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New Austin Peay State University Leadership Society inducts large inaugural class

Austin Peay State University (APSU)

Austin Peay State University - APSUClarksville, TN – In recent years, Austin Peay State University (APSU) has marketed itself as a training ground for future leaders, and that reputation was reinforced this fall when the University founded a new chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).

Austin Peay State University's National Society of Leadership and Success chapter has 450 APSU Students join.
Austin Peay State University’s National Society of Leadership and Success chapter has 450 APSU Students join.

In August, more than 450 students accepted the invitation to join the organization, and after a long semester, the University inducted 319 members.

“This is a participation-based organization, so you have to earn your induction by participating in required activities,” Kelly Carpenter, APSU coordinator for leadership and student organizations, said. “The national average of completion is only 40 percent. We hit 68.75 percent. So the national office is even saying, ‘what are you doing? How did you do this?’ It really resonated with Austin Peay students.”

The University’s Office of Student Life and Engagement and the Department of Leadership and Organizational Administration founded the APSU chapter this August. The NSLS is the nation’s largest leadership honor society, with 660 chapters and more than 950,000 members nationwide. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential.

“Our high participation shows that our students are seeking out leadership opportunities,” Carpenter said. “They are interested in developing themselves both leadership-wise and success-oriented. They are coming to Austin Peay very driven. They are willing to do the extra work this requires.”

The society also offers tangible benefits to students, such as online success coaching and a custom job bank. Once they’re inducted, they are members for life.

“It’s not a situation where they have to keep paying money,” Carpenter said. “It’s a onetime dues payment.”

Throughout the semester, students had to participate in eight activities, on top of their other commitments, in order to be inducted. Those activities included attending live broadcasts to all 660 chapters, featuring speakers such as celebrity surgeon and talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz, chef and Emmy-winning television personality Carla Hall and top-rated professor and best-selling author Adam Grant.

After watching these broadcasts, students were placed in small success networking teams to achieve a personal goal, and they also attended a three-hour leadership training session.

Students were invited, but they can also apply to be members. For more information on NSLS, visit www.apsu.edu/student-life/leadership/NSLS

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