Club Spotlight: Gamma Beta Phi strives for meaningful impact
Club members work to improve lives through their mission
By Kristi Castanzo
Knightly News Reporter
Gamma Beta Phi, Central Penn College’s national honor society, functions to recognize excellence in education, promote leadership and character and foster education through service projects.
The winter term service project is one that both football and nonfootball fans can rally around by supporting the Central Penn College Pantry and cheering for their favorite team during the Super Bowl-themed food drive. After the drive, the club members work together to stock and organize the pantry that supports students at the college.
Another favorite service project of the club members is Fall Harvest, and the club recently hosted a collage table for children, helping them find pictures and gluing them to their board. This past summer, they partnered with West Shore Connect for another service project, providing the Gamma Beta Phi members with opportunities to interact with the community.
“I really hope that students see how small, low-stakes engagements with their community, like helping a kid make a collage, or working with West Shore Connect to create art, or spending an evening stocking the food pantry, can have a big impact both on the student themselves and on our community,” Amanda Stuckey, the club’s adviser and assistant professor of humanities, said. “I have seen friendships grow thanks to Gamma Beta Phi membership and acts of service, and I really believe that students’ gifts of time and service to their community are returned to them tenfold. But I am the proudest and most impressed when a group of students come together simply because they want to serve our campus and community.
Club members meet three times a term to plan these service projects and activities, and they also attend the Speaker Series event, which features a Central Penn community member who has made an impact on the community and shares that story.
During the spring term, club members plan and hold an induction ceremony for their newest members. At the same time, Stuckey leads a workshop to help members with their scholarship applications through the national office.
The national office sets the Gamma Beta Phi membership criteria. Students who have completed two terms and have a GPA of 3.5 are eligible to receive an invitation from the national office, be inducted and begin expanding their opportunities for service, scholarship and grow friendships.
For more information about Gamma Beta Phi, contact Stuckey at [email protected].
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-advisers Professor Paul Miller and Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
