Today@Sam Article

SHSU's Orange Keys Prepare for Raven's Call

April 5, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins

Sam Houston State University’s 18 Orange Keys members strive to serve as official hosts and ambassadors for formal functions at the university while developing invaluable professionalism for their post-collegiate aspirations.

“The main job of the program is to be the face of the students,” said current Orange Keys president Kaylee Coyne. “It works to give members great connections within the university, the Texas State University System and our prestigious alumni base. It develops the ability to build professionalism and interact with individuals of any status.”

Coyne, a junior studying elementary education, is nearing the end of her presidential term, which lasts one academic year. She will also conclude her stint with the program at that time. In recent years, a two-year membership limit was established in order to give more students an opportunity to benefit from the program.

Coyne and her fellow 17 members are currently gearing up to host one of the program's main events: the annual Raven’s Call ceremony. This sacred process commemorates the lives of students, faculty, staff and alumni who have passed away between March 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, 2024. The tradition of honoring those gone but not forgotten Bearkats will commence April 12 at noon beneath the Ron and Ruth Blatchley Bell Tower. Family members of the departed have been invited to attend.

“Being able to talk to those families is something we love doing and one of my favorite parts of the process,” said Coyne, who participated in the ceremony last year. “It’s such an important event and I’m excited to be part of it again.”

Prior to the ceremony, a reception will be held for the family members in the Peabody Memorial Library. SHSU President Alisa White will speak during the event and Orange Key members will place a flower representing each deceased Bearkat honored on a memorial monument.

While the Orange Keys serve as ambassadors for numerous SHSU functions throughout the year, such as banquets, luncheons, meetings, speaker events and career fairs, the Raven’s Call ceremony is one of two major events they host annually. The other is Keys of Excellence, an award ceremony in which the program's members recognize and honor faculty and staff members who have positively impacted their lives. Each of the 18 members will invite and nominate one faculty or staff member to the ceremony, which features six awards.

In order to become a member of the Orange Keys, SHSU students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and be a part of at least two campus organizations. From there, applicants may be invited to participate in interviews with the dean of students’ office, the president’s office and current Orange Keys members.

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