Golden Key wins regional awards

Pam Hamilton

dm senior Staff writer

Ole Miss student Caleb Clark was elected as regional student representative at the Golden Key Southern Regional Conference held in Kentucky on March 26-28. Clark now represents six southern states and will coordinate student activities such as the Southeastern regional conference.

"I'm honored that the Southern region would choose me for this position," Clark said. "I was in shock when I won."

Clark, president of the campus Golden Key chapter, said he ran for the position because he "wanted to get in on a higher level with more people."

JoAnna McKinley, vice president of Just the Facts, a Golden Key organization, said she is confident in Clark's ability to represent the region.

"I'm extremely proud of Caleb," McKinley said. "I think he worked hard for this. I know he'll do a good job, and he will best represent our region to the council members."

The campus chapter garnered three awards in addition to Clark's victory. They received the Star Award, an award given to the "overall outstanding chapter within the region," McKinley said.

The chapter members received a Best Chapter activity award for a fund-raiser in which they offered practice Kaplan tests for $10 per test to Ole Miss students as a philanthropy project. The tests were practice for such exams as the MCAT, GRE and dental admissions tests.

The chapter also received an award for highest percentage return of membership.

"We had the highest number of people return the form and actually become members, McKinley said. "It was the highest in the region. I believe we had 65 percent (returning)."

"As great as our chapter is, I was not surprised that we won the awards," McKinley said.

Clark said the awards make him "feel challenged because I'm the incoming president because I need to uphold the standards."

McKinley emphasized that the awards are not merely achievements for Golden Key.

"Not only was our chapter recognized, but our university for its excellence in the Southern region," McKinley said. "I was proud to represent the university, and I love to see how excellent our university is within the South and what a great standing we have with other campuses across the nation."