Real-Time Interaction
Discord provides a platform for immediate communication with fellow Golden Key members around the world. This real-time interaction facility allows for sharing academic insights, career advice, and even casual conversations through text, voice, and video chats, making it easier than ever to connect.

Engage in Leadership and Service
The server isn’t just about communication—it’s a place to actively engage in leadership and service. Here, you can lead or participate in digital international service events, or even take up roles such as server moderators or event organizers, helping you build your leadership portfolio.

Tailored Resources and Live Updates
Gain access to exclusive resources like webinars and workshops that are specially curated for Golden Key members. The Discord server serves as a central point for the latest announcements and updates on events and initiatives, ensuring you stay informed and involved.

A Community of Support
More than just a networking platform, our Discord community is a supportive ecosystem where you can receive mentorship and guidance from peers and alumni. It’s a place to celebrate your achievements and navigate challenges with support from others who understand your journey.

Easy Access
Joining the Golden Key Discord server is straightforward. As a member, you’ll receive an invite with simple instructions to follow. Just a few clicks and you’re part of a vibrant online community.

Integrating into the Golden Key Discord community means more than just enhancing your membership; it means maximizing the potential benefits Golden Key has to offer. It’s a space where achievers meet to foster opportunities, share successes, and inspire one another. Don’t miss the chance to expand your horizons and accelerate your growth. Join our Discord server today and tap into the collective potential of Golden Key’s global network.

Discover more about how you can engage, learn, and lead with us. For additional details, check out this link. Join the conversation with #yesGK and step into a global community dedicated to excellence.

The Essence of Membership

Membership in Golden Key is an honor bestowed upon students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements. However, society extends its value far beyond academic recognition. It serves as a personal and professional development platform, offering members access to many opportunities designed to support their educational and career journeys. From scholarships and grants to leadership development programs and service projects, Golden Key empowers its members to realize their potential and strive for even greater heights.

A Global Community of Leaders

Golden Key’s global presence, with chapters in over 400 colleges and universities across eight countries, creates a vast network of high-caliber students, graduates, and alums. This network provides a unique opportunity for members to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds, share experiences, and learn from each other. Such interactions enrich the members’ personal growth and enhance their understanding of global issues, fostering a sense of global citizenship and mutual respect.

Service at Its Core

Service is a cornerstone of the Golden Key philosophy. The society encourages its members to give back to their communities through various service projects, embodying the principle that true success comes from personal achievement and contributing to the greater good. Whether through local chapter initiatives or the society’s global service initiative, SPARK a Change, Golden Key members are at the forefront of efforts to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, especially those at risk.

Unlocking Opportunities

The benefits of Golden Key membership are vast and varied. Members have exclusive access to the Golden Key Academy. This online learning platform offers resources and webinars on career development, workplace skills, and personal growth. Additionally, the society awards numerous scholarships and grants exclusively to its members, providing financial support for their studies and research projects. Networking events, both in-person and digital, open doors to professional opportunities, while leadership roles within the society help members develop essential skills highly valued in the workplace.

Recognition and Pride

Membership in Golden Key is a prestigious accolade that members can proudly display. The society offers graduation regalia, such as honor cords and medallions, allowing members to celebrate their achievements and Golden Key affiliation during commencement ceremonies. This visible recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and excellence that Golden Key members embody.

A Lifelong Journey

Golden Key’s commitment to its members continues after graduation. Alum members continue to enjoy benefits, including scholarship opportunities for graduate studies and access to career resources. The society remains a lifelong partner in its members’ personal and professional development journeys, offering continued support and opportunities for engagement.

Joining Golden Key

Becoming a member of Golden Key is a significant milestone in a student’s academic journey. It signifies not only their academic prowess but also their potential for leadership and commitment to service. By joining Golden Key, students step into a world of opportunity where they can connect with a global community of achievers, access resources to fuel their ambitions, and contribute to making a positive impact.

In essence, being a Golden Key International Honour Society member means being part of an esteemed community that values excellence, leadership, and service. It’s about embracing opportunities, making a difference, and striving for a brighter future for oneself and the global community. #yesGK is more than a hashtag; it’s a call to action for students worldwide to unlock their potential and open the door to a world of opportunities.

