Spire was founded for the purpose of recognizing the unique achievements of adult and other non-traditional students enrolled in Associate Degree programs. The founders of Spire noticed that nontraditional students, who are typically less involved in campus life, often married, and usually employed while attending college, were rarely selected for campus honoraries. It seems that the typical lifestyle and daily responsibilities of these students prevented them from being widely considered for membership in most campus academic, service, and leadership honoraries, thereby withholding from this entire category of students the career-enhancing advantages of such membership.
Spire was created to provide adult (defined as 25 years old or older) and other non-traditional students (such as young single parents, disabled students, students who earn degrees while working full-time, international students, and other similarly situated students) with the same level of recognition which outstanding traditional students have always received.
All students selected for induction must meet the following standards:
- Qualify as adult or non-traditional students (adult students must be at least 25 years of age); and
- Be within 12 months of graduation; and
- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and
- Be involved in at least three campus and/or community activities; and
- Demonstrate leadership, persistence, and future promise; and • Maintain the highest ethical standards.
Sponsor: Marilyn Dalton, Workforce Development Building.