View source for Golden Key International Honour Society

{{Short description|American collegiate recognition society}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| name = Golden Key International Honour Society
| crest = Golden Key Logo.png
| image_size = 170px
| founded = {{start date and age|1977|11|29}}
| birthplace = [[Georgia State University]]
| affiliation = Independent
| former_affiliation = ACHS
| status = Active
| scope = International
| type = Honor society
| chapters = 400+
| members = 
| lifetime = 2,133,500
| emphasis = All-discipline
| colors = {{color box|#002366}} [[Royal blue]] and {{color box|#f1b03f}} [[Gold (colour)|Gold]]
| motto = {{lang|la|Et reveles vestra potentiale}}<br>"Unlock your potential"
| pillars = Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, Respect, Diversity, Excellence, Engagement
| address = 4470 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Suite 304
| city = [[Dunwoody, Georgia|Dunwoody]]
| state = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
| ZIP code = 30338
| country = United States
| website = {{URL|http://www.goldenkey.org}}
}}

The '''Golden Key International Honour Society''' (formerly '''Golden Key National Honor Society''') is an international collegiate [[honor society]] and [[non-profit organization]] based in the United States.<ref>[https://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/searchFromResults.do?nameSearchTypeStarts=true&names=golden+key&nameSearchTypeAll=true&city=&state=All...&country=USA&deductibility=all&dispatchMethod=search&searched.nameSearchTypeStarts=false&searched.names=golden+key&searched.nameSearchTypeAll=false&searched.city=&searched.state=All...&searched.country=USA&searched.deductibility=all&searched.sortColumn=name&searched.indexOfFirstRow=1000&searched.isDescending=false&submitName=Search IRS Search for Charities].</ref> It was founded in 1977 to recognize academic achievement among college and university students.

Golden Key has over 400 chapters at colleges and universities in [[Australia]], [[The Bahamas]], [[Canada]], [[India]], [[Malaysia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Singapore]], [[South Africa]], and the [[United States]]. It has initiated more than 2.1 million members.

==History==
Golden Key National Honour Society was founded by James W. Lewis at [[Georgia State University]] in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977.<ref name=che>Andrew Brownstein, "Dishonor Society". ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]''. March 22, 2002.</ref><ref name=":052">{{Cite web |date=April 9, 2012 |title=Golden Key International Honour Society Honor Society - All Academic Fields - |url=http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=gk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414194711/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=gk |archive-date=2012-04-14 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Association of College Honor Societies |via=web.archive.org}}</ref> The original intent of the society was to create a new academic honor organization that was the equal of longstanding [[honor society|honor societies]] such as [[Phi Beta Kappa]], but which did not carry the same perceived [[elitism]] of older institutions, operating more strictly on [[wikt:merit|merit]] standards (by accepting students in the top fifteen percent of their college classes and permitting part-time and transfer students who excelled academically).<ref name=che/>

The society expanded throughout the 1980s on a minimal budget, increasing the number of schools at which it had chapters and membership at those chapters.<ref name="che" /> Lewis moved the institution's headquarters to a former [[Church of Christ Scientist]] building in the [[Druid Hills]] area of Atlanta in 1984.<ref name="che" /> In the late 1980s, the society began attracting corporate sponsorships, providing data about its students to its sponsors, and holding large sponsored networking events, arguing that the strategy increased students' competitiveness in the job market.<ref name="che" />

