Mortar Board Inc

Mortar Board Inc is a United States-based nonprofit organization that functions as a national honor society recognizing college juniors and seniors for their exemplary achievements in scholarship, leadership, and service. Founded in 1918, Mortar Board promotes personal and professional development among students and fosters a lifelong commitment to leadership and community service.

Overview

Mortar Board's principal mission is to advance the ideals of scholarship, leadership, and service in higher education. The organization provides a platform where top students distinguished by academic achievement are also dedicated to service and leadership. It builds a community where students and faculty collaborate to cultivate skills, support each other’s growth, and enact positive change locally, nationally, and globally.

The society's motto, represented by the Greek letters Pi Sigma Alpha (ΠΣΑ), symbolizes its foundational ideals: scholarship, service, and leadership. The traditional emblem is the mortarboard cap, an ancient symbol of academic honor and distinction. Its official colors are gold, representing achievement, and silver, symbolizing opportunity.

History and Structure

Mortar Board was established on February 15, 1918, in Syracuse, New York, through the merger of four local women’s honorary organizations at different institutions. The society began admitting men in 1975, becoming coeducational. Since its inception, Mortar Board has chartered over 235 collegiate chapters across the United States, with more than 104 chapters currently active. The society is affiliated with the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).

Membership in Mortar Board is a lifelong distinction awarded to students excelling in academics and leadership while demonstrating a strong commitment to service. Members gain opportunities for leadership development, networking, and contributing meaningfully to their campuses and communities.

Purpose and Activities

Mortar Board aims to:

• Promote equal opportunities among all peoples
• Emphasize the advancement of the status of women
• Support the ideals of colleges and universities
• Foster a spirit of scholarship
• Recognize and encourage leadership
• Provide service opportunities
• Enhance self-awareness among members
• Facilitate meaningful exchanges of ideas individually and collectively

The organization carries out its mission through various programs and initiatives that encourage members to become active leaders and role models. Advisors work directly with chapters to guide senior students in embodying the society’s ideals campus-wide.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Mortar Board embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles, striving to diversify its membership and leadership, promote equitable programming, and ensure equal opportunities for all members.

Impact and Legacy

With more than 432,000 lifetime members nationwide, Mortar Board has a broad and enduring impact on academic communities. Its members are known for their dedication to leadership and service, continuing to influence higher education and society positively beyond their collegiate years.

Mortar Board Inc is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and operates as a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization.