UD Chapter of NSLS Honored with Chapter of the Year After a Focus on Passion Projects

DUBUQUE, Iowa - When Hannah Bauch (C'25) began her term as president of the University of Dubuque Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), she encouraged student leaders to focus on purposeful, member-driven initiatives that she considered the chapter's passion projects. Efforts related to recycling, mentorship, and community service abounded during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Those initiatives were recently recognized as the UD Chapter of NSLS received Chapter of the Year by the national NSLS organization during the Spring 2025 Scholarships and Awards session. The prestigious award is presented to a chapter nationwide that continuously demonstrates excellent leadership for its members, campus, and community. The honor comes one year after the UD Chapter of NSLS was one of five standout chapters to earn the Distinguished Chapter Award.

"I am so proud of the leadership of this organization. We are still a new chapter, having organized in the fall of 2020. To achieve this distinction in such a short time, and compounded by the isolation of the pandemic during our founding, is incredible," said Michelle Grace, EdD, advisor of the UD Chapter of NSLS and associate professor of communication. "When we received the Distinguished Chapter Award in 2024, I was honored. But the student leaders only saw that as a stepping stone to this top achievement as Chapter of the Year... I'm thrilled to be associated with this organization that is committed to student success."

NSLS boasts over 800 chapters as the largest and only accredited leadership honor society in the US. The UD Chapter of NSLS has 265 alumni members and 300 current student members. Students are selected based on exemplary academic achievement and leadership potential.

Bauch, a digital art and design major from Mount Carroll, Illinois, who graduated April 2025, joined the UD Chapter of NSLS as a sophomore to grow as a leader. She took on two leadership roles: social media coordinator in the 2023-2024 academic year and president in 2024-2025.

"NSLS taught me the value of goal setting, clear communication, and the power of teamwork in leadership," Bauch said. "As an inductee, I experienced firsthand what it meant to set a personal goal - and not only achieve it, but surpass it. I developed skills in delegation, learning how to assign tasks effectively while ensuring strong follow-through through clear and purposeful communication. Collaborating with my executive board gave me a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. I was fortunate to work alongside driven, like-minded individuals who continually held themselves - and each other - accountable."

Multiple initiatives throughout the 2024-2025 academic year exemplified leadership within the UD Chapter of NSLS. One project Bauch shared she cared deeply about was the introduction of recycling to the upperclass student residence halls on campus through a partnership with UD's sustainability program.

"I believe it's essential to foster a culture where sustainability is a priority and to ensure students have the resources to make environmentally conscious choices," Bauch said.

Another project was the creation of a mentorship program led by Allie Riches, a senior criminal justice major from Monticello, Iowa, who was the chapter's mentorship coordinator.

"Her goal was to create a space where members could guide and support their peers through various aspects of college life," Bauch said. "This initiative not only strengthened our chapter's presence on campus but also helped cultivate a greater sense of belonging among members."

The UD Chapter of NSLS also led a service project in which the campus community was invited to help create tie blankets that were donated to the UnityPoint Health-Wendt Regional Cancer Center. Bauch appreciated how the activity brought people together and will become a recurring project.

Another community service project is on the horizon. Executive board members of the UD Chapter of NSLS traveled to East Troy, Wisconsin, to learn how to weave mats out of plastic bags. During the 2025-2026 academic year, chapter members plan to collect plastic bags and weave them into waterproof mats to be donated to local organizations that work with the unhoused. The project will also provide an opportunity to collaborate with other student organizations given its large scope.

Leadership initiatives are one component of the UD Chapter of NSLS. Upon induction into the chapter, student leaders obtain a certificate in Foundation of Leadership and have opportunities for further certifications. They also are able to access the national chapter's board, letters of recommendation, success coaching, and other networking and leadership opportunities.

"As we continue to grow and develop as a chapter, we want to have more events for the inducted members to learn and practice leadership and develop skills that will be helpful in the workplace," Grace said.