Amanda Kachinsky was delighted with an invitation to join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) last spring. After all membership had its rewards, including networking possibilities, career services, and a slew of perks such as discounts on car and health insurance – as well as looking good on a resume.
After joining the society, Kachinsky also learned about a significant cash scholarship opportunity for new members. There was no application fee, so she filed her entry.
She recently heard that she has been selected for a $1,000 NSCS Merit Award. The award is given annually to 52 new members chosen from a pool of hundreds of applicants nationwide. The highly competitive scholarship is awarded to students based on academic achievement and service to the community.
“Amanda’s application truly stood out from the hundreds of others that we sifted through,” says Thomas Locke, a member of the NSCS Scholarship Review Committee.
A junior recently admitted to UConn’s School of Business, Kachinsky wowed judges with her plan of study, her already extensive work experience, and her community service.
Kachinsky is currently studying business management with a concentration in international business and a minor in psychology. After graduation she plans to earn an MBA.
This past summer Kachinsky interned as a procurement coordinator in Pfizer’s purchasing department. She was one of 500 interns chosen out of more than 6,000 applicants.
“The great thing about the Pfizer internship is that they put you in a real working environment,” says Kachinsky. “You’re put into a department and you do the same work as everyone else around you. It’s not like I was filing – I must have gone over at least 1,000 contracts, making sure everything was in order.”
Despite this heavy course- and work-load, Kachinsky also finds time in her schedule to participate in two community service programs: Mansfield Middle School Tutoring, helping tutor seventh-graders in math, science, English, and Latin; and America Reads Preschool, visiting area preschools and reading to children to help them pick up vocabulary, spelling, and reading skills.
“These kids come from underprivileged homes where most of their parents never graduated high school, let alone college,” says Kachinsky about the children she helps to tutor.
“It’s heartbreaking when they sell themselves short. They have the potential to do well and succeed, and it’s important that they know they can succeed. I’m hoping to get them in the mindset that makes them excited about graduating [high school] and going on to college.”
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is a national honor society recognizing outstanding academic achievement among first- and second-year college students. NSCS aims to honor, inspire, and engage its members, and offers benefits including scholarships, leadership development, travel opportunities, and career resources.
New members were officially inducted into the society on Nov. 7 at a ceremony held on the Storrs campus.