Clayton State University recently inducted 30 students to its chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society on the occasion of the official chartering of the Clayton State chapter. Also inducted at the Feb. 17 ceremony were four honorary members, including Clayton State President Dr. Thomas K. Harden.

Golden Key was founded in 1977 by a group of undergraduate students at Georgia State University. Since its inception, Golden Key has been established as a positive force in higher education. Membership to this academic achievement organization is granted by invitation only and requires the achievement and maintenance of high academic standards. Golden Key is not only an academic achievement organization, but is also involved in community and university service, thus providing many opportunities for the members to gain valuable experience.

Golden Key also awards its members more than $400,000 annually through numerous scholarship and award programs. Members are connected to exclusive career opportunities and assistance through Golden Key's partnerships with major corporations and graduate programs. The Society provides campus and community service opportunities enabling personal growth and leadership development as well as collaborating with university faculty and administrators to develop and maintain high standards of education.

The Clayton State chapter was established in the fall of 2006 and was originally recognized as a “benefits only” chapter. On Feb. 17, the Clayton State chapter was officially chartered and recognized as the 358th Golden Key Chapter world-wide. Invitation to join Golden Key is only extended to the top 15 percent of the sophomore, junior and senior classes at Clayton State.

Currently the Clayton State University chapter has 86 members, 30 of whom were recently inducted. Golden Key also awards honorary member status to individuals who contribute to the local chapter and/or community. In addition to Harden, the Clayton State chapter also inducted honorary members Dr. Matthew Parrott and Jeff Jacobs -- co-advisors to the Clayton Statechapter – and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Brian Haynes.

The following Clayton State students were inducted into Golden Key on Feb. 17 included Iris Abernathy (Forest Park), Melka Argaw (Clarkston), Yolanda Barrow (Rex), Loretta Boyd (Fayetteville), Debra Burt (McDonough), Tiffani Davis (Riverdale), Thuy Dinh (Stockbridge), Kisha Foster (Covington), Monique Francois (Jonesboro), Dean Gilewicz (Atlanta), Alan Gordy (Conyers), Debra Grigsby (Rex), Leland Haraszti (Jonesboro), Diana Harris (Stockbridge), Sabrina Horne (Riverdale), Gay Iglesias (Riverdale), Caroline Jones, Kanita Key (Lithonia), Julie Kornder (Forest Park), Hazel Manatsa (College Park), Suzzette Moore (Lithonia), Jewels Morgan (Snellville), Lauren Ogden (Stockbridge), Anne Ogrosky (Stockbridge), Helena Peace (Stone Mountain), Katie Peppers (Sharpsburg), Hina Rehmani (Ellenwood), Tasha-Gaye Samuels (Atlanta), Felicia Shy (Decatur) and John Toliver (Decatur).

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

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