The Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award

The Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award is the premier scholarship the Golden Key International Honour Society offers. It is designed to support post-baccalaureate study at accredited universities globally. This scholarship recognizes its members’ exceptional accomplishments and potential, providing them with the resources to further their education and impact.

Ather Sharif’s Journey and Vision

Ather Sharif’s journey is one of perseverance and passion. Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, Ather moved to the United States to pursue higher education. He has since made Philadelphia his home, where he continues to push the boundaries of research in digital accessibility for disabled individuals. His work aims to create a more inclusive digital environment, reflecting his belief that accessibility is a fundamental right.

In his personal statement upon receiving the award, Ather expressed profound gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose:

“Receiving this award is not just a recognition of my passion and hard work in aspiring to make this world a better place for disabled people but also a recognition of how crucial this goal is. It is reassuring and encouraging to see organizations such as the Golden Key Honour Society demonstrate their commitment to fostering opportunities to build a more inclusive global society.”

Acknowledging Mentors and Inspirations

Ather’s success is not solely his own; it is also a testament to the invaluable support and guidance he has received from his mentors. He specifically thanked his advisor, Jacob Wobbrock, and mentor, Richard Ladner, for their unwavering encouragement and support:

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude toward my advisor, Jacob Wobbrock, and mentor, Richard Ladner, both of whom have consistently pushed me to achieve academic excellence and use my knowledge and platform to make a difference in this world—a core value of the Golden Key Honour Society.”

Their mentorship has played a crucial role in shaping Ather’s academic journey and his mission to enhance digital access for disabled people.

A Beacon of Hope and Inspiration

Ather’s recognition by the Golden Key International Honour Society inspires many, particularly international graduate students and those with disabilities. His story is a powerful reminder that with determination, support, and the right opportunities, one can overcome obstacles and achieve great things:

“This award serves as a beacon of hope for international graduate students, particularly those with disabilities, to continue pursuing their higher education goals with the comfort that organizations, such as the Golden Key Honour Society, are there to support them in their journey.”

Looking Forward

With the Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award, Ather Sharif is poised to further his research and advocacy work. This scholarship will enable him to break barriers and create a more accessible world. Ather’s dedication to his cause exemplifies the core values of the Golden Key Honour Society, and his achievements underscore the importance of fostering inclusivity in all aspects of society.

Ather Sharif’s receipt of the 2023 Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award is a testament to his hard work, vision, and impactful contributions toward a more inclusive digital landscape. As he continues his journey, we look forward to seeing the positive changes he will undoubtedly bring to the world.

About the Undergraduate Achievement Award

The Golden Key Undergraduate Achievement Award celebrates the excellence of Golden Key members in their academic and extracurricular endeavors. This award opens doors to new opportunities, providing recipients with resources to further their education and professional aspirations. Applications for the 2024 award are now open until June 15th.

Meet Logan Thornton

Logan Thornton hails from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and has made remarkable strides at Ole Miss. Winning the Golden Key Scholarship marks a significant milestone in Logan’s journey, empowering him to delve deeper into his passion for sports management and advance his career goals.

“Winning the Golden Key Scholarship opens doors to invaluable opportunities, empowering me to pursue my passion and advance my knowledge in sports management. With this scholarship, I am poised to make significant strides toward achieving my career goals and making a lasting impact in the sports industry,” Logan shares.

Leadership and Community Involvement

Logan’s time at Ole Miss has been marked by active participation in several key organizations:

• Ole Miss Women’s Council: As an ambassador for the past three years, Logan has mentored first-year students, providing guidance on involvement opportunities, internships, and fostering friendships.
• RebelTHON: Dedicated to raising funds for Mississippi’s only Children’s Hospital, Logan has been a Miracle Family Committee member for all four years. This role allowed him to interact closely with the children and their families, profoundly shaping his perspective on life and service.
• The Columns Society: Logan has volunteered at significant university events through this prestigious society, further honing his leadership and service skills.

Academic Achievements

Logan’s dedication extends beyond extracurricular activities. His academic excellence is evident in the numerous awards and honors he has received:

• Golden Key Undergraduate Achievement Award
• Golden Key International Honour Society
• 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Top High School Volunteer for Mississippi
• Sparky Reardon Class of 2008 Scholarship
• Elks Legacy Scholar
• Ole Miss Women’s Council Scholar
• Ole Miss 1848 Scholarship
• Chancellor’s Leadership Class
• Phi Beta Phi Honors Society
• Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society
• Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
• Lambda Sigma Honor Society
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
• J. Gordon McMurray Top Undergraduate Achievement Award
• The University of Mississippi Who’s Who

Looking Ahead

Logan Thornton exemplifies the values and mission of the Golden Key International Honour Society. His commitment to excellence, leadership, and service sets all members’ standards. As he continues his journey, we look forward to seeing the impact he will make in sports management and beyond.

