National Leadership Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, welcomes Lees-McRae into the society

 
Following a successful petition, Lees-McRae College is now the newest charter for The National Leadership Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, offering the campus community more ways than ever to become a successful leader.

Matthew Clifford, Omicron Delta Kappa’s national president, made the official announcement earlier in November.

"We are pleased to welcome Lees-McRae College into our Society," Clifford said. “Students will now be recognized for their leadership involvement and eligible to participate in the Society's national programs including scholarships, campus grants and leadership development programs.”

The Lees-McRae charter will include 46 faculty, staff, administrators and student leaders as founding members of the circle.

The college celebrated the important event during the Chartering Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

During a speech to welcome the new chapter to campus, Lees-McRae President Barry M. Buxton quoted the late University of Southern California professor, Warren Bennis.

“He is often credited with being the founder of leadership studies in higher education,” Buxton said. “He managed to sum up leadership in just a few brief words saying, ‘leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.

Buxton finished his speech by congratulating the inductees on becoming a part of the Omicron Delta Kappa circle of leadership.

Founded at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, on Dec. 3 1914, Omicron Delta Kappa began as a group of 15 members who wished to recognize and encourage leadership at the collegiate level.

“Omicron Delta Kappa’s mission is to honor and develop leaders, encourage collaboration among students, faculty and alumni, and promote the societies ideals of scholarship, service, integrity, character, and fellowship on college and university campuses throughout North America,” according to the Omicron Delta Kappa press release.