Volunteer opportunities within campus groups are plentiful. Whether it’s volunteering at a senior home, a local school or a soup kitchen, students are able to get involved in their communities in more ways than one.
The Phi Eta Sigma Honorary Society is an honors society that invites students based upon their grades freshman year to become a member. On average there are about 200 Pacific University students who are members for a one-time payment of $35 dollars. This fee goes toward membership dues as well as an honor chord that will be given to students at graduation.
Students who have been on honor roll for at least one semester of their freshman year are invited to join the society. There are no current meetings set as of now, but there will be an induction ceremony in late April. There are no current club officers yet, but any students who show interest in the philanthropic aspect and would like to take charge in organizing meetings and volunteer events are welcome to step up.
But once a part of the society, nothing else is required.
“The idea is to encourage students to do well early on,” Faculty Adviser Dawn Bregel said. “With students being pulled in so many different directions, some are already involved in this volunteer opportunity or that volunteer opportunity or civic engagement courses; students are spread pretty thin so it’s a rare student who has extra time to put forth toward something like this.”
This program was originally brought to Pacific by the previous president, Phil Creighton, who was involved with an honors society like this when he was in college. But with his absence, the society hasn’t flourished as much.
“Students aren’t all that invested in it,” Bregel said. “Depending on who the club officers are, sometimes they are a really enthusiastic bunch and they want to try to have meetings and create volunteer opportunities, but I’ve tried to have meetings and four people come.”
Laura Truong ’14 who was a member for four years and also became the president of the society her senior year.
“As officers, we helped honor new members into the society every year and in the past, we have helped out at the Forest Grove Community Center with dinners,” Truong said. “This society is unique because it encompasses all sciences. It would be beneficial for there to be a social for members to come and mingle, but every major is different; therefore, it would be cool to see how each major plays a role in the real world.”
As for the future of the club, Bregel hopes it will become more active. She wants to encourage students to become more excited about possible volunteer opportunities that students may immerse themselves in.
“It would be great if people wanted to take charge but with any student club it really has to be student driven,” Bregel said. “For the most part it’s something you can put on your resume or graduate school application.”
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