The NDSU chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) was awarded silver STAR status at the society’s national leadership summit held in Seattle July 6-7.

NSCS is an honors organization for high-achieving freshmen and sophomores with more than 270 student-run chapters at universities across the country. NDSU’s NSCS chapter was founded in 2003.

STAR status is determined by chapter program success, community service, member engagement and on-campus involvement. Chapters also are required to hold an induction ceremony for new members each term.

The chapter’s officers accepted the award and a $100 Chapter Scholarship for chapter programs and events for the 2010-11 academic year.

NSCS chapters can attain one of four STAR status levels – bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Each level is determined based on quantity and quality of events a chapter held the previous year.

Members worked to execute and improve long-standing NSCS programs such as “Planning for College Success,” a mentoring program for middle school students, and “I Stand for Integrity Week,” dedicated to supporting NSCS’ integrity initiative.

Other requirements to attain silver status include holding an induction ceremony for new members, creating an on-campus membership recruitment campaign and sending at least one member to last year’s NSCS convention.