The Facts:

NSCS offers over $500,000 worth of scholarships. College is expensive — that’s no secret. Our members have access to a wide range of different scholarships and awards that can make college more affordable and reduce financial strain during their time in school. Additionally, our new Hub PLUS, available to premium members, offers access to an another $100 million in scholarship money.

NSCS members have access to resume review sessions. A good resume is key to landing that perfect position, and NSCS helps its members craft resumes that really stand out.

NSCS members gain leadership experience. You know what they say about leadership experience: it’s priceless. Okay, we may have made that part up ourselves, but we believe it wholeheartedly. Students in NSCS gain hands-on leadership experience that helps them jump straight into management roles after graduation.

What Students Have to Say:

Kevin Dong from the University of Iowa remarks that during his interview for pharmacy school, he was asked about his leadership experience and was able to reference his role as USCS Chapter President.

Hannah Palme from Michigan State University compliments her chapter’s resume building and public speaking workshops.

Lauren Tan of Loyola University believes joining NSCS is worth it for the scholarship opportunities. She describes how competitive the scholarship application process can be and explains how NSCS makes the process simpler by only awarding scholarships to members.

And finally, we would like to present you with a few numbers and statistics that demonstrate just how “worth it” an NSCS membership can be. A remarkable 88% of current members are likely or very likely to recommend fellow students join the society. Also, 93% of members believe that their NSCS membership will help them stand out as they apply for future jobs, internships, and graduate programs.

NSCS membership is more than a piece of paper — it’s an experience, and it is an experience that members find to be very worthwhile. 

While we are a nationwide community, our individual chapters give undergraduate students the chance to connect with other members on their campus, and it is through those connections that our students are able to thrive.

Undergraduate students are in a unique position. While attending classes and achieving academic excellence is certainly important, these students also need to learn leadership skills in order to excel once they enter the workforce. NSCS is proud to provide undergraduates with extra opportunities to lead, from the annual NSCS Leadership Summit to smaller, on-campus social gatherings. Our members repeatedly emerge as leaders on campus, and they continue as leaders as they begin professional school or enter the workforce.

Our students also learn valuable networking skills and have access to experienced mentors in a range of fields. By the time they graduate, they have a network to support them as they seek employment and launch their careers. This support sets our members apart and helps them land better positions in their fields of study.

At NSCS, we are not blind to the fact that college can be expensive. Each year, we award more than $500,000 in scholarships, awards, and chapter funds to high-achieving students. When students have the financial resources they need, they are better able to focus on academic development and performance.

Students often ask us whether joining an honors society like The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is worth it for students who are already enrolled in an honors college or honors program. We answer with a resounding “yes.” In the words of Kara Harwood, an NSCS Alumna and Honors Advisor, “it provides student a second opportunity to develop leadership that their honors college may not have enough space to provide to them, and it also allows them to expand into a whole different network.”

If you are an undergraduate student, or if you know an undergraduate student who is serious about excelling in their education and espousing the values of scholarship, leadership, and service, reach out. NSCS was built for students like you.

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization, boasting 320 plus chapter nationwide, that recognizes high-achieving first-and second-year students. With its three pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service, NSCS is proud to provide career and graduate school connections, leadership and service experiences, practical and skills-based content, access to discounts and savings, and over a million dollars in scholarships, chapter funds and awards annually. To learn more about joining the NSCS honors society, visit us at https://nscs.org/join.

2019 Laura Taddeucci Downs NSCS National Advisor of the Year

Dr. Matthew Painter
Advisor, NSCS at University of Wyoming

This annual award is named and funded by Laura Taddeucci Downs, NSCS’s original advisor at The George Washington University, where the organization was founded in 1994.

We are excited to announce our National Advisor of the Year. Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Painter, who advises our chapter at University of Wyoming.

The opportunity to serve as advisor to our NSCS chapter has been an honor and a privilege over the past 8 years. This organization and the awesome students it attracts make the ‘service’ component of my job immensely satisfying, rewarding, and meaningful.

Thank you, Dr. Painter, for creating a wonderful support system for our students at NSCS at University of Wyoming.

Regional Advisors of the Year

All recipients of this honor are advisors who, over the past year, have continuously displayed strong leadership and unwavering support and dedication to their NSCS chapter through coaching and mentoring student officers and chapter members. We thank them for their embodiment of the society’s pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Recipients, by region: Region 1: Dr. Ritu Sharma, NSCS at Purdue University Global Region 2: Ms. Jenna Fusinatto, NSCS at University of Missouri Region 3: Dr. Kathleen Stephens, NSCS at Richland College Region 4: Professor Martha Halihan, NSCS at Oklahoma State University Congratulations to our recipients, and thank you for the support you provide our students every day. We’re so grateful to have you in the NSCS family!

EW Advisor of the Year

Katey Ulrich
University of South Dakota

Congratulations to Katey Ulrich, who was named this year’s New Advisor of the Year! She advises the NSCS chapter at University of South Dakota. Proud to have you in the NSCS family, Katey!

---

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization, boasting 320 plus chapters nationwide, that recognizes high-achieving first-and second-year students. With its three pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service, NSCS is proud to provide career and graduate school connections, leadership and service experiences, practical and skills-based content, access to discounts and savings, and over $500,000 in scholarships, chapter funds and awards annually. To learn more about joining the NSCS honors society, visit us at https://nscs.org/join.

See other NSCS Scholar Reviews

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an ACHS accredited, legitimate, 501c3 registered non-profit organization with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and is FERPA certified by AACRAO.

