Lutgert News

Lutgert Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma Earns Highest Honors Status

November 23, 2020  / Lutgert News  / Tags: 2020, Beta Gamma Sigma, BGS

Beta Gamma Sigma logo

Lutgert proudly hosts a chapter of the international honor society Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), open by invitation to the top 20% of junior and senior business majors and top 20% of masters’ candidates. In September the chapter learned it had qualified for Highest Honors Status for the 2019-2020 academic year.

“The goal of Beta Gamma Sigma’s ‘Honor Roll Program’ is to recognize chapters who are fully engaging their members and taking full advantage of what BGS has to offer,” explains Dr. Bryan Schaffer, faculty advisor for the Lutgert chapter. “The highest distinction a chapter can earn is “Highest Honors”.

Lutgert’s chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma has earned this recognition for three years in a row. This past year, student officers Cayla Schreier (senior, Management major) and Michael Kastler (senior, Marketing major) have worked tirelessly to promote the chapter and to recruit eligible members. Even during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pair generated enthusiastic participation in a virtual (and international) Beta Gamma Sigma Induction ceremony, held a virtual tour and networking event with NeoGenomics Laboratories, and collaborated with the chapter from UT-Arlington to put together a virtual panel session, “Jumpstarting your Career during the Pandemic”, featuring distinguished business leaders within the local Fort Myers community.

"It's very rewarding for our BGS chapter to be recognized for Highest Honors!” says Kastler, vice president of the Lutgert chapter. “The highlight of my experience with Beta Gamma Sigma was the opportunity to represent Florida Gulf Coast University at last year's Global Leadership Summit. Throughout the event, I was able to network and connect with present and future business leaders. The connections and friendships I have made, which were only made possible because of BGS, have helped me to shape my future career goals. I'm very appreciative of BGS for giving me numerous opportunities to grow as a student and a leader."

Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma is the international business honor society for AACSB-accredited schools, which are the top 5% of business school programs around the world. Inducted as students, BGS members go on to serve in critical leadership roles in corporate, entrepreneurial, government, non-profit, and academic sectors. Members currently reside in all 50 U. S. states and more than 190 countries. Notable members include Nobel Prize winners, Olympians, inventors, CEOs of major global companies and nonprofit organizations, deans of the top business schools, and others who are making the world a better place at all levels of contribution through social enterprise, service, and leadership. Beta Gamma Sigma is a proud member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).