RSU National Society of Leadership and Succes (NSLS) Community Chair Saige Morgan (from left), President Priscilla Manley and Vice President Lillian Casemore at the “Paint the Town” event in Claremore before RSU’s 2024 Homecoming week.
Rogers State University’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) has been nationally recognized for completion of achievements, earning it Pillar Program Honors distinction on the NSLS Founder’s List.
Formed in the spring 2022 semester, the RSU chapter of NSLS is the largest student organization on campus with nearly 500 members. The group’s mission is to transform students into future leaders and positively influence their lives by helping them achieve their goals through success preparation and leadership training.
“As a whole, the organization is similar to an honor society, but it really acts as a leadership program for the students,” said Olivia Orend, chapter success manager, NSLS national office. “It’s student-focused, student-led, and student run. Each chapter has achievements or ‘pillars’ which are that chapter’s goals for each year.”
“Depending upon how many of these achievements or pillars are reached, the chapters earn honors in the Pillars Program, with RSU recently earning Founders List recognition,” she said. “RSU’s chapter (of NSLS) has already met the 10 pillars required to be named by the national NSLS office to the Founders List – an impressive accomplishment for such a relatively young chapter.”
NSLS’s Pillar Program represents the best practices for chapters of NSLS, as identified by the national office. Chapters are recognized for going above and beyond in this regard, receiving President’s Circle, Founders List or Order of Sigma awards.
Pillars completed by RSU’s NSLS chapter included meeting with the national office, completing strategy reports, submitting meeting minutes for the planning meetings, hosting events throughout the year, attending the NSLS leadership conference, having 40% or more of the group’s members complete the leadership program within a year, sending invitations to prospective members, hosting community service events, and more.
Orend said the Founder’s List designation for such a new chapter is a reflection on the commitment of the RSU chapter’s members.
“RSU’s chapter probably ranks in the top 15-20% of the more than 800 national chapters, which is phenomenal,” she said. “Its members have demonstrated their ingenuity and drive, and dedication to excellence.”
RSU’s NSLS faculty advisors Dr. Brook Purdum, assistant professor of business, and Christi Mackey, assistant professor of psychology and sociology, agree.
“The success of the organization has been primarily because of its members, because of the students,” Purdum said. “Professor Mackey and I serve in an advisory capacity, to answer their questions, to support and encourage them, but all of their accomplishments were made possible by their hard work and determination.”
“Foundationally, it’s very much a student-driven organization,” Mackey concurred, “and it has been great to see them take initiative, step up and accomplish so much, and to reach these pillars in such a short time. I’m confident the group will only continue to grow and do more great things for themselves, the university and the community.”
For more information about Rogers State University’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, contact Christi Mackey at 918-343-7752, Brook Purdom at 918-343-7805 or visit www.nsls.org/chapter-details/rogers-state-university