Florida Southern College’s Omicron Delta Kappa circle has been selected as one of the 25 Circles of Distinction nationwide.

FSC’s circle was founded in 1951 and has been named a circle of distinction numerous times over the years. “It’s a very active circle,” said Dr. Larry Burke, the circle’s faculty secretary. “Sometimes you become a member of an honor society and you receive the honor and that’s the end of your involvement. That’s not so in this case. These kids are leaders, and that’s why we’re a circle of distinction.”

Among the FSC group’s biggest projects of the fall semester is a leadership symposium for high school students that the circle hosts in conjunction with the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association. This year, the half-day event will be Nov. 7 on campus. The circle also runs a toy drive at Christmastime for the Florida Baptist Children’s Home and attends a collegiate leadership conference in the spring.

In addition, FSC senior Christina Martin was selected as ODK’s 2008 National Leader of the Year. She serves as ODK’s regional director for Region 1 and as a student-at-large member of the ODK national board of directors.

ODK is a national leadership honor society that recognizes student achievement in at least one of five key areas: scholarship; athletics; campus/community service, social/religious activities, and campus government; journalism, speech, and mass media; and creative and performing arts. The society has more than 300 circles on college campuses around the country.

Each year ODK recognizes circles that meet all the “Circle Standards” – including nominating a Leader of the Year and attending the ODK National Leadership Summit and Convention or a regional conference -- with a Circle of Distinction Award.