UHV honors society donation may be first of its kind to Victoria County United Way
Members of the University of Houston-Victoria chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society honor and service organization recently made what may be the first donation to the Victoria County United Way by a student organization.
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| Gamma Beta Phi Society President John White shakes hands with Victoria County United Way Executive Director Janet Lyon. The UHV chapter of Gamma Beta Phi made what might be the first donation by a student organization to the local United Way. |
“I think this is a first, and we are very encouraged by the student involvement,” said Janet Lyon, executive director of United Way, which supports 21 Victoria charities.
Students in Victoria, Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch pitched in to contribute $400 to the organization in increments ranging from $10 to $50, said member Kristen Lindley, who chaired the donation project.
“Since the United Way supports so many worthy causes, donating to it lets our gift have the broadest possible benefit,” she said.
Students donated money in October and November.
“In order to stay in Gamma Beta Phi, you have to make a commitment back to the community in the form of service,” President John White said.
Members support charities in the community in different ways throughout the school year. The United Way donation drive is one such project.
Gamma Beta Phi plans to hold a similar drive in the spring, Lindley said.
The United Way has been inspired by the Gamma Beta Phi members to try to involve more students in supporting the charitable organization.
“We’re interested in working with all levels of education,” Lyon said.
To be eligible for Gamma Beta Phi, students must be enrolled in a UHV degree program, have completed at least 12 credit hours of course work with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, and be committed to excellence in education, good character and service. Membership is by invitation only. About 100 students belong to the UHV chapter of the organization.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