Golden Key became an international society when it expanded to the [[University of Queensland]] in Brisbane, Australia in 1993.<ref name="honisoit" /><ref name=":052"/> It changed its name to Golden Key International Honour Society in 2000 in order "to reflect [its] international presence".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenkey.org/about-us/history/ |title=Golden Key International Honour Society website Our History |access-date=2013-06-10 |archive-date=2019-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121035527/http://www.goldenkey.org/about-us/history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lewis, who by the late 1990s was making more than $300,000 as chairman of the organization, stepped down in January 2000 after being pressured by his board.<ref name="che" /> He was replaced by Carl Patton who resigned in 2002 after a round of negative press coverage about the society.<ref name="studlife">Paige Shamsi, [http://www.studlife.com/archives/News/2002/04/18/GoldenKeyHonorSocietycomesunderfireforloweringstandards/ Golden Key Honor Society comes under fire for lowering standards]. ''[[Student Life (newspaper)|Student Life]]'', April 18, 2002.</ref><ref name="che" /><ref name="wp">Kristen Wyatt, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/21/golden-key-shows-tarnish-critics-say/fd80a6d4-7027-4ca6-b7d3-2e1bb32509a2/ Golden Key Shows Tarnish, Critics Say]. ''[[Washington Post]]'', April 21, 2002.</ref> By 2002, the society was "one of the largest collegiate honor societies in the world", with an annual budget of [[United States dollar|US$]]10.9 million and over 120,000 inductees annually.<ref name="che" />

Golden Key sought and was denied acceptance to the [[Association of College Honor Societies]] (ACHS) in 1984 and 1997.<ref name="che" /> Golden Key was accepted by the ACHS in 2005.<ref name=":052"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Key is Now an ACHS Member! |url=http://www.studentorg.vcu.edu/goldenkey/newsleters/nl033105.pdf}}</ref> In 2012, the society had 393 active chapters, 82,415 active members, and 2,106,099 total initiates.<ref name=":052"/> Golden Key resigned from the [[Association of College Honor Societies]] in December 2013 after what the ACHS indicated was "a series of on-going discussions and correspondence."<ref>{{cite press release |title=ACHS Launches 'The Plan for Aiming Higher,' As High Achieving Students Face New Challenges |date=February 10, 2014 |url=http://www.achsnatl.org/news/2014/02/the-plan-for-aiming-higher.html |access-date=August 8, 2020 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140921153822/http://www.achsnatl.org/news/2014/02/the-plan-for-aiming-higher.html |archive-date=2014-09-21 |website=[[Association of College Honor Societies]]}}</ref>

Golden Key's main office is in [[Dunwoody, Georgia]], with regional offices in [[Sydney, Australia]], and [[Pretoria, South Africa]].<ref name="gcn">Brian Carr, [https://www.gcn.org/articles/Golden-key-International-Honour-Society Golden Key International Honour Society: A Georgia original, recognizing young leaders worldwide]. Georgia Center for Nonprofits, May 2015.</ref> It manages approximately 400 campus chapters worldwide.<ref name="gcn" /> The organization operates as a non-profit under section [[501(c)(3)]] of the U.S. [[Internal Revenue Code]]. [[File:GK Medal.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Key medallion]]

== Symbols ==
Golden Key's motto is ''{{lang|la|Et reveles vestra potentiale}}'' or "Unlock your potential". The society's core values or pillars are integrity, collaboration, innovation, respect, diversity, excellence and engagement.<ref name=":052" />

At commencement, Golden Key members may wear a royal blue and golden yellow ribbon attached to their [[mortar board]] or a gold and royal blue cord.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Distinctive Honors - Commencement |url=https://commencement.richmond.edu/main/distinctive-honors.html#:~:text=Golden%20Key%20National%20Honor%20Society,be%20worn%20around%20the%20neck. |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=University of Richmond |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Honor Society Cord Colors {{!}} College and University |url=https://seniorclassproducts.com/pages/college-honor-society-colors?srsltid=AfmBOooja8xHMUa18oAJ7hjeXO5-MSG_xpQDUkA2tlCTHkUl1R35g1po |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Senior Class Graduation Products |language=en}}</ref> Its honor stole is a gold satin sash embroidered with a Golden Key logo in blue. The Gold Key medallion is gold colored and hangs from a ribbon that is royal blue and gold.<ref name=":6" /> Members who have the highest GPA in four undergraduate divisions may wear the medallion.<ref name=":6" />

