Volunteering for a better world

By Kathryn Walters, Staff Writer walters14@up.edu

At UP, where community service is highly valued, the Blue Key Honor Society takes it to heart.

Last Saturday, a combined group of eight from UP's Blue Key Honor Society and non-Blue Key Society UP students put their motto, "Serving, I Live," into practice by volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity event in Southeast Portland.

Co-president and senior Valerie Schiller appreciates students putting other people's needs ahead of their own.

"I just like that you have a group of university students who will put aside their homework and actually take the initiative to devote their time to something greater than themselves," Schiller said.

The Blue Key Honor Society is a nationwide college honor society founded on the three pillars of scholarship, leadership and service. Members - mostly juniors and seniors - must maintain a 3.5 GPA and engage in service and leadership.

The Blue Key Society group prepared the houses for painting, measured and cut boards for windows and doors.

According to Schiller, Habitat for Humanity receives thousands of applications from families in need of a home.

"The families that are chosen are so grateful because they are one of so many," Schiller said.

The Habitat for Humanity build was one of 25 service events the Blue Key Society has planned for spring semester. Events include tutoring at local elementary schools, and a Relay for Life team.

All events are open to non-Blue Key Society members. Members are required to attend at least two of these events per semester.

"Everyone is really involved overall and pretty enthusiastic about service," junior Blue Key Society member Kristin Wishon said.

Although there are 50 Blue Key Society chapters nationwide, UP's chapter of 35 students is the only one in the Pacific Northwest.

According to faculty adviser and philosophy professor Thom Faller, other schools have let their chapters decline because of lack of student interest.

"A local chapter is as good as students want it to be," Faller said. "If you don't have an advisor who will push for it and students who want to be involved, then it will fail."

Faller, who has been adviser to the Blue Key Society since 1971, said UP's chapter is unique because of where it chooses to direct its service activities.

"Over the years, the biggest change in the society is that our focus of service has gone outside UP to the community," Faller said.

Schiller said one of the best aspects of the Blue Key Society helping those in need.

"It humbles you to know people that don't have many resources, and get yourself out of the middle or upper middle class mindset and reach out," she said.