GVSU's Omicron Delta Kappa wins national award

Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society awarded the Grand Valley State University’s chapter (known as a “circle”) the Superior Circle Award. The award was given at the ODK National Leadership Summit and Convention in Houston, Texas.  Of more than 300 Circles across the United States, Grand Valley’s was one of three awarded the Superior Circle designation.

The Grand Valley Circle earned the Superior Circle designation by maintaining an active membership of more than 90 students and faculty/staff, initiating honorary alumni members of distinction, and sponsoring several campus-wide leadership initiatives. In 2009-10, Circle volunteers supported the monthly “I am Grand Valley” leadership recognition campaign and Campus Leadership Week in January. The Circle also sponsored the third annual Leadership Case Study Competition, which was held at the annual Leadership Summit in February. The Circle secured a $500 Clay Leadership Development Grant from the Foundation to sponsor Leadership Summit registration fees for student leaders.

Each year the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society recognizes Circles that meet all the Circle Standards with a Circle of Distinction Award, a Superior Circle Award, or a Presidential Award of Excellence.  Circles qualify as a Superior Circle if they meet all standards and produce two or more campus-wide leadership events throughout the year.  Presidential Awards of Excellence are award to Circles who have shown a history of success in Omicron Delta Kappa by earning Distinction honors for five consecutive years, or Superior honors for three years. The GVSU Circle received the Circle of Distinction honor in 2009.

The Omicron Delta Kappa Society, Inc., The National Leadership Honor Society for college students, recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character.  Omicron Delta Kappa was founded December 3, 1914 at Washington and Lee University, Lexington Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders.  It was the first college honor society of a national scope to give recognition for meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities.  The Society is now present on the campuses of over 300 colleges around the country. The Grand Valley State University Circle will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its chartering in April 2010.