==Membership==
Golden Key membership is open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students, and alumni who graduated in the past year.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Golden Key |url=https://www.amu.apus.edu/student-activities/orgs/golden-key/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=American Military University |language=en}}</ref> Membership is by invitation and is offered to students in any academic field who are in the top fifteen percent of their class and have a [[Grading (education)|GPA]] of 3.75 or better.<ref name="wp" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2013 |title=UNO Chapter of Golden Key International Honor Society Gains Momentum |url=https://www.uno.edu/news/2013/UNOChapterofGoldenKeyInternationalHonourSocietyGainsMomentum.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712083114/https://www.uno.edu/news/2013/UNOChapterofGoldenKeyInternationalHonourSocietyGainsMomentum.aspx |archive-date=2013-07-12 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=University of New Orleans |via=web.archive.org}}</ref> The society also awards honorary memberships to non-students who are impactful or noteworthy leaders on campus and in the university's community.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-09-25 |title=Golden Key Appreciates its Honorary Members! |url=https://www.goldenkey.org/2017/09/25/golden-key-appreciates-its-honorary-members/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=GoldenKey |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Activities==
In its early years, Golden Key anticipated [[volunteerism]] drives on college campuses by organizing community service efforts, such as working in [[soup kitchen]]s, reading to children at libraries, and doing [[tax preparation]] help for low-income and immigrant populations.<ref name="wp" /> Since chapters are not centrally managed, charity and volunteer efforts are now fostered through a system called SPARK a Change, which allows chapters to determine the causes they support and the level of involvement of students.<ref name="gcn" />

Golden Key offers résumé and graduate program assistance, career planning and opportunities, leadership opportunities in local chapters, and networking events. It also offers scholarships, awards, research grants, travel support for academic conference attendance, and [[student loan]] debt relief to its members.<ref name="gcn" />

==Chapters==
{{Main|List of Golden Key International Honour Society chapters}}
Golden Key has more than 400 chapters at colleges and universities in [[Australia]], [[The Bahamas]], [[Canada]], [[India]], [[Malaysia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Singapore]], [[South Africa]], and the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Golden Key International Honour Society website Locate A Chapter |url=https://www.goldenkey.org/members-chapters/locate-a-chapter/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121035548/http://www.goldenkey.org/members-chapters/locate-a-chapter/ |archive-date=2019-01-21 |access-date=2013-06-10}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> It founded chapters in the following countries in:<ref>[https://www.goldenkey.org/about-us/faqs/ Golden Key | FAQs]</ref>

*1977 – United States of America
*1993 – Australia
*1997 – Canada
*1998 – Malaysia
*1999 – New Zealand
*2000 – South Africa
*2010 – The Bahamas
*2011 – India

