For the third consecutive year, Iowa State’s Golden Key Honor Society Chapter received the highest possible award given in the organization at the society’s national convention.

The convention was held in Los Angeles from Aug. 6-9.

“To have been selected to receive the Key Chapter Award for the third year in a row is a tremendous compliment to the efforts and activities of the members and officers of Iowa State’s Golden Key Chapter,” said David Bousquet, ISU chapter adviser.

The local chapter was awarded the Key Chapter Award for excellence in the five judged categories, including communication, publicity, meeting management, chapter activities and leadership, and participation in regional and international programs.

Bousquet said only the top 10 percent of Golden Key chapters are recognized with the award.

“It was so cool to represent my chapter and accept the Key Chapter Award,” said Laura Moeller, honor society member and senior in nutritional science.

Moeller and fellow member Lynette Ritland, senior in sociology, were selected to give presentations at the convention. Moeller said presenters are selected based on proposals submitted in the spring.

“I was studying abroad in Kenya [when I was notified that I was selected], so I began preparing my presentation there,” she said.

Ritland said she talked about global etiquette.

“Mostly, it was about how to make the most of an abroad experience by researching the area you are going to, but to be very open minded,” she said.

In addition to student presentations, the convention included workshops on leadership and personal skills.

Moeller said she enjoyed the final speech by actor and activist Edward James Olmos and the one-on-one interaction with the organization’s corporate sponsors.

“It was so special to be part of something so unique,” she said.

Moeller and Ritland agreed that the opening ceremony speaker was one of the highlights of the experience.

“I probably enjoyed most our featured speaker, Mickey Rooney,” Ritland said.

Moeller said the convention is geared toward Golden Key officers, but she urged any member to consider attending next year’s convention in Orlando.

“I’d encourage anyone and everyone to go. It’s an experience like no other,” she said.