News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 5/23/05   SOUTHEASTERN FORMS CHAPTER OF NATIONAL SOCIETY OF COLLEGIATE SCHOLARS        HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University has formed a chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, an honors organization that recognizes outstanding academic achievement among first and second year college students.        The organization, begun in 1994 in South Carolina, encourages members to develop leadership skills through community service. NSCS has more than 200 chapters in 49 states. Southeastern is one of only three Louisiana universities that have an NSCS chapter.        “Southeastern has a long history of service learning programs and emphasis on community service by our students,” said university President Randy Moffett. “Membership in the NSCS provides another way for the university to recognize our high achieving students. It is a symbol of outstanding academic achievement and serves as a doorway for jobs, scholarships and service opportunities.”        Membership in the organization is offered to first or second-year students who rank in the top 20th percentile of their class and have a minimum grade point average of 3.4. A variety of scholarships are open to NSCS members, including the Merit Award, which recognizes up to 50 scholars in their first year of membership with $1,000 grants. Merit Award recipients are selected on how well they exemplify the NSCS mission to “honor and inspire academic excellence and engaged citizenship for a lifetime.”        According to Debbie Guice Longman, coordinator of student success programs at Southeastern and the chapter’s faculty advisor, 45 students had already joined the organization only days after an initial mailing. She estimates that approximately 800 students will be invited to join the NSCS chapter.        NSCS is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the nation’s only honors organization offering membership to first and second year college students. The organization, which has over 375,000 current members, offers students access to scholarships, career resources and leadership opportunities. Membership is by invitation only.