The Georgia Southern University chapter of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society earned the Capstone Award at the most recent national award ceremony, the only chapter of the organization’s 210 chapters across the nation to do so.
Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society for first-year college students that was founded in 1923, making it the oldest honor society for first year students in the nation.
The organization focuses on rewarding and acknowledging first year college students’ academic success, as well as helping students grow through volunteer opportunities.
“We give all kinds of volunteer opportunities to help you grow as a student,” Sherrod Hollingshed, secretary for the Georgia Southern University chapter of Phi Eta Sigma said. “We give you all the tools you need to succeed, not only in college, all the tools you need to succeed in life.”
The GS chapter of Phi Eta Sigma has been active since 1991, according to the chapter’s website.
Awards
The GS chapter of Phi Eta Sigma won the Capstone Award at the Society’s most recent national Phi Eta Sigma Excellence Awards ceremony. Along with the Capstone Award, the chapter was one of 13 chapters to win the Pyramid Award.
The Pyramid Award is gven to 13 chapters that have consistent member induction numbers, stay in communication with the national office, stay active in their communities and properly report those activities and participate in the organization’s national scholarship program. Of those 13 chapters, one is chosen to also receive the Capstone Award, the highest honor a Phi Eta Sigma chapter can receive, Hollingshed said.
The Capstone is awarded to the local chapter that meets all the requirements of the Pyramid along with service or leadership projects and participation on the national level. The Pyramid Award also comes with a $100 cash prize.
This is the first time the GS chapter has won either the Pyramid or Capstone Award in the last three years, Sharmita Saha Porshia, president of the GS chapter, said.
The GS chapter has won awards from GS, such as the Gold Organization Award, but this is the first national award the chapter has won since Porshia became a member in the spring of 2016.
Volunteering
Members of the GS Phi Eta Sigma chapter volunteer at a variety of events and programs on the GS campus, such as the many 5K races that are held on the campus, the annual ArtsFest and the community service and alternative break trips hosted by the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement to name a few.
The chapter also volunteers in the Statesboro community at local animal shelters, Habitat for Humanity, nursing homes in the area and members tutor local students at the Statesboro Library.
“We volunteer at whatever opportunity we get locally,” Porshia said.
Why and how to join
Porshia, who is an international student from Bangladesh, said she did not join any organizations here first semester at GS because she was scared, she didn’t know enough, until she received her invitation to join Phi Eta Sigma.
“[Phi Eta Sigma] was one of the organizations that at first invited me to join and looking at the history and everything . . . especially as it recognizes your academic success, so I thought the core value of this organization is very straightforward to my goal, which is to maintain my GPA.”
Hollingshed said that joining Phi Eta Sigma has been a rewarding experience for him.
“Getting to help in all these different projects, that’s what I found most rewarding,” Hollingshed said.
Phi Eta Sigma is also a good opportunity to gain leadership experience Porshia said.
Phi Eta Sigma is open to any GS freshman with a 3.6 grade point average or higher regardless of major.
Students receive an invitation letter from the organization and then it is up to them to accept the invitation.
If they choose to accept, then they pay a $40 membership fee and then they are invited to participate in the induction ceremony held at the Performing Arts Center on the GS campus. This year’s induction is set for Feb. 10.
Currently, the GS chapter has about 1,400 members, with 50 to 60 active members. The number of active members is on the high side for Phi Eta Sigma chapters, with some chapters having as little as 10 active members, Porshia said
“It has been really great to see how this organization has really grown over time,” she said. “We have never seen a downfall of this organization and that is only because of the members. Our core strength is the members of this chapter and that’s how the Phi Eta Sigma chapter of Georgia Southern is the best.”