Join the Legacy

Inspired by Logan’s story? The 2024 Golden Key Undergraduate Achievement Award applications are now open until June 15th. Take your chance to be recognized for excellence and take your academic and professional journey to new heights.

About Michael Shamblin

Michael is an incredible educator who’s super passionate about teaching kids. He’s truly an inspiration and his win reflects not only his hard work but also the amazing support from his family and mentors throughout his journey. During his time at Cleveland State University, Michael played a key role in Golden Key, helping the society grow and thrive.

Michael said, “This award honors not just me but all those who have supported me on this journey.” He’s all about setting new goals and pushing for excellence in education.

More About Golden Key International Honour Society

Golden Key is the largest college honor society in the world! With chapters in over 400 universities globally, it connects top students, graduates, and alumni, offering tons of exclusive scholarships, professional development, and networking chances.

If you’re in the top 15% of your class, you can join this awesome network that really values integrity, innovation, and diversity. Golden Key isn’t just about recognizing academic achievements; it’s also about leadership and giving back.

Cool Stuff Golden Key Offers

• Golden Key Academy: A super helpful online platform with tons of resources for career and personal growth.
• Scholarships: Exclusive financial aid for both educational and professional pursuits.
• Networking: Meet other members worldwide through events and our Discord community.
• Leadership Development: Take on leadership roles in local chapters and at international summits.
• Career Advancement: Get access to job opportunities, internships, and career fairs.

Join the Community

Joining Golden Key means you’re starting a journey filled with opportunities to grow and excel. We invite all eligible students to join this vibrant community, boost their academic and professional lives, and make a positive impact.

Connect and Share

Let’s celebrate this achievement together! Share the news with #yesGK and keep up with all the great stuff happening at Golden Key.

Michael’s achievement is a powerful reminder of how education, community, and hard work can lead to incredible success. It’s a call to all Golden Key members to keep striving for greatness in everything they do. Go, Michael!

“I am honoured to receive the Outstanding Member Award and hope to continue demonstrating exceptional achievement in all three pillars of the Golden Key International Honour Society,” Buntle says.

Currently, Buntle serves as an Associate Consultant at EY-Parthenon.

“I am a strategy consultant with over three years of experience in helping companies navigate complex strategic and regulatory challenges to drive innovation and growth in developing and emerging markets,” Buntle mentions. 

Buntle shares the challenges that exist while living in South Africa.

“South Africa has a long and well-documented history of using education as a tool of discrimination, oppression, and segregation,” Buntle explains. “Despite the abolition of colonialism and apartheid, many historically disadvantaged individuals (HDI) continue to live through the sustained economic marginalisation of these political systems. One of the consequences of sustained economic marginalisation is a persistent challenge for HDIs to access (institutions of) higher education.”

In spite of these challenges, Buntle is proud of all of her accomplishments.

“As a black woman in South Africa, I appreciate what a privilege it is to have access to higher education and be part of an academic honour society that supports academic excellence and provides avenues for students of all backgrounds to source educational funding,” Buntle says.

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Buntle; we wish you the best of luck at EY-Parthenon!

“I am honoured and humbled to receive the Golden Key Outstanding Member Award for 2021,” Julia says. “This year with Golden Key has brought a myriad of opportunities and connections, and with that came a great deal of hard work, resilience, and dedication behind the scenes. I feel truly lucky to have these efforts recognised.”

Julia is thankful for everyone who has supported her.

“Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the amazing people that both supported me and worked alongside me, without whom this award would not be possible,” Julia mentions. “My fellow chapter member and friend, Amy Jones, co-directed the GK Mentorship Programme with me and was the most amazing support system throughout the year. Also, my presidents, Sujin and Suyoun Jung, who ran the University of Canterbury chapter with poise and resilience.”

She is extremely dedicated to the betterment of her community.

“Personally, I am wholly dedicated to the work that I do in the community and running the Golden Key Mentorship Programme for 2021 was another rewarding experience,” Julia shares. “Together, we created a programme that fostered passion and direction in young students; the smiles on their faces during the final presentation evenings were a tribute to the impact that such a program can make. Golden Key continues to motivate me to engage in this community work, making a small impact wherever I can.”

Julia is thankful to Golden Key for allowing her to express her passion for academic excellence. 

“Golden Key also fosters my passion for academic excellence, driving me to gain the knowledge I need to make a difference in the world,” Julia reveals. “Studying psychology means being wholly dedicated to your field, and I hope to one day use my theoretical knowledge as well as the skills I have learnt through volunteering to better the lives of others, both at an individual and societal level.”

