The U’s chapter of the Mortar Board Senior Honors Society was honored with a Silver Torch Award at a national conference in July, which recognized the branch for its contributions to the community, to the university and to its members.
The society, operating at the U since 1921, is an exclusive nationwide honors group that awards membership to a small number of seniors each year on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service — the pillars the society is built on.
This year, the national society has taken on the problem of literacy. In accordance with the theme, members of the U’s chapter raised money for a new reading program at Wasatch Elementary School. The program will aid struggling grade-school students in getting on track with their literacy level, as well as establish a month-long read-a-thon to garner enthusiasm for reading among the students.
The group also brought their literacy efforts to the Marriott Library with the new family reading room. This space provides nontraditional students with a place where mothers can go to nurse or bring their young children with them while they get some studying done.
This cause is especially important to former Mortar Board president and current senior advisor Stacie Lawrence, herself a nontraditional student. As someone who cared for her own children while attending school, Lawrence emphasized the importance of literacy for children, as well as accommodations for mothers pursuing higher education.
“I really have a love for literacy and appreciate what it can do,” she said.
Current president Ben Berger, a senior in biochemistry, said this project, among others, required a lot of drive from the society’s members, who must also meet high scholastic standards.
“There’s great synergy,” he said. “It’s really great to be a part of a community where everyone is really dedicated to school.”
He believes the Silver Torch Award exemplifies just how hard the group works for the academic and local communities.
@sarahnlegg