Dal's Golden Key shines

Some of the most exceptional students at Dalhousie are truly golden. Dalhousie's Golden Key Society is made up of students going into their second year or above that have a GPA in the top 15 per cent of their faculty. Members take part in a wide array of volunteer activities throughout the year including charitable fundraising, clothing drives and working with groups ranging from Dress for Success to soup kitchens to the Buskers Festival. Last term they participated in the Terry Fox Run, a Halifax Commons clean-up day, the "Trick-or-Eat" campaign. They also awarded more than $20,000 in international scholarships and awards to outstanding Dalhousie University student members.

Golden Key members are particularly proud of a recent partnership program with the Halifax School Board and Halifax Regional Police. The program provides tutoring to more than 20 junior high schools in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). This program has gained international recognition and is being implemented in other Golden Key affiliated universities around the world.

Dal Chapter President Jennifer Gauthier says in addition to the valuable experience of giving back, there are valuable leadership, personal growth and social opportuntieis in the Golden Key Society. "I have made some great friends through Golden Key, and I know my university life wouldn't have been the same without it," she says.

Tyler (TJ) Burke is the Honourary Members Liaison for the Dalhousie chapter. He points out that, "Although Golden Key is a very serious organization with very sincere goals and values, (it also) includes a fun factor when planning events. An important part of Golden Key is camaraderie and building of lifelong friendships that, in turn, produce great times and grand memories."

Every year, GK chapters induct honorary members, people from the community that serve as role models by exemplifying the ethics and ideals to which the society aspires. "They demonstrate scholarship, leadership and ship-shape altruistic service," says Burke.  A few recent honorary members in the Dalhousie Chapter include Mayor Peter Kelly, Dr. Tom Traves (President of Dalhousie), Dr. Richard Goldbloom, the late Patrick Christopher Carter (Shakespeare by the Sea Co-Founder), Alexa McDonough, CTV's Steve Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Myra Freeman.

Internationally, Golden Key is an academic honour society which recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence among college and university students from all academic disciplines. The Society awards its members nearly $500,000 annually through 17 different scholarship and award programs. Members are connected to exclusive career opportunities and assistance through Golden Key's partnerships with major corporations and graduate programs. The Society provides campus and community service opportunities enabling personal growth and leadership development as well as collaborating with university faculty and administrators to develop and maintain high standards of education.

The Dalhousie chapter of the Golden Key Society has been recognized a both a "Gold Chapter" in 2005, and as a "Key Chapter" (the Society's highest form of recognition) in 2004.