She is grateful to Golden Key for awarding her this scholarship.

“Overall, this award means so much to receive; however it represents something much bigger than just myself,” Julia says. “It represents my community, including everyone who came before me, stands with me, and is to come after me, all of whom are doing what they can to see a real change in this world.”

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Julia; we wish you the best of luck completing your psychology degree!

“I would like to express my gratitude for being awarded this Golden Key 2021 Outstanding Member Award and scholarship,” Tatenda says. “I have been a part of the Golden Key University of Cape Town Chapter since 2019, and this is my first award. Winning this award means so much to me, my peers at UCT, and my families in both my home country and country of permanent residence, Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively.”

Tatenda is devoted to her education and hopes to continue studying to honor her family.

“I hope to continue my academic journey, up until the level of obtaining a Ph.D. someday,” Tatenda shares. “This is an especially meaningful goal for me as the first girl-child in my family to be pursuing postgraduate education. I am truly passionate about the gift of education and how it truly keeps on giving.”

She appreciates all the support she’s received throughout her academic journey.

“With the supportive network of the Golden Key International Honours Society and its welcoming Chapter at the University of Cape Town that connects students and role models, I have benefited from having my confidence uplifted and motivated in times where I felt most hopeless,” Tatenda mentions. “Despite the painful and isolating experience of an unexpected pandemic these past two years, I feel optimistic about the endless possibilities in my continued journey as an academic, leader and advocate for social justice and prosperity.”

Tatenda enjoys developing her research and writing skills.

“As a UCT Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, I have had the opportunity to deeply reflect on and explore my research interests and develop my academic writing skills,” Tatenda reveals. “I am particularly enthusiastic about sociolinguistics and have expressed this in my involvement in numerous MMUF writing workshops, regional seminars, and in the MMUF’s annual Summer Research Training Program hosted by the University of Chicago.”

Tatenda plans to use her education to improve education and the awareness of African languages.

“From my academic interests in linguistics, I hope to contribute to the project of decolonizing education through the lens of language,” Tatenda says. “I am particularly passionate about the promotion of African languages as equally valuable communicators of intellect and hope to make contributions towards the development of effective multilingual language policies in education through my research. I strongly believe that transformation and decolonization in African education begin with us being able to use our own languages to write our futures.”

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Tatenda; we wish you the best of luck completing your bachelor’s! 

“This award reflects the hard work I put into attending my dream school, the University of Florida, to pursue a degree in medicine as a Physician Assistant,” said Alejandra. “I would not be here without the support of my family, friends, and instructors that supported me along the way.”

Alejandra is honored to receive this award and be a part of the Golden Key family.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the Golden Key Graduate Scholarship award,” Alejandra explains. “I joined this organization because its values of academic excellence, service, and leadership align perfectly with what I strive to achieve in my academic career every day.”

Alejandra is a dedicated student, and her work has paid off, given the scholarships and work she can do.

“This year, I was also the recipient of a scholarship from Florida Credit Union and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC),” Alejandra shares. “As an NHSC scholar, I will be working in primary care in an underserved community within the United States upon graduation. It has always been my dream to provide medical care to a population that otherwise wouldn’t receive care, so being part of this program was a perfect opportunity.”

Alejandra is grateful for the experiences she has had in her educational career.

“I feel very privileged to grow as a person and as a provider-in-training every day in the classroom and at my school’s community free clinic,” Alejandra mentions. “The training I am receiving is helping me become the knowledgeable and caring provider I have always strived to become.”

Alejandra appreciates all the support she has received on her journey to who she is becoming.

“The support I received this year from all these organizations inspires me to continue to work hard to become the best provider for my future patients,” Alejandra says. “It helps me stay focused on my studies and relieves any financial stress. Thank you so much for your generosity, Golden Key!”

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Alejandra; we wish you the best of luck as a Physician’s Assistant! 

“I wasn’t active in any honors societies in my undergrad years and thought it would be a great opportunity to strengthen my resume,” Kyle says. “Several of my friends wondered why I would join an organization on campus when I was a Distance Education student, but I knew I could still help out even virtually!”

Kyle is highly involved in his Golden Key chapter.

“After being inducted and officer positions came up, I volunteered to be Director of Membership for ECU’s chapter,” Kyle mentions. “I have served in that capacity since and regularly help out with membership drives and communications and programming, even being away from campus. The chapter has made it an acclimating job, and I have helped out with several new members and on the admin team.”

Kyle is not only a graduate student but a full-time teacher and father.

