What is the role of the Rho Kappa Advisory Council?

The role of the Advisory Council is to promote the creation of chapters across the United States and the world and to further the mission of NCSS and Rho Kappa in promoting social studies, social service and community awareness.

How did you first become involved with Rho Kappa?

I attended the 2011 NCSS Conference in Washington, DC with two of my colleagues. There were large banners throughout the conference center promoting this new national social studies honor society. I was immediately intrigued and went to find out more information. Upon returning to my school, I asked the principal if I could start the honor society and if administration would pay for the charter fee. I gathered a group of about six seniors who I deemed the Founding Fathers of Greenup County Rho Kappa. We officially created the society in April 2012 and spent the last month of school researching the official NCSS constitution and by-laws along with those from Florida chapters to create our official constitution based on NCSS regulations and the by-laws that reflect the culture and requirements of our school.

How does membership in a nationally recognized social studies honor society help students grow and develop?

Many of our students will sign up for Rho Kappa for the sheer purpose to add another activity to their college application. It just looks good to be a member of a national honor society. But students can actually learn from their membership. You can introduce students to the social sciences/social studies that is limited within the classroom due to time constraints or curriculum standards. Students can be hands-on with veterans, local laws and real world government issues. They can sit in a state congressional session learning how the process of a bill works, listen to the arguments and understand the minute details in making a law. They can be humbled by serving with a local charity or inspired by helping young children. We can make leaders from our student members and prepare them for future leadership roles in college or career.

What are some of  your favorite activities that students do with their chapters?

I always enjoy seeing students advocating for voting and encouraging their classmates to sign up to vote. That being said, I love hearing the unique things. The activities where students are having real world hands-on opportunities. I’ve heard about a chapter in Illinois that lobbied to get a law changed and it was signed on their football field, or the chapters in the DC metro area helping to archive historical documents and oral histories. There are chapters who are adding to their local history by conducting research, helping their local veterans homes or participating in their town cleanup. Each chapter are doing great things and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Do you have any advice for those trying to start a Rho Kappa chapter at their school?

Be patient. Our first year was just creating the constitution and by-laws, we didn’t have activities or field trips or fundraisers. It was simply creating the foundation that would carry the chapter throughout the years.

Promote! Students have no idea what Rho Kappa is and what it represents. I learned that I got more applications by delivering invitations to students who met the requirements opposed to making signs, posters and announcements for students to come to me on their own to get an application. The first couple of years, I asked students to be members and had less than 20, with invitations we deliver approximately 70 each year and average over 30 applicants.

Be open to ideas from the students. The best part of Rho Kappa is the open book for activities, trips and learning opportunities. It’s limited only to you and your students imagination (and perhaps the area where you live). Let them create the activities, you’ll get more buy-in and ownership. Students want to be leaders!