Franklin & Marshall College

Becoming a leader is a life-long process that begins with daily decisions and actions.  There are numerous styles of leadership, philosophies on it, professionals who specialize in speaking on leadership, and there are hundreds of books on the topic.   LeadershipNow offers a list of the most classic books; or you can Google the top leadership experts.

What can you do now, to build your leadership skills?  There are numerous opportunities on campus.  You could start a club, become an elected member of a club or Greek organization, or you could serve in your House or student government.   You could create your own independent study or become a House or Peer Advisor.   You could participate in volunteer service and civic engagement or you could apply to become a member of a selective honor society.

Some of the college's existing honor's societies include:

The Financial Services Honor Society - A group of sophomores, juniors and seniors leveraging the synergies of interdependent cooperation to secure internships and jobs in finance. Our Vision is to empower F&M students to compete and secure top-tier internships and jobs in financial services. We are devoted to our Mission of achieving an 80% offer rate for both internships and full-time jobs for program participants and continually improving the program in scope and effectiveness. 

Benjamin Rush Honor Society - The goal of the society is that students will gain knowledge and an understanding that there is a vital integration necessary between the real world and the college community.  It is the combination of both life experiences and the academic atmosphere that ultimately creates the ideal health professional.

John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society - "It will be the goal of the society to serve as an exclusive, student-based organization intent on fostering the personal growth and development of well-rounded individuals who posses a genuine interest in legal education and a sincere commitment to the noble profession of Law. The Honor Society will strive to support and educate its members by participating in law-oriented functions, hosting esteemed guests to speak on legal and related topics, and assisting those interested in pursuing the study of Law.”

Black Pyramid Senior Honor Society  - The mission and goal of the society changes year to year, based on the desires of the group. Applications are extended to juniors of all majors who meet a G.P.A. requirement, and applications are reviewed to select 15 new members each year in February.   For the BPS Class of 2012, the mission is to increase awareness of the society and it's involvement on campus, and to increase the academic performance of all students by encouraging students to strive to become members of the society.  The philanthropy chosen to support this year is the KIPP Foundation, for which over $700 has been raised.