| National Society of Collegiate Scholars | |
|---|---|
| NSCS | |
 | |
| Founded | April 30, 1994; 30 years ago (1994-04-30) George Washington University |
| Type | Honor |
| Affiliation | ACHS |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | National |
| Pillars | Scholarship, Leadership, Service |
| Colors | Crimson and Gold |
| Publication | 3 Pillars Blog |
| Philanthropy | Active Minds |
| Chapters | 260 |
| Members | 90,000 active 1,600,000 lifetime |
| Headquarters | 2000 M Street NW Suite 480G Washington, D.C. 20036 United States |
| Website | nscs |
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. At the time, Loflin worked in Student Affairs at George Washington University. 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. He also served as its CEO and president.
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. 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. In 2017, NSCS partnered with Active Minds to help remove stigmas surrounding mental health.
Notable members
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Following are some notable members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
- Josh Sundquist, comedian and Paralympian
- Tim Tebow, football and baseball player
- Alexis Ohanian, entrepreneur and investor
- Rakesh Agrawal, chemical engineer
- Keri Blakinger, criminal justice journalist
- Janai Brugger, operatic soprano
- Ckay1, music composer, arranger, and producer
- Yang Huiyan, chairman and the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings
- Daniel Innis, New Hampshire Senate
- Allison Kreiger, model
- Carolyne Mas, singer-songwriter
- Lance Parker, soccer player and model
- Zach Wahls, Iowa Senate
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".
See also
References
- ^ Lindsay, Matt (May 7, 2004). "National Society of Collegiate Scholars Celebrates 10th Anniversary". George Washington University. Archived from the original on March 10, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ "The National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society". Association of College Honor Societies. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via web.archive.org.
- ^ Carter, Carol J. (July 6, 2014). "Celebrating Emerging Scholars, NSCS, and the Power of a Crazy Idea". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ Association of College Honor Societies.
- ^ "The National Society of Collegiate Scholars". GuideStar. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- ^ "NSCS Bylaws". National Society of Collegiate Scholars. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- "National Society of Collegiate Scholars Scholarship Program". bigfuture.collegeboard.org. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- Babu, Soundharjya (October 13, 2019). "Active Minds and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars prove GPA does not influence mental health". RMU Sentry Media. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- Amy, Shirley (September 25, 2019). "National Society of Collegiate Scholars & Active MindsReport: Mental Health Does Not Discriminate By GPA". eCounseling. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- Editorial Board (March 13, 2015). "Dishonor Society". Pipe Dream (Binghamton University). Retrieved April 14, 2021.