Blue Key National Leadership Honorary

University of Florida

In 1923 Major B. C. Riley, Dean of the General Extension Division of the University of Florida, created an organization of student leaders to assist the growing University in its largest Homecoming to that date. Soon after their initial success Riley formally formed the organization into the Blue Key leadership honorary. Within months, in part due to Riley's national reputation and connections, a number of chapters were created around the nation. Thus a national honorary based upon demonstrated leadership by students in institutions of higher education was born.

Unfortunately the founding chapter at the University of Florida did not remain true to the original mission. Within a few years the Florida chapter was determined to be not in good standing with the national organization -- then run (and until Riley's death in the 1960s) from Gainesville, Florida. By 1935 the Florida chapter ceased to be formally associated with the National Blue Key organization and eventually formed their own organization now known as Florida Blue Key (FBK). FBK has no affiliation to the national organization nor to the UF Chapter of the National Blue Key.

In 1994 Charles Grapski and Todd Underhill began the process of creating an organization on the UF campus based strictly on leadership and not politics. They were joined in their efforts in that Spring of 1995 by Piet Niederhausen. Through their efforts the founding chapter of the National Blue Key was reestablished in Gainesville.

Since that time efforts have focused on setting up the framework that will support a lasting organization into the future that will remain true to the original vision of Blue Key of ethical leadership -- its recognition, encouragement, and teaching through examples. In order to prevent campus politics from interfering with this mission and tarnishing the name of the chapter once again we are progressing slowly and carefully.

This Spring should be the beginning of the chapter's flourishing. We will actively seek the recruitment to membership of a diverse and highly qualified group of student leaders.

If you are an interested student leader on the UF campus who wishes to apply -- or if you are an alumnus of the University of Florida or simply an interested onlooker -- please feel free to send us e-mail.

Officers

Other Chapters

Truman State University, Missouri Chapter

California State University, Northridge Chapter

If you are a member of another chapter, or if you know of another chapter's web site, please forward the http address to our e-mail account.

E-Mail: bkn@afn.org