Mortar Board chapter earns national honors at Phoenix conference

(Aug. 6, 2015) – Carson-Newman University’s Mortar Board chapter earned its eighth consecutive Golden Torch Award at the 2015 Mortar Board National Conference last week in Phoenix, Arizona.

The honor recognizes the most exceptional chapters of the national honor society that accomplish significant results in chapter management and contributing meaningful service to their institutions. Carson-Newman’s Mortar Chapter, called Panathenees, also received a Project Excellence Award for the fifth year in a row.

The University earned the Project Excellence Award for its hosting of a Christmas party for a special group. Dr. Kara Stooksbury, who serves along with Dr. Christine Dalton as faculty advisor for the chapter, championed the effort.

“I’m especially proud of our group for the work they did on the Christmas party,” said Stooksbury. “This was a party for local foster children and their families. We provided snacks and allowed the children to decorate cookies, make ornaments, play Christmas themed games, and pick out a gift,” she explained.”

It was the chapter’s second year hosting the Christmas party.

For students to be selected as a member of Mortar Board, they must excel in scholarship, leadership, and service.

Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Since its founding in 1918, the Society has grown from four to over 230 chartered collegiate chapters with more than a quarter-million members across the nation.