==Notable members==
=== Collegiate members ===

* [[Carlos Alvarado-Larroucau]], author<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carlos Alvarado-Larroucau |url=https://morebooks.de/shop-ui/shop/product/978-613-0-69206-3 |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=More Books}}</ref>
* [[Anthony E. Clark]], historian<ref>{{Cite web |title=Curriculum Vitae |url=https://anthonyeclark.squarespace.com/reviews-1 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Anthony E. Clark, PhD, FRHistS, FRAS |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Michelle Deshong]], indigenous Australian equality activist<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michelle Deshong |url=https://www.naidoc.org.au/awards/winner-profiles/michelle-deshong |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=NAIDOC}}</ref>
* [[Neil Druckmann]], video game designer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Marcelo Chinchilla |date=2022-08-29 |title=Neil Druckmann - Biografía Biografías |url=https://www.capitalvideogames.com/neil-druckmann-biografia/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Capital Video Games |language=es}}</ref>
* [[Souzan El-Eid]] (1985), surgical oncologist<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Souzan E. El-Eid MD |url=https://health.usnews.com/doctors/souzan-el-eid-197299#experience |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>
* [[Elaine (singer)|Elaine]], R&B singer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathebula |first=Kwanele |date=2019-11-22 |title=5 minutes with singer Elaine |url=https://www.bona.co.za/celebrity/5-minutes-with-singer-elaine/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Bona Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Matthew Goldstein]], chancellor of the [[City University of New York]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography of Matthew Goldstein |url=https://www1.cuny.edu/events/press/goldstein_bio.html |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=City University of New York}}</ref>
* [[Gilbert Hegemier]], professor emeritus of structural engineering at the [[University of California, San Diego]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gilbert A. Hegemier {{!}} Jacobs School of Engineering |url=https://jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/node/3321 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=University of California, San Diego}}</ref>
* [[Staci Keanan]], attorney and actress<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anastasia Sagorsky |url=https://www.swlaw.edu/faculty/adjunct/anastasia-sagorsky |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Southwestern Law School |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Allison Kreiger]], model and former [[Miss Florida]]<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2004-05-27 |title=KUDOS |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2004/05/27/kudos-636/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Kára McCullough]], [[Miss USA 2017]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-15 |title=Miss USA 2017: 5 Things to Know to Know About Miss District of Columbia Kára McCullough |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/851942/miss-usa-2017-5-things-to-know-to-know-about-miss-district-of-columbia-kara-mccullough |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=E! Online}}</ref>
* [[Joe Nathan]], professional baseball player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Nathan {{!}} Stony Brook Council |url=https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/sbcouncil/resolutions/joenathan.php |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Stony Brook University |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Norman Robinson (television news reporter)|Norman Robinson]], television news reporter<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Norman Robinson - WDSU-TV News Team |url=http://www.wdsu.com/wdsunewsteam/267734/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126022935/http://www.wdsu.com/wdsunewsteam/267734/detail.html |archive-date=2007-01-26 |access-date=2024-09-15 }}</ref>
* [[Field Ruwe]], journalist and author<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-19 |title=Dr. Field Ruwe Addresses Accusations of Malicious Intent by the University of Zambia |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2024/03/19/dr-field-ruwe-addresses-accusations-of-malicious-intent-by-the-university-of-zambia/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Lusaka Times |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Kate Steinberg]], internet personality and television personality
* [[Leila Takayama]], associate professor of [[Human–computer interaction]] at the [[University of California, Santa Cruz]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=CV |url=http://www.leilatakayama.org/downloads/LeilaTakayamaCV.pdf |access-date=September 15, 2024 |website=Leila Takayama |page=3}}</ref>
* [[Quincy Tan]], singer-songwriter<ref name="Renminribao">{{cite news |last=Si |first=Wenxiao |date=May 2, 2006 |title=大馬新人王陳仁豐轉戰內地 好音樂無國界 (New Malaysian star Quincy Tan advancing into mainland China: Good music knows no borders) |url=http://ent.people.com.cn/BIG5/4407808.html |access-date=June 4, 2007 |publisher=People's Daily}}</ref><ref name="Profile">{{cite web |title=陈仁丰－我的音乐桃花源 个人资料 |url=http://www.mainstreammusic.net/profile.html |access-date=June 4, 2007 |publisher=Mainstream Music}}</ref>

