Mortar Board: The Ohio State University
 
Picture
Battling for a Cause - Pillow Fight Style

On September 24, 2009, The Mabel G. Freeman Chapter of Mortar Board held its 6th Annual World’s Largest Pillow Fight. Members of Mortar Board teamed up with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the deadly disease and money throughout the event to donate to their cause.

This tradition was originally brought about in 2004, when Vice President of Student Affairs, William H. Hall learned of other universities attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Pillow Fight. This event was not only created to have the university’s name on a Guinness Record, but to unify students by building community. Held the first week of classes when freshman move into the dorms and upperclassmen return to campus, the event instills pride in the Buckeye Spirit.

Despite extremely rainy and wet conditions, members of The Ohio State Basketball team joined members of Mortar Board and hundreds of students to battle for Pancreatic Cancer in a 60 second Pillow Fight honoring Vice President William H. Hall and all those who have been affected by cancer.
 
 

The Sphinx-Mortarboard Faculty/Staff Reception is an annual event held to
honor and recognize faculty that have been influential throughout our years
at Ohio State.  We are collaborating with Sphinx, the other senior class
honorary, for the twentieth year to honor faculty members and staff.  The
event has been sponsored by the Office of the Provost for several years, and
will held at the Longaberger Alumni house on Wednesday, March 11th from
5:30-8 PM.

- Elizabeth Brandel

 
 

Initiation

Initiation is a very meaningful event for both the graduating and incoming Mortar Board classes. It represents the passing of the torch from one class to the next and the importance of continuing the tradition and high standards of the honor society.  Each year, initiation begins with a reception for new members and their guests, continues with a procession around the Oval, and concludes with a ceremony at Browning Amphitheatre.

Picture
Orientation

Orientation was on the Saturday morning after we were inducted. The executive board members of the old class ran the orientation for the new members. It was basically a big get to know each other day. We did numerous ice breakers, broke down into smaller groups, and got to know each other better. We also learned about Mortar Board and its history as well. This was our first real chance to bond as a group after we had been inducted. It laid a very good foundation for the rest of the year for everybody.
 
Social Events: 01/06/2009
 
Picture

Alumni Social

With food and music new and old members came together to welcome in a new school year. In addition, the newly constructed Mortar Board Suite in the new Thompson Library was officially opened.  The suite had been years in the making and was funded by past Mortar Board classes, the efforts of the local Alumni, and the architects themselves (for it is thanks to them that the fireplace can keep people warm in the winter). It was an event marked by celebration and a guided tour of the new Thompson Library. 

Picture
Halloween Party

The MoBsters had a monster mash, full of costumes and creepy decorations! The costumes ranged from Peter Pan to The Burger King.  We surely won't soon forget this! Thanks to everyone who came and dressed up!
Picture
Thanksgiving Potluck

Some people say college students can't cook... but Mortar Board sure can. We had so much food, we almost ran out of places to put it! Thanks to everyone who participated- it was a delicious Thanksgiving preview!
Picture
Mortar Board/Sphinx Homecoming Float

Homecoming week is one of the most exciting times of the year to be a Buckeye!  The week is filled with spirited events that remind us how lucky we are to call OSU home, and none of these events can beat the Homecoming Parade.  This year, Mortar Board collaborated with another senior honorary, Sphinx, in building a float for the parade. We spent two days constructing a float that would both represent our honoraries and show Buckeye spirit.  Despite limited float-building experience, our float turned out sturdy and impressive!  The design included a sphinx wearing a mortar board hat on one side, and “Good Luck Buckeyes” on the other.  Since both Mortar Board and Sphinx were proud to have multiple members on the Homecoming Court, we also decided to list their names on the back of the float.  During the building process, which took place at the stadium, Mortar Board members had a chance to get to know Sphinx while enjoying music, ice cream, hot cocoa, and free t-shirts!  We also got to admire other organizations’ floats and soak up the Buckeye spirit.  On Friday, October 23rd, our float finally made its big debut.  We handed out candy, scarlet and grey necklaces, and rally towels to the cheering spectators along the route.  Despite the dreary weather, our float held up almost perfectly!  Both Mortar Board and Sphinx were proud to represent senior class honoraries and take part in such an exciting tradition! Go Buckeyes!
 
 

Magazine Subscription Sale

The 2008-2009 Mortar Board Class started off the school year with a great fundraising event for the group. The fundraiser was a Magazine subscription sale that was impressively successful. For this fundraiser each member of Mortar Board was asked to sell a minimum of 3 magazine subscriptions to friends and family members within a three-day period. The group ended up selling almost 130 subscriptions which raised $2,830 for the group.

 
 

Being a member of Mortar Board is an honor on any campus.  But did you know that we offer other benefits exclusively to Mortar Board members?  Read on to see opportunities available to you because of your affiliation with Mortar Board. 

