For the last year, I have had the honor of serving as one of the 36 official student ambassadors of the University of Georgia. This group is called the Arch Society and has been sponsored by the university’s Vice President of Student Affairs since it was formed in 1991.
I joined the Arch Society because I resonated with the organization’s values of humble service, inclusivity, and pride in our university community. Arch Society members give tours of campus to visitors, serve at receptions and ceremonies, and volunteer at special events with donors, alumni, and interest groups.
Servant leadership is at the core of what we do, and in addition to our usual assignments, we organize fundraisers for Athens-area charities and support the university’s major student giving initiatives.
We serve on every assignment wearing our signature uniform: a black blazer to represent the iconic black Arch on UGA’s historic North Campus.
Joining the Arch Society is a rigorous process – first, a written application, a mandatory informational session, and a group interview. If selected to move on to the second round, candidates have a ten-on-one interview with outgoing Arch Society members, university administrators (including the Vice President of Student Affairs), and Arch Society alumni.
Membership in the Arch Society has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my time in college. I’ve become very close with my fellow members of the 31st class, and I’ve had the opportunity to serve at some of the university’s highest-profile events. I’ve served in the President’s box at the stadium, at the annual meeting of the UGA Foundation Board of Trustees, and the President’s Club Reception for UGA’s most generous donors.
My favorite assignments, however, are campus tours. Most often, the groups that come for tours are students from underserved schools. Many of them will be first-generation college students, and I have the unique opportunity on my tours to share my experiences with higher education and provide insight for their own journeys.
I love connecting with each student I meet on tours and asking about their individual aspirations and how they connect to UGA. I’ve learned a great deal from the students, and knowing that I’ve played a part in helping them achieve their future goals means the world to me.
Lindsay Tuck Morris 