Augustus Tolton Honor Society founded for African American Scholars

JOLIET, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) Office of Institutional Diversity and the USF Diversity Council have established the Augustus Tolton Honor Society for African American scholars who are currently enrolled at USF. The society, named after the first recognized African American priest in the United States, aims to honor the spirit of scholarship, leadership and identity for high achieving, full-time, African American students. Its purpose is to nurture intellectual ability, promote leadership development, foster knowledge of self and provide service to the community. The society aims to exemplify the leadership and academic excellence of African American scholars while upholding the university’s core values of respect, compassion, service and integrity.

After completing 12 credit hours at the University of St. Francis, prospective honor society members must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. They must also complete an application process to be considered. New Augustus Tolton Honor Society members will be honored in the society’s first induction ceremony in February 2013. Inductions will be held annually to honor new members that are accepted each academic year.

Core members of the team of USF employees who founded the honor society are Fr. J. Derran Combs, OFM, University Chaplain; Deborah Glenn, Assessment Coordinator for the College of Education and co-chair of the Diversity Council; Kristi Kelly, former USF Director of Career Services and Alicia McLaughlin, Assistant Professor of Social Work and co-advisor to the Augustus Tolton Honor Society (with Yvonne Isom, Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal and Social Justice. The committee includes the aforementioned individuals plus Terry Cottrell, Director of Library Services; Damon Sloan, Dean of Students; Billie Terrell, Professor of Social Work and Jurate Harris, Graduate Advisor in the College of Education.

Interested qualified students can email USF’s Michelle O’Boyle at moboyle@stfrancis.edu to obtain an application or can pick one up in Tower Hall office S440. Completed forms should be returned in person, emailed, or mailed to O’Boyle at: USF Office of Institutional Diversity, Attention: Michelle O’Boyle/Augustus Tolton Honor Society, 500 Wilcox St., Joliet, IL 60435.

The University of St. Francis in Joliet serves 3,400 students nationwide, offering 44 undergraduate programs, four adult degree-completion programs, 18 graduate programs and two doctoral programs. Areas of study include arts and science, business, education, nursing and health care and social work. For information, call (800) 735-7500 or visit www.stfrancis.edu.