National Society of Collegiate Scholars

{{Infobox fraternity

| name = National Society of Collegiate Scholars

| letters = {{lang|en|NSCS}}

| crest = NSCS Logo.png

| image_size = 150px

| caption =

| pillars = Scholarship, Leadership, Service

| founded = {{Start date and age|1994|4|30}}

| birthplace = George Washington University

| type = Honor

| status = Active

| affiliation = ACHS

| scope = National

| philanthropy = Active Minds

| chapters = 260

| members = 90,000

| lifetime = 1,600,000

| colors = {{color box|#981B1E}} Crimson and {{color box|#A99268}} Gold

| publication = 3 Pillars Blog

| address = 2000 M Street NW Suite 480G

| city = Washington, D.C.

| state =

| ZIP code = 20036

| country = United States

| website = {{URL|https://nscs.org/}}

}}

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an American academic honor society for college students. It was established in 1994 at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. NSCS has active chapters at nearly 300 colleges and universities in the United States. It is a Association of College Honor Societies member.

History

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars was founded on April 30, 1994 at George Washington University in Washington, DC, by Steve Loflin.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2012 |title=The National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society |url=http://achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=nscs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306100027/http://achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=nscs |archive-date=2012-03-06 |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Association of College Honor Societies |via=web.archive.org}} At the time, Loflin worked in Student Affairs at George Washington University.{{cite web |last=Carter |first=Carol J. |date=July 6, 2014 |title=Celebrating Emerging Scholars, NSCS, and the Power of a Crazy Idea |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/celebrating-emerging-scho_b_5274312 |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=Huffington Post}}{{cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Matt |date=May 7, 2004 |title=National Society of Collegiate Scholars Celebrates 10th Anniversary |url=https://www2.gwu.edu/~media/pressrelease.cfm?ann_id=11843 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310210853/http://www.gwu.edu/~media/pressrelease.cfm?ann_id=11843 |archive-date=March 10, 2005 |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=George Washington University}} {{cbignore}}Loflin founded NSCS to recognize students who performed well academically during their first years in college and to provide members with an opportunity to take a leadership role in the organization.[https://www.achshonor.org/ Association of College Honor Societies.] He also served as its CEO and president.{{Cite web |title=The National Society of Collegiate Scholars |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-1870777 |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=GuideStar}}

The first NSCS new member induction ceremony was held on the George Washington University campus on April 30, 1994. The society grew, expanding to other campuses in the United States. It became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1995. It was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in 2004.

In 2012, NSCS had 271 active chapters, 63,000 active members, and 80,000 total members. As of 2025, NSCS had nearly 300 active on-campus chapters and more than 1.6 million lifetime members, including about 90,000 current student members. Its headquarters are at 2000 M Street NW in Washington, D.C.

Symbols

NSCS's symbol is a torch emerging from an open book, surrounded by three stars and a laurel wreath.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=NSCS Bylaws |url=https://nscs.org/bylaws/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=National Society of Collegiate Scholars |language=en-US}} The torch represents leadership and guidance. The book stands for scholarship and learning. The laurel wreath symbolizes honor and distinction. The three stars represent the society's pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service.

The society's colors are crimson and gold. Its publications are The Collegiate Scholar and Society Magazine.

Chapters

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars has active chapters at nearly 300 colleges and universities in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Membership

Membership is open to freshmen and sophomore students with at least a 3.4 GPA who are ranked in the top twenty percent of their class.

Activities

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars offers 26 scholarships annually for its members and alumni.{{Cite web |title=National Society of Collegiate Scholars Scholarship Program |url=https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/national-society-of-collegiate-scholars-scholarship-program |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=bigfuture.collegeboard.org |language=en}} In 2017, NSCS partnered with Active Minds to help remove stigmas surrounding mental health.{{cite web |last=Babu |first=Soundharjya |date=October 13, 2019 |title=Active Minds and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars prove GPA does not influence mental health |url=https://www.rmusentrymedia.com/news/nscs-mental-health/ |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=RMU Sentry Media}}{{cite web |last=Amy |first=Shirley |date=September 25, 2019 |title=National Society of Collegiate Scholars & Active MindsReport: Mental Health Does Not Discriminate By GPA |url=https://www.e-counseling.com/news/national-society-of-collegiate-scholars-active-mindsreport-mental-health-does-not-discriminate-by-gpa/ |access-date=October 18, 2019 |work=eCounseling}}

Notable members

Following are some notable members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Keri Blakinger, criminal justice journalist{{Cite news |date=2003-04-06 |title=Keri L. Blakinger |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-deans-list-keri-l-blaking/104984360/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |work=Sunday News |location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania |pages=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Janai Brugger, operatic soprano{{Cite web |title=Janai Brugger |url=https://www.opera-arias.com/singers/janai-brugger/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Opera Arias Composers Singers |language=en}}
Yang Huiyan, chairman and the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=$826 million earmarked to charity by 42 year old Ohio State University graduate Yang Huiyan |url=https://lifestylesmagazine.com/latest-news/826-million-earmarked-to-charity-by-42-year-old-ohio-state-university-graduate-yang-huiyan/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Lifestyles Magazine |language=en-CA}}
Daniel Innis, New Hampshire Senate{{Cite web |title=Daniel E. Innis, Ph.D. CV |url=https://www.unh.edu/assets/unh/aak/dew27/cv.pdf |access-date=March 17, 2025 |website=University of New Hampshire}}
Tim Tebow, football and baseball player{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Aaron |date=2013-02-14 |title=That honor society on your resume probably isn’t worth the money |url=https://dailyillini.com/opinions-stories/2013/02/14/that-honor-society-on-your-resume-probably-isnt-worth-the-money/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=The Daily Illini}}

= Honorary members =

Rakesh Agrawal (honorary), chemical engineer{{Cite web |title=Rakesh Agrawal |url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/RARG/members/rakesh-agrawal/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Rakesh Agrawal Research Group |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=Distinguished Honorary Members of NSCS |url=https://nscs.org/distinguished-honorary-members/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=nscs.org |language=en-US}}
Jimmy Carter (Georgia Tech, honorary), President of the United States
Robert Michael Gates (Texas A&M University, honorary), president of Texas A&M University and United States Secretary of Defense
Charles Marrow (University of Illinois Chicago, honorary), Illinois House of Representatives
John McCain (University of Arizona, honorary), United States Senate
Don Plusquellic (University of Akron, honorary), former mayor of Akron, Ohio
Linwood H. Rose (James Madison University, honorary), president of James Madison University and Virginia Deputy Secretary of Education
Donna Shalala (University of Miami, honorary), United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and president of the University of Miami
Lou Anna Simon (honorary), President of the University of Michigan

Controversies

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars has been criticized for charging a membership fee for opportunities that are available for free, with one campus newspaper calling it a "scam".{{cite web |last=Editorial Board |date=March 13, 2015 |title=Dishonor Society |url=https://www.bupipedream.com/opinions/50868/editorial-dishonor-society/ |access-date=April 14, 2021 |work=Pipe Dream (Binghamton University)}}