The Blue Key Honor Society was brought back to the campus last fall semester. After being around for a long time at Emporia State University in the 1960’s and 70’s, it fell away in the following decade.

President Michael Shonrock, who was a previous president of the Blue Key Honor Society chapter at Western Illinois University, was very excited to bring the group back to campus.

“It (Blue Key) has a long history…(and) we are about to celebrate 150 years of history (for ESU),” Shonrock said. “I knew that there was a great passion for the group of the past that have talked to the alumni, and they have strong advisers and leaders.”

According to its official website, Blue Key is “a premiere honor society that recognizes college students at senior institution for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.”

This time Blue Key is co-educational. There are six men and six women that form the group. Michelle Trejo, senior Spanish major, was selected as the president of Blue Key Honor Society of ESU.

“We are kind of establishing ourselves on campus again, but we really want to provide a great leadership,” Trejo said. “Not only do we recognize scholarly achievement, but we really want to develop leaders.”

In January, Trejo and Rachel Marshall, vice president of the Blue Key chapter at ESU and fashion blogger for the Bulletin, were selected to the Blue Key National Board Conference in Toledo, Ohio. Trejo said that they were thankful for the supportive Blue Key alumni, who have given them a lot of financial stability to begin this RSO.

Trejo also said that this RSO is different because it has provided the campus and students with opportunities that a lot of RSOs cannot.

“They (President Shonrock and Gary Sherrer, former Kansas Board of Regents chair) are providing a great example for leadership and it was incredible,” said Trejo.

“We have a tremendous alumni base, and we are ready to get back and do things on campus,” said Chris Roland, senior public relations and communication major.

Roland said that he was approached by the co-advisors Shonrock and Sherrer gave a bigger sense of what this group was about. Roland said he “felt like it was a tremendous opportunity to be part of something and to give back to society.”

The Blue Key Honor Society will also be hosting a banquet to recognize the top 150 students that are “making a difference on campus.” They are looking for students that are experienced in the “areas of leadership, scholarship, and service.” Ten students will be offered scholarships. Anyone can nominate undergraduate or graduate students by sending the student’s name and email address to [email protected] by Feb. 15.