1. Dive into the Golden Key Academy for Personal and Professional Development
   Golden Key Academy is a treasure trove of resources to bolster your career and personal development. With an expansive library of videos and articles and the opportunity to participate in free weekly webinars, the Academy is your go-to for enhancing workplace skills, leadership abilities, and personal growth. Engage actively in these learning opportunities to stand out in the competitive job market and further your career ambitions.
2. Unlock Scholarships and Grants for Academic and Professional Advancement
   Golden Key prides itself on offering an array of scholarships and grants exclusively available to its members. These financial aids support your academic journey, career aspirations, and personal projects. Apply for these scholarships to alleviate financial burdens and focus on achieving your dreams. Remember, these opportunities are a unique benefit of your membership, so make the most of them.
3. Expand Your Global Network and Forge Valuable Connections
   Networking is a crucial aspect of professional success, and Golden Key provides ample opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals across the globe. Attend international and local summits, join the society’s Discord platform, and participate in service events to meet fellow members. These connections can lead to lifelong friendships, mentorship opportunities, and career prospects. Use the hashtag #yesGK on social media to engage with the community and share your Golden Key experiences.
4. Step into Leadership Roles and Develop Your Potential
   Golden Key encourages its members to take on societal leadership roles, offering numerous avenues to hone their leadership skills. Whether becoming a chapter leader, planning and running events, or moderating discussions on Discord, each role is a chance to grow personally and professionally. Embrace these opportunities to lead, inspire, and significantly impact your community and beyond.
5. Celebrate Your Achievements with Golden Key Graduation Regalia
   Mark your graduation and celebrate your Golden Key membership with exclusive and popular graduation regalia. Wearing honor cords, stoles, medallions, and pins signifies your academic achievements and your affiliation with a global community of high achievers. It’s a proud testament to your dedication and hard work and a beautiful way to stand out during your graduation ceremony.

Your Golden Key membership is more than just an academic accolade; it’s a gateway to many opportunities designed to enrich your educational journey, career path, and personal growth. By actively participating in the Golden Key Academy, applying for scholarships, expanding your network, taking on leadership roles, and celebrating your membership, you’re setting the stage for a future filled with success and fulfillment. Remember, the value of your Golden Key membership is not just in what it offers but in how you utilize these offerings to achieve your dreams and aspirations. Embrace these opportunities, and watch as doors open to a bright and promising future.

• Join a chapter

One way to quickly become involved with GK is to join a chapter. When you join a GK chapter, you expand your network with like-minded peers, enjoy chapter events, have the opportunity to participate in charity and cause events and connect with GK alumni at your university.

You can find your chapter by going to the chapter section on the GK site and using the search bar. If your university doesn’t have a chapter, check out our tips on starting your own, https://www.goldenkey.org/how-to-start-a-chapter/. 

• Network on the GKA site

The GKA website offers a networking section where you personalize your profile, interact on a message board, find GK Thought Leaders, fellow members and join groups. The networking section allows you to connect with peers and see what your fellow members are up to. 

• Train and assess your skills 

GKA offers many self-paced courses for you to build your foundation for professional development (FPD). Once you complete a course, you can take an assessment to determine how much information you retained and how to further improve your skills.

• Attend webinars and read GKA articles & e-books

The GKA website offers a wide array of webinars, articles and e-books on a plethora of topics for you to enjoy at your leisure. You can sign up to attend webinars on the GKA site, but if you miss a webinar, don’t sweat it; simply head over to the video section and never miss a thing. You can read articles and e-books to build your knowledge and leave comments for your peers.

We’re always looking for new Thought Leaders to provide webinars, articles and e-books to share with members worldwide. Feel free to fill out the Thought Leader submission form with any of your ideas.

• Interact with GK on social media

One of the simplest ways to get involved with GK is to join us on social media. We are very active on social media, and we love when our members are involved too. Feel free to leave us a comment, like or share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. We’re always sharing links to webinars and articles, featuring members and hosting chapter takeovers. 

If you’re interested in being featured on our Instagram and Facebook pages, send us a dm with your name, university, major and one thing that inspired you this past year.

As with any opportunity, you get out of it, what you put into it, so feel free to reach out to Golden Key and become more involved in the GK community. 

One of the greatest benefits of being a member of Golden Key is working with amazing high performers from all cultures, nations, and backgrounds.

Nothing brings out the beauty of Golden Key’s global network like our eagerly anticipated International Summits. While we put the finishing touches on this year’s Summit (happening this  February!!) we invite you to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Golden Key– right on your own campus.

