WHAT IS BLUE KEY HONOR SOCIETY?

Blue Key Honor Society is a premier honor society that recognizes college students at senior institutions of higher education for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.

The Constitution ordains and establishes for Blue Key the guidelines and procedures to enable individual collegiate chapters, through an organized effort, to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional student leaders at colleges and universities.

HOW IS BLUE KEY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AMONG HONOR SOCIETIES AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?

Blue Key is a general honor society that bases its eligibility on all-around leadership in student life, high scholastic achievement, service to others, citizenship, and an adherence to principles of faith. Blue Key is unique in that it recognizes upper-classmen at colleges and universities throughout the nation for an exemplary and balanced record of achievement inside and outside the classroom.

The organization celebrates and honors the many accomplishments of it membership. The special qualities of Blue Key members as they model service to others include intellectual curiosity with a desire to acquire knowledge, modeling a significant pattern of leadership which contributes to the institution’s student and campus life, service to the community and citizenship, expressing humility through moral character and integrity, and a strong sense of faith in word and deed.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP IN BLUE KEY?

Blue Key recognizes deserving students who have a demonstrated record of success and excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. Blue Key salutes observable meritorious achievement and continued growth, development, and leadership by example. Blue Key recognizes the uppermost percentile of students who have a distinguished and balanced record in all areas.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Individuals selected for Blue Key must meet these criteria as outlined below:

1. Scholarship - Members must have a distinguished achievement in classroom and meritorious activity that recognizes significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge, learning and scholarly performance. The member must have an ambition for intellectual attainment and development.

2. Leadership - Members must have a distinguished record of leadership and achievement in student organizations, student life, professional associations, or institutional organizations that promote community service, life skills, professional development, or institutional advancement.

3. Service - Members must have a distinguished pattern of service to others, to campus life, or to the greater community. The individual must have a strong desire to serve others and improve the welfare of society.

4. Character and Integrity - Members must have a distinguished pattern of honesty and trustworthiness in personal behavior. They shall be reputable among peers as well as institutional and community leaders. Moral character, spiritual principles, and beliefs mark the individual as a person of faith and adherence to moral convictions.

 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLUE KEY HONOR SOCIETY

Until the name change to Blue Key Honor Society on February 7, 2003, Blue Key was known as Blue Key International Honor Fraternity and Blue Key National Honor Fraternity before that. The founder, Major Bert C. Riley, noted that Blue Key evolved from a faith in the sincerity and ability of college students. In the fall of 1924 at the University of Florida, he built the foundation for an honor fraternity dedicated to service. He believed that worthwhile progress should be accomplished through the orderly process of evolution and not revolution. He believed that students are willing to accept responsibility, cooperate with faculty and fellow students to create lofty ideas and attitudes, and improve student life and welfare that benefits the institution, the community, and the nation. Members support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and abide by the principles of good citizenship. Support for the constitution is further enhanced by support for the family and religious institutions of society. Blue Key started with twenty-five outstanding student leaders, who by election or attainment, held places of prominence and confidence in the student body.

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA

Blue Key Honor Society strives for high standards while recognizing excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service on college campuses. Blue Key, as an organization, couples action with principle and provides role models among collegiate honor societies by marshaling students with exemplary scholarly skills, leadership skills, and the highest standards of moral character and citizenship. Blue Key members express leadership through the engagement in service activities that enhance the welfare and reputation of the institution and greater community. Blue Key shall represent the top one percent of students at the institution who manifest a combination of all selection criteria.

SERVICE TO OTHERS

To foster the concept that it is a desirable goal to express one’s own life and character in what one is able to accomplish for others expressed in the Blue Key motto, “Serving, I live.”

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF MEMBERSHIP IN BLUE KEY?

Blue Key fosters strengthened relationships among students, faculty, and college or university administration and staff. Blue Key recognizes that student organizations are a vital part of college life, personal experience, and learning. Blue Key brings together a cross-section of students and recognizes their contribution to an enriched college experience for all.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BLUE KEY MEMBERSHIP?

· Recognition of scholastic, leadership, and service achievement on college campus.

· Registration as a lifetime member of a respected international honorary society.

· Acknowledge the contributions made by the top one percent of college students.

· Opportunity to engage in service activities with peers.

· Enhance leadership opportunities and experiences through organized interactions.

· Participate in an international leadership conference that promotes leadership development, career advancement, and communication among Blue Key chapter members.

WHAT DOES A BLUE KEY MEMBER RECEIVE WITH MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION?

· An engraved and embossed certificate with registration number.

· Lifetime membership.

· Blue Key lapel pin.

· Name is recorded in the Blue Key Registration Archive at the Blue Key Honor Society international headquarters office.

· Invitation to Blue Key Leadership Conferences that provide an opportunity for professional and leadership development and information exchange opportunities among chapters.

· Recognition by an international leadership and scholarship honorary society that certifies membership as being part of the top percentile of students at colleges and universities.

· Opportunity to obtain Blue Key Honor Cords and Blue Key medals.

· Opportunity for the chapter to receive special recognitions and awards from Blue Key Honor Society.