Gamma Beta Phi chapter at Durham Tech wins National Service Project

The Durham Tech chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society was notified last month that it was selected as the Category 2 winner for the Fall 2018 - Spring 2019 National Service Project.

The competition was designed to engage Gamma Beta Phi Society members throughout the country in service in their local communities. The competition was categorized by size. Category 2 includes colleges with 51-100 members.

“It felt great to find out we had won, especially knowing how big some of the other chapters are,” said Chris McDuff, former president of the Durham Tech chapter. “It’s always great to stand out among your peers.”

During the 2018-2019 academic year, more than 40 students in the club regularly volunteered at the Durham Tech Campus Harvest Food Pantry, Outreach for Hispanic Family Center, Durham Rescue Mission, Kramden Institute, and Meals on Wheels.

The students clocked nearly 250 hours of service.

“Our members achieved something that we didn’t even think we had a chance for,” said faculty advisor, Don Sommerfeldt. “So it is a good sense of pride, for sure.”

Sommerfeldt said he was amazed at how much time students were able to dedicate, considering their other responsibilities.

“Our club members are unlike those at universities because there’s a wide range in ages. We have students as young as 18 to students over 60, so our members have families to care and full-time jobs in addition to their studies, yet they are dedicating hours to help the community. To me, they’re super students.”

The chapter will be recognized in February at the Gamma Beta Phi Society 2020 National Convention in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

For more information on joining Gamma Beta Phi, contact Don Sommerfeldt 919-536-7235 ext. 8169.
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Contact Marcy W. Gardner, Coordinator for Content and Social Media, at gardnerm@durhamtech.edu