MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) is a challenging honor society that since 2021 has been developing leadership skills within students, testing their will and determination to complete the necessary steps required to make it to induction.
With more than 400 members at the College, every student desires to achieve the goals that the NSLS strives to instill in them, but along the way the four tasks — orientation, broadcasts, leadership team goal creation and leadership team goal execution — required to reach the finish line eliminate many from contention. At this year’s inaugural NSLS Induction Ceremony on April 2 in the Walter E. Edge Theater on the Mays Landing campus 22 current students and alumni were recognized for their perseverance in completing these steps.
Student President inductee Chaunice Murphy, a 25-year-old Computer Programming major from Buena, gives credit to the NSLS and its Chapter Advisor Bryant Edmonson for believing in her and giving her the confidence to pursue her goals.
“Joining NSLS definitely changed me. I've always had the ambition, but this group really helped me get focused. I really want thank our advisor Bryant because he truly helped me set real goals, and he didn't just help me set them, but he actually helped me follow through and achieve them,” said Murphy. “He held me accountable, checked in on me, and made sure I didn't just talk about what I wanted, but made sure I actually worked for it.”
Edmonson’s persistence paid off when Murphy sought a new job, but doubted her credentials warranted applying for the position.
“I had a simple job at a pharmacy doing data entry and a few months in I started to get bored. There wasn’t much to do and I really wanted a tech job. A week later an IT position opened up, but I knew I didn’t have the experience or the degree,” admitted Murphy. “I came in and talked to Bryant and he encouraged me to apply, so I did and I got it. Now, after only five months I have been promoted to IT tech support.”
Murphy knows that being a member of the NSLS helped her apply for the job and eventually earn a promotion. She had sage words of advice for her fellow inductees.
“Connect and build with people because you never know who's going encourage you; you never know who's going be there for that next step; you never know who's going give you the right advice and bring you into the right rooms,” said Murphy, is grateful for the friendship of her two closest NSLS counterparts — Student Vice President Sara One and Community Engagement Officer Jaymin Lucas.
“Thank you for holding it down, really, because there were times in my life when I was dealing with grief, when I was busy and when I couldn't always show up the way I wanted to, but you guys stepped in without hesitation. You supported me, you carried things when I couldn't, and you never made me feel like I was falling behind. That kind of support means everything and I'll never forget it,” said Murphy.
One, an Egg Harbor Township resident majoring in Nursing, is thankful to be a part of the NSLS.
“It's an honor, truthfully, because I've always wanted to be a leader and having this here and being able to produce more leaders has been so amazing. I'm so happy that we have NSLS on our campus, I'm so happy to be a part of it and being the first group on campus to be inducted,” said One.
Lucas, a Mays Landing resident majoring in Human Services, echoed the sentiments.
“I'm really happy to be here. There’s been a lot of struggles, especially with time management and trying to keep up with grades, but I'm here to make the best of it. Bryant and NSLS have given me a lot of opportunities to shine, to work on all the skills that I need, and introducing me to the skills that I didn't even realize that I needed. I'm very, very grateful,” said Lucas.
Edmonson — who gave the induction ceremony’s keynote address, and spoke of the hard work and support from mentors, friends and family required to succeed — discussed the benefits that come with being a NSLS inductee.
“The NSLS awards nearly $4,000 every year in grants and scholarships that the inductees are eligible to apply for. Also, being the largest honor society, our inductees, who become lifelong members, are able to network with leadership communities at other schools like Stockton University, Rowan University or Rutgers University,” said Edmonson. “There are a lot of networking and leadership development events where they may get reference letters, and job workshops where they can actually get jobs. It's really beneficial and it helps to create social capital that will follow them when they go out into their careers.”
The NSLS was founded in 2001 by motivational speaker Gary Tuerack. It currently boasts more than 400,000 members nationwide, and was established to help college students identify and achieve their career goals while honing leadership skills. Visit nsls.org for more information.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 52 undergraduate degree programs, and 34 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
