in the upcoming issue of the Forum -- sign up to receive your electronic copy!

MEMBER BENEFITS Mortar Board Fellowships It started in 1941 with one fellowship of $500. Since then, the Mortar Board National Foundation has awarded over $600,000 in fellowships to Mortar Boards seeking postgraduate degrees. Applications for the 2012 fellowships are due January 31. Find out more about the application process or read about our 2011 Fellows. Apply to be a 2012 Mortar Board Fellow on or before January 31!

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