Here’s how.

Take a good look at the people who make up your chapter and your campus.

You’ll see faces from all over the world. Beautiful. Smart. Warm. All from different cultures, nations and backgrounds. Go ahead and celebrate this diversity!

Baruch’s Golden Key chapter, led by Brianna Perez, goes all out each spring to celebrate that beautiful diversity with an annual gala that matters: International Night

Top tips for planning an International Night that rocks

1. Invite contributions from all over: In your flyers, posts, and invites, encourage people to contribute something amazing that represents their heritage – from fashion, to performances, to cuisine. Invite them to share their cultural side!
2. Go beyond members. Be meticulous about representing every culture on your campus, not just chapter members. This will help build excitement about Golden Key beyond your member base and will show everyone what being part of our international honor society is really all about.
3. Go bold with #GoldenKey: Make this the party of the year and post, post, post to keep the spirit going beyond the party. We want to celebrate alongside you! Tag your International Night posts, photos and instas with #goldenkey and we’ll help you spread your celebration across the globe.

Take a lesson from Brianna Perez, Golden Key Chapter President at Baruch College. Brianna is everything you want in a chapter president: dynamic, committed, to Golden Key and fanatic about her e-board. Her chapter has great ideas and gets them done. That’s because her leadership team is passionate and empowered.  

Here are Brianna’s best tips for creating a committee member program to motivate and empower your e-board to grow your chapter.  

How to create a Committee Member Program that will grow your local chapter:

1. Recognize your members’ strengths and interests. Then empower them with a department and a title. A few title thought-starters: Head of Marketing, Director of Social Media, Director of Membership Development, Head of Philanthropy, Director of Professional Development, Head of Chapter Operations
2. Sure, you’re a get-it-done kind of person. But you can’t do everything! Divvy up projects across your e-board. Challenge your committee members to sharpen their individual  leadership skills. Nominate a leader for each project and give them space to manage it to their highest potential. That’s how you got where you are–right?
3. Be kind, but firm. If you aren’t seeing the results you were hoping for, take the time to find out why. Great leadership takes great listening. Hold your committee members accountable, but understand the needs and potential roadblocks they might be struggling with. Then support them in finding creative solutions.

The Bottom line:

Motivate your team like a top executive. Be aspirational and inspirational. Challenge them to reach their highest potential. Watch those amazing ideas become reality and see your chapter grow.

Check out more great ideas to help grow your chapter from the full spotlight on Brianna Perez.

We recently interviewed Brianna Perez, Chapter President for Baruch College. In addition to inspiring ideas for great leadership, she also shared the best of the best of the programs her local chapter runs and loves. Brianna has ideas to share for getting freshmen involved, growing your chapter like a Fortune 500 C-level would, and, well, getting down and partying. We’ll share all the best of Baruch’s “golden” ideas and tips for success. First up, Golden Buddies.

Q: How can you connect with freshmen before they are eligible to join Golden Key?

A: The Golden Buddies Program

We’ve all been there – you’re in the middle of your new member drive on campus and a bright-eyed freshman approaches you, hungry to learn more and get involved. You know they aren’t eligible until their sophomore year, but you don’t want to send them away. So what do you do?

Offer a Golden Buddies mentorship program. Golden Buddies is all about sharing the Golden Key love with freshmen. Golden Buddies pairs seasoned Golden Key Members with first-year students so they have a buddy to show them the ropes as they tackle all the challenges of freshman year.

And guess what? Whether or not your Golden Buddy joins Golden Key, they’ve made a new friend. And come sophomore year, they might be ready to join Golden Key and pay it forward by becoming a mentor themselves.

Want to organize a Golden Buddies program in your own chapter? Here are three must-haves according to the Baruch Chapter:

1. Train your mentors! Good mentors are tuned in to whatever their buddy needs, whether it’s being a good listener, sharing tips for success, or steering them to helpful people and resources on campus.
2. Consistency! Plan at least one activity, workshop or fun event for spring and fall and invite the whole campus. Raise awareness about your chapter and attract new members. Think networking, giveaways and free food!
3. Promote, promote, promote! Marketing is key to making Golden Buddies a success. Check out the marketing pieces Baruch uses to drive home the benefits.

Want more?

Check out Baruch’s best practices for a Committee Member Program and International Night.