Mortar Board Receives National Award, Initiates New Members

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Posted on April 17, 2024

Marketing and Communications

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The University of South Alabama Sally Steadman Azalea Chapter of Mortar Board, an honor society for college seniors, has received the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award as best chapter in the nation for 2023.  New members were initiated this month.

Members of the South chapter partnered with departments across campus to bring speakers to their meetings, joined forces with athletics and student groups to elevate their events, and worked with the local Boys and Girls Club to promote literacy by reading, tutoring, and engaging with children. The chapter also awarded scholarships to four University students — one junior and three freshmen ­­— to spread awareness of Mortar Board and its principles.

Dr. Sally Steadman, faculty adviser for the Mortar Board chapter, said students partnered with organizations across campus. She credited the leadership of Annie Mascia, former chapter president, who is now a graduate student at South.

“She’s really energetic – tireless,” Steadman said. “It’s her work that did this. She was instrumental in making this happen.”

The Ruth Weimer award recognized excellence in operations, advising, visibility, communications and participation.

There are more than 100 Mortar Board chapters at colleges across the country. The South chapter was founded in 1969. It has about 60 members.

Mortar Board events and services include the Top Prof program for honoring faculty members who have a major impact on student lives. Over the last two decades, nearly 1,000 South educators have been recognized by Top Prof.

The South chapter has collected thousands of books for the Boys and Girls Club, the Ronald McDonald house and other groups. This effort fits into a national Mortar Board program called Reading Is Leading.

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