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ABOUT THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS

WHO WE ARE

THE NATION'S LARGEST LEADERSHIP HONOR SOCIETY

The NSLS is an organization that provides a life-changing leadership program that helps students achieve personal growth, career success, and empowers them to have a positive impact in their community.

With 861 chapters, the NSLS currently has 2,124,394 members nationwide.

OUR PURPOSE


Building Leaders Who Make a Better World


We are the dream supporters. We build leaders, support people in achieving their goals, and improve the world in the process. We get people to ask the all-important question, "What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?" Then, we give students the tools they need to drive their future forward, establish themselves as leaders among their peers, and build real-world skills that will help them excel in the workplace.


WHAT WE BELIEVE

Learning is a life-long journey.
Gaining new skills is imperative for personal and professional growth.

Everyone has leadership potential.
We provide the tools and resources students need to identify and achieve their goals.

We achieve more together than we do alone.
With proper support and dedicated action, we can do extraordinary things.

Our Founder Story

History

NSLS student smiling at an event

INSPIRING STUDENTS FROM THE VERY START

Before there was the NSLS, founder Gary Tuerack traveled to campuses throughout the country giving presentations on leadership development. Wanting to have a more long-term impact than his individual speeches, he sought to truly affect students’ lives in a more powerful and lasting way. He teamed up with supporting colleges, leading education organizations, and top speakers to develop a program that gives students continual motivation, support, and leadership training in a way that is cost-effective for schools and actionable for students who want to become better leaders.

NSLS member smiling for a photo

THE FIRST LIVE SPEAKER BROADCAST ARRIVES

In September 2001, thousands of students gathered inside college auditoriums to watch the first live broadcast from the NSLS featuring award-winning speakers from around the country. With just 131 members at 16 campuses, the benefits available to students and schools began to speak for themselves. Through word-of-mouth and a growing network, the NSLS became known as the honor society to join if you truly wanted to make a difference and propel your future.



NSLS crowd holding up number one signs at a speaking event

REACHING MORE STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION

More than 20 years later, the NSLS has reached over two million student members in all 50 states and awards scholarships each year to help fund their dreams. The organization has grown significantly, adding more curriculum, digital programming options, and events to bring students together in a community of success-oriented peers.

NSLS students posing for a photo in front of an NSLS banner

STILL FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE WORLD

The NSLS exists for the sole purpose of creating lasting positive change. Beginning with only a handful of chapters, the NSLS now reaches over a million students at campuses across the nation. Through program benefits, scholarships and awards, accreditation (through NCCRS and ACE), and more, the NSLS encourages community action, volunteerism, personal growth, and strong leadership from its members at over 800 campuses.

Leadership

MEET OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

The NSLS is guided by a committed group of national office team members, an advisory board of leading voices in education, and a team of upper-level college administrators from across the country.

 


Meet Our Team

PARTICIPATING COLLEGES

Over 800 colleges have a chapter of our leadership honor society.