=== Honorary members ===
* [[Philip E. Austin]] (1998), economist and 13th president of the [[University of Connecticut]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=November 30, 1998 |title=Golden Key inductees include President Austin |url=http://www.advance.uconn.edu/1998/981130/11309809.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001085656/http://www.advance.uconn.edu/1998/981130/11309809.htm |archive-date=2015-10-01 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=University of Connecticut Advance |via=web.archive.org}}</ref>
* [[Dean L. Bresciani]] (2010), 14th president of [[North Dakota State University]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2010 |title=Golden Key inducts new members {{!}} North Dakota State University |url=https://www.ndsu.edu/news/view/detail/5304 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=www.ndsu.edu |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Susannah Carr]], television news presenter<ref>Bell, Nicholle (2001) ''Seven News keeps on delivering for Susannah'' in ''Standard'' (West Perth, W.A)</ref><ref>Kent, Melissa (2005) ''The anchor woman'' in the West Magazine, in ''The West Australian'' 7 May 2005, p.12-14</ref>
* [[Bill Clinton]], [[President of the United States]]<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2012 |title=Dr. Snider Receives Honorary Membership in Golden Key International Honour Society |url=https://www.uh.edu/nsm/biology-biochemistry/news-events/stories/2012/0309_goldenKey.php |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=University of Houston}}</ref>
* [[Bill Cosby]], comedian and actor<ref name=":2" />
* [[Marcello Costa]] (1997), medical researcher, academic, and public health advocate<ref>{{Cite journal |date=August 2024 |title=Obituary Marcello Costa (1940–2024) |url=https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.14851 |journal=Neurogastroenterology & Motility |volume=36 |issue=8|doi=10.1111/nmo.14851 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[Elizabeth Dole]], [[United States Senate]], [[United States Secretary of Transportation|U.S. Secretary of Transportation]], and president of the [[American Red Cross]]<ref name=":1" />
* [[Douglas Emlen]] (2012), [[Evolutionary biology|evolutionary biologist]] and professor of biology at the [[University of Montana]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-04 |title=Douglas J. Emlen - Division of Biological Sciences / Emlen Lab - University Of Montana |url=https://hs.umt.edu/dbs/labs/emlen/doug/default.php |access-date=2024-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204064158/https://hs.umt.edu/dbs/labs/emlen/doug/default.php |archive-date=2015-12-04 }}</ref>
* [[Peter J. Fos]] (2013), first [[University president|president]] and sixth chief executive of the [[University of New Orleans]]<ref name=":3" />
* [[Brian K. Hall]], professor of biology at [[Dalhousie University]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brian K. Hall (1941- ) |url=https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/brian-k-hall-1941 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Embryo Project Encyclopedia |publisher=Arizona State University}}</ref>
* [[Stephen King]], author<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=McAleer |first=Rebecca |date=2012-02-02 |title=Golden Key recognizes new members |url=http://www.vsuspectator.com/2012/02/02/golden-key-recognizes-new-members/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Kliff Kingsbury]], professional football player and college football coach<ref name=":4" />
* [[Marlene le Roux]], [[Disability rights|disability]] and [[women's rights]] activist and [[CEO]] of the [[Artscape Theatre Centre]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-25 |title=Marlene le Roux {{!}} How the creative arts can help to heal you {{!}} CreativeMornings/CT |url=https://creativemornings.com/talks/marlene-le-roux |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=CreativeMornings |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Helene Marsh]] (2002), dean of graduate research studies and the professor of [[environmental science]] at [[James Cook University]] 
* [[Nelson Mandela]], [[President of South Africa]]<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Golden Key International Honour Society |url=https://international.uwc.ac.za/co-operation/networks/golden-key-international-honour-society/#:~:text=With%20over%20two%20million%20members,of%20the%20continuum%20of%20excellence. |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=University of Western Cape |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Honorary membership of the Golden Key International Honour Society |url=https://archive.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/za-com-mr-t-1496 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930061108/https://archive.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/za-com-mr-t-1496 |archive-date=2020-09-30 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=The Nelson Mandela Foundation Archive |via=web.archive.org}}</ref> 
* [[Nomzamo Mbatha]], actress<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nomzamo Mbatha |url=https://awards.adamatoulon.com/en/component/content/article/216-nominees23/cc23/336-nomzamo-mbatha-us?Itemid=639 |access-date=September 15, 2024 |website=World Women Heroes Awards}}</ref>
* [[Zareef Minty]], South African politician and television personality<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honorary Member Ceremony |url=https://www.gkzafnmrc.org/honorarymember |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=NMRC |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Christopher Mott]], [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and lecturer at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chris Mott (1978) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=835 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Dolly Parton]], country musician<ref name=":0" />
* [[Sev Ozdowski]] (2012), former [[Australian Human Rights Commission|Human Rights Commissioner]] and Disability Discrimination Commissioner for the Australian government
* [[Ronald Reagan]], [[President of the United States]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Tupac Shakur]], [[rapper]]<ref name=":0" />
* [[Tim Tebow]], professional football player<ref name=":0" />
* [[Ian Thorpe]], swimmer and Olympic Gold Medalist<ref name=":2" />
* [[Desmond Tutu]], [[Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg|Bishop of Johannesburg]], [[Anglican Diocese of Cape Town|Archbishop of Cape Town]], anti-apartheid activist, and winner of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7" />
* [[Akinyele Umoja]] (1995) educator and author<ref>{{Cite web |title=Professor Akinyele K. Umoja |url=http://www2.gsu.edu/~aadbsf/umoja.htmg |access-date=September 15, 2024 |website=African-American Studies, Georgia State University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191725/http://www2.gsu.edu/~aadbsf/umoja.htmg |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}</ref>
* [[Luc Vinet]], [[physicist]] and [[mathematician]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luc Vinet {{!}} Research |url=https://recherche.umontreal.ca/english/our-researchers/professors-directory/researcher/is/in15747/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Université de Montréal |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Elie Wiesel]], author, political activist, professor at [[Boston University]], and winner of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==Controversies==
A 1999 article in the [[University of British Columbia]] student newspaper, ''The [[Ubyssey]]'', examined the society's finances and scholarship practices after it established a chapter on campus in 1998.<ref name="ubyssey">{{cite news |last1=Dhalla |first1=Irfan |title=Students Getting Bamboozled? |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/media/download/pdf/ubysseynews/1.0127065/0 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |work=[[The Ubyssey]] |publisher=[[University of British Columbia]] |date=January 12, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055500/http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubyssey/UBYSSEY_1999_01_12.pdf |archive-date=November 7, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''Ubyssey'' obtained the organization's IRS filings for 1997 and noted "Golden Key spent just $289,461 (US dollars) on scholarships, less than 5 percent of their total expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997."<ref name=ubyssey/> Golden Key reported on its website in 2009 that it had increased scholarship disbursals to over $500,000 annually,<ref name=nebraskan>[http://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/students-should-take-caution-when-picking-honor-societies/article_72c4b494-f042-5177-978d-5cb7306b49e7.html Students should take caution when picking honor societies]. ''[[The Daily Nebraskan]]'', February 10, 2009.</ref> but a later report indicated that spending on member events and scholarships in 2014 was less than $200,000.<ref name=honisoit/> A 2002 report by ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]'' reported that there were conflicts within the society's administration over the lowering of academic standards required for admission and inflated recruitment numbers from local university chapters.<ref name=che/> The society's aggressive marketing techniques toward eligible members were criticized in 2002 by the president of the [[National Collegiate Honors Council]].<ref name=ajc/>