As the first person in her family to attend college, Richey was determined to succeed, and she knew that she would have to rely on the community around her to find that success. She was the recipient of the Zaevion Dobson Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually by Fulton High School in honor of a sophomore who lost his life defending his friends from an act of gun violence. This scholarship helped Richey fund her education at UT, but it also gave her a sense of responsibility. As she navigated classes and the other demands of college, she did so in the memory of Dobson and in honor of her Fulton community as a whole.

Richey graduated with a double major in African Studies and Sociology, and her curriculum largely focused on critical race and ethnic studies. Although her classes were certainly demanding, she wasn’t afraid to push herself and take the lead in areas outside of academics, too. As squad leader of the Pride of Southland Color Guard, she learned to handle the nervous energy of the crowd as she led her squad onto the field at halftime. She set a strong example for them, knowing they were dependent on her leadership. Richey let the energy of Neyland Stadium exhilarate and terrify her all at the same time. What a powerful euphemism for life!

The strong sense of community that Richey learned to appreciate growing up in Fulton was something else she carried with her through her time at UT. As a resident assistant at Massey Hall, she was someone younger students knew they could turn to for guidance as they adapted to college life. Richey also joined the NAACP and the NCSC, and she became a mentor through Project GRAD Summer Institute, helping to offer guidance to other students preparing to enter college.

What’s interesting about Richey is that instead of replacing her hometown community with a new college community, she instead focused on expansion. She regularly went home to volunteer at Fulton High School, her alma mater, and she organized panel discussions for middle and high school students during which she offered guidance for other students across all demographics. Richey knows that she would not be where she is now if it were not for the help of her community, and she seeks to pass that wisdom and kindness on, just as it was passed on to her.

So what does the future hold for Uriah Richey? Although she has already achieved so much, in many ways, she is still at the beginning of her journey. She hopes to attend graduate school for Public Administration. Then, she plans on attending law school to become a civil rights attorney and ultimately serve as a representative for the state of Tennessee. Her career will focus on serving others and cultivating community.

As a member of NSCS, Uriah Richey has certainly made us proud, and we know she will continue to be a shining example of leadership as she pushes forward towards her goals. NCSC exists to honor high-achieving students and inspire them to live and lead with integrity, and Richey has done exactly that. We hope her story serves as inspiration for college students and pre-college students everywhere.

For Jessie, the time spent abroad with Semester at Sea was eye-opening and life-changing. She refers to those four months as the most impactful and influential time in her life, and she is thankful that her membership in NSCS allowed her to participate on a scholarship and fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling the world.

Jessie is a student at the University of South Carolina. Here, she is currently pursuing degrees in Finance and Sport & Entertainment Management. She joined NSCS largely because of the service opportunities the organization offered, but soon discovered the many scholarship opportunities available and started to apply. In 2018, she found out that she was the recipient of a scholarship from Semester at Sea and would be spending her fall semester on a whole new kind of study abroad adventure.

When her fall semester began, Jessie climbed aboard a cruise ship and watched the coast grow further away in the distance. Over the next several months, the ship docked in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Vietnam, China, Mauritius, Myanmar, Ghana, China, and Japan. Each stop was a new opportunity to experience a different culture and learn what the people of the world have to offer.

Jessie enjoyed the vibrant culture of Ghana and the traditional values of the Chinese people. She also built friendships and connections with other international students —connections that will serve her well as she graduates and moves forward in her career.

NSCS takes pride in offering students like Jessie Lessin a change to broaden their horizons and work towards their goals. Semester at Sea is just one of the many organizations that fund scholarships and offer unique opportunities for NSCS members. Jessie will continue to benefit from and proudly look back on her semester abroad with Semester at Sea, and future NSCS members can look forward to similar opportunities.

How do you make sure an organization is legitimate?

When you come across an honors society you think you may be interested in joining, it’s important to do your research. Here are some key signs that the society is above-board:

• The honors society is a registered, 501c3 non-profit organization.
• The honors society is a member of The Association of College Honor Societies, National Collegiate Honors Council, Association of American Colleges and Universities, or all three.
• The honors society’s admissions officers and other employees have legitimate qualifications, such as a Masters Degree in education or many years’ experience working in the college setting.

What are the benefits of joining an honors society?

Once you find a legitimate honors society like NSCS, what are the benefits of joining? Take a look.

1. Networking Opportunities

Most students land their first post-college job through someone in their network. When you join a legitimate honors society, you will have many opportunities to meet people who work in the field you’re pursuing and who work at companies you’re interested in working for.

2. Scholarships

The cost of college keeps rising and rising, but there are a lot of scholarships out there that can lower the cost. Many of these scholarships are specifically available to honors society members. With more funding in your account, you can graduate with fewer student loans and work fewer hours while you are in school, enabling you to better focus on your studies.

3. Leadership Opportunities

More and more, companies want to hire people with leadership experience. Your average college class does not provide a lot of leadership experience, but honors societies like NSCS do. You can take on an ambassador role at your home campus, hold a position of power in one of the society’s chapters, or even help organize fundraisers and awareness events. Being able to list this leadership experience on your resume will really set you apart from other applicants.

4. A Unique College Experience

College can be as unique as you make it. Many NSCS chapters are involved in community efforts to clean up beaches or gather food for the needy. Other legitimate honors societies are involved in similar programs. Participation in these activities helps ensure that you graduate with more than coursework under your belt — you’ll also have plenty of hands-on experience and a more comprehensive perspective. Within NSCS, you can choose which programs to participate in and customize your own college experience.

With so many scams out there today, it is reasonable for you to be skeptical of honors societies. But rest assured that NSCS and other similar honors societies are not scams. They are above-board organizations that are truly dedicated to enhancing students’ experiences, both during their college years and beyond.