National Society for Leadership and Success Induction Held

National Society for Leadership and Success Induction HELD

First Lady of Daytona Addresses Inductees; Bethune Essay Contest Winners Announced 

Daytona Beach, FL – The Bethune-Cookman Chapter of the National Society for Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi honor society, held induction for 114 new inductees for the Class of Spring 2015. The ceremony was held on Saturday, April 25 from 3-5:30 PM in the Heyn Chapel located in White Hall. Mayor Derrick Henry and First Lady of Daytona Beach, Dr. Stephanie Pasley Henry addressed inductees and congratulated each after receiving their certificates of accomplishment.

“We are so proud of our new student leaders and grateful to the Mayor and First Lady of Daytona for making the occasion very special,” said Dr. Paula McKenzie, faculty advisor and Associate Professor of Communication in the department of Speech Communication, Theatre and Visual Arts. “Not only did our students get to hear two dynamic speakers, but they go to shake their hands and talk with these two very special community leaders.”

Mayor Derrick Henry introduced key note speaker First Lady of Daytona Beach Dr. Stephanie Pasley Henry, CEO of The Math Party. Dr. Henry earned her doctorate in curriculum development and systematic change from Nova Southeastern University. She shared her story about how she became “one of America’s most creative and respected educational entrepreneurs.” Combining her love of music, movement, mathematics, and reading instruction—she created a series of educational programs such as “The Math Party” and “The Reading Party”—that she shares around the world. The former “Miss B-CC” connected with the Society inductees. “They loved her,” said McKenzie.   

Awards were bestowed in several areas. From national, Honorary Membership Awards were given to Mayor Derrick Henry and Dr. Stephanie Henry. The Excellence in Service Award was given to Mr. Anthony Owens and Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Dr. Paula McKenzie. Several chapter awards were given: John Reeves, University Photographer; Rev. Kenya Lovell, Assistant University Chaplain; Carolyn Reynolds, Student Development and Academic Integration; Tim Milam, Media Services Coordinator; Sean Kennick, Instructor of English; and Clair Sarlo, NSLS Chapter Support Manager.

“The Society gives our students an opportunity to develop leadership skills through special training,” said Mr. Anthony Owens, assistant advisor and Instructor/Student Success Coach in the College of Undergraduate Studies. 

The chapter announced the winners of the Bethune Essay Contest. Kayla Goldsby won first place; Monique Ming second, Elijah Stevens third, and Anjelle Rogers fourth. Tenesha Mells won honorable mention. Each of the four placed winners received a certificate and $50 prize. Students attended the lecture where they heard Dr. Bethune’s 1939 “What does American Democracy mean to me” speech as well as a lecture based on the published critique of the speech. Students were invited to write an essay based on their reflections of the work. Sean Kennick, Instructor of English, served as judge for the contest. The lecture and contest were sponsored by the chapter as well as the department of Speech Communication, Theatre, and Visual Arts.

Each student who attended induction received a certificate, pin, and t-shirt. The induction process involved students invested approximately twenty hours in leadership preparation by attending 1) Orientation, 2) Leadership Training Day, 3) Three speaker broadcast events, and 4) Three Success Networking Team meetings.

The Society’s motto is “We Build Leaders Who Make a Better World.” The mission is to help people discover and achieve their goals. It provides a community where like-minded, success-oriented individuals come together and help one another succeed. It offers life-changing lectures from the nation’s leading presenters. Spring inductees heard three nationally known speakers including: 1) Arianna Huffington, chair, president, and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group; 2) Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields®, the premier chain of cookie and baked goods stores; and 3) Dan Harris, co-anchor of ABC News' "Nightline" and co-anchor of the weekend edition of "Good Morning America".

The National Society for Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi, is an honor society for leaders established on the Bethune-Cookman University campus in 2009. The mission states: “We build leaders who make a better world.” The B-CU chapter is one of 478 colleges nationwide with a total membership of more than 450,000. The chapter supports students in their quest to find purpose, create a shared vision, challenge the status quo, inspire positive action, empower others, and seek constant improvement.