The business practices of Golden Key also attracted the ''Chronicle''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s notice, as well as that of ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Sponsoring corporations, who paid a minimum of $55,000 a year (2002) to access Golden Key's membership lists, sent students "mass mailings for such products as credit cards and auto insurance."<ref name=wp/> Golden Key responded to these criticisms by stating that it was standard practice among alumni groups and honor societies.<ref name=wp/> The ''Chronicle'' quoted former employees who thought the institution's expenditures on parties and upper executive salaries, as well as its maintenance of the Druid Hills headquarters, were lavish and inconsistent with the former ideal of "a student-centered, nonprofit organization."<ref name=che/> The ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' reported poor accounting practices under Lewis's tenure in the late 1990s, and investigators were unable to determine exactly how much he was paid due to bookkeeping discrepancies.<ref name=ajc>John McCosh, "Golden Key founder loses luster". ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'', April 6, 2002.</ref> A 2016 investigation by Australian student newspaper ''[[Honi Soit]]'' found that Golden Key continued to release data about students, without their consent, to corporate sponsors.<ref name=honisoit>Tom Joyner, [http://honisoit.com/2016/05/the-honour-society/ The Honour Society]. ''[[Honi Soit]]'', May 31, 2016.</ref>

Some students reported to student newspaper investigators that they were unsure of the society's benefits<ref>Will McDonald, [http://old.ubyssey.ca/news/golden-key-summit-825/ Golden Key honour society holds national networking summit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012602/http://old.ubyssey.ca/news/golden-key-summit-825/ |date=2017-11-07 }}. ''[[Ubyssey]]'', February 8, 2012.</ref> or did not find the society's networking opportunities worth the cost of membership.<ref name=honisoit/> ''Honi Soit'' also noted that society staffers altered the Golden Key International Honour Society [[Wikipedia]] page to burnish the institution's image.<ref name=honisoit/>

==See also==

* [[Honor cords]]
* [[Honor society]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.goldenkey.org|Golden Key International Honour Society official website}}
{{Association of College Honor Societies}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1977 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Student organizations established in 1977]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Honor societies]]
[[Category:Former members of Association of College Honor Societies]]