Academic recognition by your college or university Alumni networking to connect with alumni in your area or across the world Thousands of dollars in fellowships available to Mortar Board members only Subscription to Mortar Board publications including the Mortar Board Forum magazine Access to the Mortar Board Scholarship-Assistant, a search engine with easy access to more than a million undergraduate, graduate and professional scholarship awards worth more than $3 billion Career and graduate school networking and assistance Access to a career search engine sponsored by JobTarget Federal government employment entrance at the GS-7 ranking for members, which can mean an instant pay increase for certain jobs The chance to apply for RealAcad, a top-level venture management program has agreed to provide access for all Mortar Board members to an international network of top professionals across the world.   Washington, D.C. internship and scholarship opportunities through The Fund for American Studies, Washington Internship Institute and The Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars The opportunity to apply for the NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, a fully-funded Ph.D. program in biomedical research Access to the GEICO Privileges program, where your membership allows you to receive discounts at brand-name retailers, as well as money-saving tips Kaplan test preparation discounts (15 percent off all GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, PSAT classroom and online courses for members and their families) Training and leadership opportunities, including an invitation to the annual national conference of Mortar Board


Discounts and services from Mortar Board’s partners:

GEICO auto insurance specials Bank of America credit cards Affordable student health insurance from UnitedHealthcare StudentResources



Source: Click Here

 
Service Events 01/03/2009
 
Picture
Picture
Mid Ohio Food Bank Service Event

A few members of MoB headed to the brand new Mid Ohio Food bank in Grove City, OH to help sort out food with volunteers from other organizations.  Upon arriving we washed our hands in a futuristic hand washing machine, demonstrated by Doug, (picture 1) and then proceeded to the apple sorting area.  Large crates (picture 5) needed to be sorted and packed into boxes.  Although we did this for a few hours, we found ways to enjoy ourselves as Judy and Kristin competed to find the smallest apples. (picture 3)  Josh was in charge of stacking filled boxes and his Jenga skills were put to the test. (picture 2)  All in all MoB members had a great time helping out the central Ohio community at the Mid Ohio Food bank in Grove City.
Picture
 
Spring Retreat 10/18/2008
 

The spring retreat, specifically designed for the new class, took place at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center this year.  The evening, of course, started with various icebreakers and activities in order for new members to become further acquainted.  After icebreakers, elections for the next year’s officers took place.  There was a great indication as to how many members would take an active role in Mortar Board the next year due to the sheer number of those running for executive positions. Afterwards, the games began.  There were several activities going on simultaneously, including volleyball, basketball, and various board and card games.  By four in the morning, most people had started heading down to one of the Multi-Purpose rooms for some shut eye, but there was still a substantial number of MoBsters, both young and old, that elected to stay up as long as they possibly could.  With this in mind, we bonded over deep discussions of varying topics from plans for next year to pigeons (some things are just better left unsaid!).  This event was the first of many MoB events to come.

 
Save the Date! 09/10/2008
 

Mortar Board will be meeting bimonthly on Wednesdays at 7pm.  Keep checking your inbox for future emails.

The Mortar Board retreat will be on Sunday, October 5th.

 
 

Hi everyone!  Get excited because we are starting our very first Reading is Leading Challenge!  Take a look at the following information and then log on to www.firstbook.org/mortarboard to make a pledge or send donation requests!
 
"Each chapter is supposed to complete a project tied to the Mortar Board national “Reading is Leading” literacy initiative.  Your chapters have done great projects in the past including book drives and reading to children, among others.  This year we truly have a national project tied to Reading is Leading, that all chapters will participate in.  You can continue Reading is Leading initiatives that you have done in the past, but if your chapter has struggled with literacy projects or you are looking to make a change, this is a great way to participate in the national project and meet the Reading is Leading project requirement of the MB minimum standards. 
 Mortar Board has teamed up with First Book to provide books to children in our collegiate chapters’ communities.  Nationally, our fundraising goal is $30,000 or to donate approximately 15,000 books, by October 15th.  Each chapter designates a local organization for their funds to be allocated, and that organization will get to order books from First Book in that amount.  Pledges can be made on the special First Book Mortar Board site at www.firstbook.org/mortarboard, and credit card payments are accepted online (or you can mail in a check).  When someone makes a donation, they select the college/university that they are sponsoring.  Additionally, chapters can raise funds with raffles, bake sales, etc. – the sky’s the limit!  At the end of the conference, I challenged each chapter in Ohio to raise $500 toward this project.  Be creative in what you do – for example, you could ask each member to raise at least $10 on their own and hold another small fundraiser to get the remainder.  We are already doing great!  Megan from the National Office was in touch with the First Book people this morning, and they specifically mentioned that Ohio Wesleyan had received $136 in donations, and The University of Cincinnati had received $75!!"

As you can see we have been challenged to raise at least $500 toward this project and Ohio Wesleyan and University of Cincinnati are already on their way!  If you have any questions or want more information let me know. We only have until October 15th so be sure to go online today!