ARE YOU CONFUSED BY ALL OF NGCSU'S END-OF-THE-YEAR BANQUETS AND CEREMONIES?  THEN YOU GOT HERE JUST IN TIME!!!

Here are some frequently asked questions.

Q#1. What are all of these "honors banquets" all about?

A.  Currently, there are two major banquets whose purpose is to honor NGCSU's most accomplished students.  The two banquets are:

     » The Honor Societies' Initiation Banquet.  Here are some things that you should know about the Honor Societies' Initiation Banquet:  (1) This banquet is hosted by the Council of Honor Societies.  (2) This banquet is held on the night of Honors Day.  (3) During this banquet, many of NGCSU's 21 honor societies initiate their new members.  Other honor societies recognize, but do not actually initiate, their new members.

    » The Honors Banquet, also known as the Student Honors Banquet.  Here are some things that you should know about the Honors Banquet:  (1) This banquet is hosted by the university Student Honors Committee.  (2) This banquet is held about a week before the end of April.  (3) During this banquet, NGCSU's academic departments present awards to their best students--usually, for any department, the best student(s) among those who are about to graduate.  An example is the "Outstanding Physics Graduate Award."  (4) Also during this banquet, university-wide awards are presented (such as the Paul M. Hutcheson Outstanding Student Awards).

Q#2. What about the "Honors Program Banquet"?

A.  Yes, that's another banquet with the word "Honors" in it!  This banquet is held in both the fall and spring semesters, and is an event for students enrolled in NGCSU's Honors Program (the program that admits outstanding students who attend many classes designed especially for their advanced interests and capabilities).  For more information about the banquets, refer to the Honors Program's Activities page.

Q#3. Is it possible that an honor-society initiate may be participating in two separate ceremonies?

A.  Yes, that's possible.  Some of our honor societies have their own separate initiation ceremonies.  However, they may also recognize their initiates at the Honor Societies' Initiation Banquet.  That's why an initiate and his or her parents may be given two different times, and possibly two different dates, for occasions when the initiate will be recognized.  Several of the honor societies hold their initiation ceremonies on Honors Day in the hour or two just before the Honor Societies' Initiation Banquet begins.  That way, the honor society carries out its distinctive initiation ritual, and still joins the rest of the university at dinner and in the recognition of all of the university's honor-society initiates.  Other honor societies may have their initiation ceremonies on a day other than Honors Day.

Q#4.  Why do the banquet organizers (such as Council of Honor Societies executive director Barry Friedman) enforce deadlines for reservations so inflexibly?  And why is it difficult for somebody who reserves a dinner but doesn't actually attend the banquet to obtain a refund?

A.  The Dining Hall staff needs to order food in advance.  Therefore, a banquet organizer is required to provide a count several days before the banquet.  The banquet organizer is then responsible for providing payment for every one of those dinners.  This is why refunds are not provided; the dinner has to be paid for.  Late reservations usually cannot be accommodated because of the catering staff's need to order the food in advance.  Also, late reservations greatly complicate the process of banquet organization; a fluctuating count in the days and hours just before the banquet confound both the organizer and the Dining Hall staff.

Do you have other questions?  Just contact Dr. Barry D. Friedman, and he'll try to answer all of your questions.

Return to the home page of the Council of Honor Societies . . .

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5/14/02; revised 4/26/06