Letter to Applicants
Mortar Board is the University of Nebraska’s only national senior honor society. It is an association of collegians selected for distinguished ability in scholarship, leadership, and service. Mortar Board was founded on February 15th, 1918, at Syracuse University and has since grown to include over 200 chartered chapters and 200,000 alumni. While it is an honor to be selected for membership in Mortar Board, it is the continued commitment to serve that differentiates Mortar Board from the other honorary societies. During the past year, Mortar Board has hosted numerous activities including honoring individuals who have made a difference in our lives through our “People Who Inspire” banquet and recognizing Nebraska’s most outstanding educators through our “Professor of the Month” award program. Mortar Board also participates in the RSO competition during homecoming week and members volunteer weekly at Clinton Elementary as a part of the national "Reading Is Leading" philanthropy. As a member of Mortar Board, you will take part in a variety of activities like this with an outstanding group of individuals.
The following qualifications are required to apply:
- Junior or Senior standing with 53 or more credit hours
- 3.3 Grade Point Average
- Must be a student at least one year following initiation in the spring of 2024
We are now in the process of selecting members for 2024. To apply, please complete the following online application. The Mortar Board application has multiple parts, so please follow these directions in order to complete your application:
- Fill out your "Basic Information" on the online form.
- Have your reference email your recommendation letter to unl.mortarboard.selections2024@gmail.com and they will receive a confirmation email.
- Uploaded your resume, three essays, description of creative project, and Spring 2024 schedule to the online form.
- Email your confidential preference form to studentaffairs@unl.edu (only applicable to those applying to multiple honor societies).
- Physically turn in your creative project at the union on January 26, 2024 from 8am-4pm.
Essay Questions: (Limit: one page each, double-spaced, 11 pt. Times New Roman font)
- Tell us about someone or something that inspires you.
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Tell us about something you've changed your mind about since beginning college.
- Tell us one song we should listen to while reading your application and explain why this song is meaningful to you.
- Are there any extenuating circumstances or aspects of your identity that were not covered in the application? (Optional- Leaving this portion blank will not negatively affect your application)
Creative Project:
Create a creative project that represents who you are. In addition, upload a one page PDF or Word document describing why the project represents you. Please keep the project smaller than a piece of carry-on luggage and ensure that the project can be viewed in less than one minute. The project may be dropped off at the Chimney Rock Room (in the Union) on January 26th, 2024 from 8 am - 4 pm.
These steps are described in further depth in the online form below. You will need to be logged in to unl.edu with your Canvas information to proceed to the application. Ensure that all pieces are completed and submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024.
Apply to Mortar Board
If you have any questions about Mortar Board or the application process, please contact our selections chairs, Aaryan Naik, Summer Liu, Madison Stracke, Cordell Vrbka, and Shivani Mudhelli at the following email: unl.mortarboard.selections2024@gmail.com.