“Outside of graduate school, I am a full-time Elementary Orchestra teacher in Alamance County, NC,” Kyle shares. “I received my undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T in Music Education in 2010 and have been teaching music ever since. I have two children, a 10-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter.”

Kyle is dedicated to his professional development and is involved in multiple academic societies.

“At East Carolina, I am also involved with the Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Society, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity,” Kyle remarks. “In my personal life, I am active with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, of which I am an alumni advisor, Freemasonry in Greensboro Lodge no. 76, the National Association for Music Education, the National Association of Educators, specifically our Alamance Chapter, and am an avid runner and music arranger. I also work as the adjunct percussion instructor at Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, teaching online.”

Kyle is grateful to be a part of Golden Key.

“Golden Key represents a chance for me to push myself in both an academic and leadership focus,” Kyle says. “This award allows me to finish paying for my master’s degree, and as a working teacher dad of two children, being able to afford a degree is incredibly important.”

Kyle is thankful to Golden Key for this scholarship and encourages others to join Golden Key.

“Knowing that Golden Key has provided me a massive return for my time, effort, and monetary investment, I encourage everyone who has a chance to join this amazing organization to do so and begin investing in their future,” Kyle exclaims.

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Kyle; we wish you the best of luck finishing your Master’s in Music Education!

“Winning this scholarship is a blessing. It allows for me to further pursue my research projects and academics in pursuit of a career helping others as a future physician,” says Ryan.

Ryan is excited to be bettering himself by attending college.

“I grew up with my family in Gainesville, Georgia,” Ryan shares. “An undeveloped town at the time, it has since grown substantially, just as I have since growing up there. Now, I am in my second year of studying Biochemistry and Molecular biology at Mercer University actively pursuing a career as a physician where I will be able to change people’s lives for the better.”

Ryan is dedicated to his studies and involved in multiple honor societies and organizations.

“I am currently involved in various organizations, including honor societies like Golden Key and Alpha Epsilon Delta,” Ryan mentions. “Likewise, I am part of a faith-based organization called Baptist Collegiate Ministries. In each of these, I get to participate in service projects within the college’s community where I am able to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Ryan is a hard worker and enjoys volunteering in his community.

“Mercer’s Golden Key chapter has offered me multiple new opportunities for skill development and service of my community,” Ryan remarks. “Right now, I actively volunteer at a homeless shelter and in a volunteer healthcare clinic, both of which serve low-income individuals in Macon, Georgia. Volunteering at both organizations has improved my ability to relate to others and has reinforced the importance of using my spare time to help others.”

Ryan enjoys participating in undergraduate research.

“I am also very involved in undergraduate research and am working on projects regarding the toxic effects of mercury on the kidneys,” Ryan explains. “By researching the mechanisms of the body’s absorption of the mercury and where it is stored, my research mentor and I plan to find ways to save the lives of patients that are suffering from mercury toxicity or the resulting kidney damage.”

Ryan hopes to continue his education at medical school.

“In the future, I plan to attend medical school in an MD or MD/Ph.D. program, apply for residency in internal medicine and conduct research in molecular biology so I can give patients the best outcomes possible,” Ryan says.

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Ryan; we wish you the best of luck completing your degree!

“I moved to Canada in 2019 to pursue my post-secondary goals in psychology,” Amal says. “I have maintained a 4.0 GPA for the last three academic years, and I was also selected under the Dean’s list consecutively for the last two years.”

Amal is a dedicated student and has been recognized with many awards during his academic career.

“I am also the recipient of Carl Fraser (BBA 1974) Student Awards, UNB Saint John Campus Scholarship, Dr. Colin B. Mackay Scholarship, Golden Key S.J chapter newcomer scholarship, and the Golden Key S.J Undergraduate Achievement Award,” Amal mentions.

Amal is extremely honored to have received this award.

“I have applied for Golden Key scholarships for last two years and winning this award finally I feel so proud of myself,” Amal shares. “I told this news to my friends and family back in India and over here in Saint John, and they are all so excited for me; I have been working as both secretary and treasurer for the Golden Key UNBSJ chapter. I believe that persistence and sincere effort to achieve a goal would not be unfulfilled; it will always be rewarded.”

In addition to Amal’s academic excellence, he also holds important roles in additional societies and clubs.

“Apart from that, I am currently handling the V.P. Social Media position of UNBSJ Psych Society, and I have served under V.P. position of UNBSJ Chess Club,” Amal mentions.

Amal is very thankful for receiving this award.

“Winning this award means a lot to me,” Amal says. “I do not have many words to say other than a huge thank you for the committee to finally see my effort.”

Thank you for being a part of the Golden Key family, Amal; we wish you the best of luck completing your degree!