ODK Taps Richmond Student National Leader of the Year
May 31, 2005
Recent University of Richmond graduate Brandon L. Boxler has been named National Leader of the Year by Omicron Delta Kappa.
ODK, the national leadership honor society for college students, recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership and exemplary character. ODK has 285 circles divided into 16 provinces nationwide. Boxler, of Durham, N.C., also won circle and province leader-of-the-year awards.
Boxler graduated with a 3.65 grade point average and magna cum laude honors while double majoring in political science and philosophy. He is a member of the political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, and philosophy honor society, Phi Sigma Tau. He was named to the Mortar Board National College Honor Society in 2004 and the National Dean’s List, 2003-05.
This past academic year, he was vice president of the Richmond Circle of ODK and president of Phi Delta Theta social fraternity. He co-chaired “Build It,” the largest community service initiative in the university’s history, managing a $100,000 budget and overseeing a Habitat for Humanity blitz-style house build and the renovation of three local public schools.
As vice president of the Inter-Fraternity Council executive board, he also organized another blitz-style house build two years ago, while raising more than $65,000, coordinating
1,000 volunteers and helping renovate two local elementary schools. He also organized a Halloween carnival that raised $8,000 for Habitat for Humanity. He was named Greek Officer of the Year and Most Outstanding Philanthropic Contributor of the Year in 2003.
As a Bonner Scholar for four years, he organized and advised a Students Against Violence Everywhere chapter in a Richmond elementary school. Bonner Scholars receive partial-tuition scholarships based on merit and community service.
He also worked as a student admissions representative and was senior associate chairman for New Student Orientation.
Boxler completed internships for the Richmond Legal Aid and Justice Center, Rep. Mary Bono (R-Cal.), and the Australian Parliament. He served as Congresswoman Bono’s interim press secretary and wrote a speech she delivered on the House floor.
In 2004, Boxler received the Golden Key National Honour Society award for “outstanding character, service and leadership” and the Richmond College McAdams Prize for “stimulating the cooperative spirit between the student body and administration.”
He also received Richmond College’s Most Significant Contributor Award for the class of 2005, the Kessler scholarship for “the most outstanding student leader” and the E. Bruce Heilman Leadership Award for “the graduating senior who had demonstrated outstanding character and leadership.”
ODK was founded Dec. 3, 1914, at Washington and Lee University by 15 students and faculty leaders. It was the first college honor society of a national scope to give recognition for meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities.