The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honor society for high-achieving first- and second-year college students at SLU and more than 270 other colleges across the US.  Through NSCS you can apply for $250,000 in scholarships, take on a leadership role with our campus chapter, and take part in on-campus service and social events. If you have a GPA of 3.4 or higher, you are eligible to join NSCS.

For more information, please contact Amanda Chamberland  at achamb10@slu.edu or 314.977.8992. You can also visit their facebook page to learn about SLU’s Chapter of NSCS.

If you are looking for awesome food and new cultural experiences you should attend the International Banquet this Saturday, Feb. 4th.

When you go, you will get to try dishes from four different countries (Ethiopia, Spain, India, and China) and you will be entertained by some of the awesome groups on campus; Bare Naked Statues, League of Laughter, Astha, just to name a few.

Dinner starts at 6:00p.m. and the show at 7:00p.m in the Wool Ballrooms of the BSC. The VIP cost is $12 and the regular cost is $10. To get your tickets email the International Student Federation at isf@slu.edu.

International Banquet
Saturday, Feb. 4th; 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.
Wool Ballrooms; BSC
VIP: $12, Regular: $10

SLU Karate Club is hosting classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Club President Dan McFarlane has more:

SLU Karate has been active on campus for over 20 years and continues a tradition of Cheezic Tang Soo Do Karate here at SLU. Spring classes have begun but we are gladly accepting new students until Feb. 13. Class runs 7:30-9:00pm on Mondays and Thursdays in multipurpose room 1 of the Simon Rec. We operate like a neighbor hood school with 2 Master Belts as instructors, grading opportunities each semester and chances to participate in demonstrations and workshops. No prior martial arts experience is necessary to join! It is a great workout that also gives you confidence, self  discipline, and constant challenges you to push yourself both physically and mentally. We hope to see you in class soon!

The class are free up until February 13, when the club expects $95 dues for new students.

January just ended, but does that mean you should forget about all of those goals you had for the New Year? No way!

We found a few people that had some awesome goals for the new semester. Watch this video to see what they’re up to and then tell us about your goals for the new semester. Just post a video (an awesome PG-rated video) to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SLUConnection.

There’s a blood drive tomorrow, Wednesday, February from 12 – 7 PM in the St. Louis Room, BSC. To sign up, visit redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code “SLU”. If you have any questions about donating, call (866) 236-3276. One person donating blood can save three people’s lives!

But wait, there’s more! AED and Be The Match will also be hosting a Bone Marrow Registry during the blood drive. It only takes a cheek swab to join the marrow registry and no appointment is necessary.

Nominations for this semester’s last lecturer will be accepted through February 8th, 2012. To nominate somebody, visit http://www.slu.edu/lastlecture.xml or attach the nomination form and send via email to lastlect@slu.edu.

The first Spring Community Service Fair will take place on the Medical Campus this Wednesday, February 1, from 2 PM – 4 PM in the Allied Health Building’s Multipurpose Room.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend the fair to meet with local community agencies that will be on hand to promote service opportunities. Agencies will also be available to discuss what type of work they perform in the community, as well as to network about different service-learning and professional development opportunities that may be of interest to you.

This is a great opportunity for SLU students to engage community organizations; whether you are seeking service opportunities that overlap with either your personal or professional interests, or both, we encourage you to attend!

On February 1st, from 3 – 5PM, Kellie Willis from the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers will be in the Campus Ministry Center on SLU’s campus to talk with students who are interested in volunteering for a year of service after they graduate from SLU. The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers program offers rewarding opportunities for recent college graduates to grow spiritually while living in community and working among the poor.

SAB and Billiken Dining are holding a “Wing Fling” – a hot wing-eating contest – this Tuesday, January 31 from 7 – 9PM. The contest takes place in the Fusz dining hall and costs $5 to enter.

If you aren’t competitive, don’t fret. There will be plenty of chicken for those not entering the contest too.

Like community service? Enjoy meeting new people? Then consider checking out APO, the nation’s largest co-ed service fraternity.  Rush events are this week:

Monday, Jan. 30th 7-9 pm, BSC 251 – Making cards for patients at MO Baptist Hospital

Tuesday, Jan. 31st, 7:30-8:30 pm, DuBourg 157 – Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, Feb. 1st, 6:00 pm – Meet outside Salsaritas to go to the Billiken basketball game

Thursday, Feb. 2nd, 7:00-8:00 pm BSC 251 – Go Fish Tournament

Friday, Feb. 3rd, 6:00 pm – Join APO for dinner at Picklemans

Rush events are not mandatory but a great way to learn more about the organization. For more info, go to APO’s website.

Sigma Kappa (ΣΚ) is informally recruiting next week, from January 30 – February 2. Julia Hummel has more:

On Monday, come enjoy some ice cream at Sigma SKoop and learn what Sigma Kappa is all about! [BSC St. Louis Room - 7PM]

On Tuesday, share in our philanthropy as we decorate Cupcakes for a Cause and deliver them to Jesuit Hall! [Reinert Banquet Hall, 7PM]

On Wednesday, come see Sigmas in Stars Hollow as we watch an episode of Gilmore Girls and play some fun trivia! [Griesedieck Blue Room, 7PM]

On Thursday, we are hosting an invitation-only Sigma Spaghetti dinner where women who have come to our events can come and see more of our special sisterhood. [DuBourg Refractory Room 157, 7PM]

For more information, email Continuous Membership Chair Julia Hummel (jhummel5@slu.edu) or Katie Carpenter (mcarpen5@slu.edu)

Campus Ministry has this awesome thing called Christian Life Communities. Check it out:

Are you thirsting for a deeper relationship with God?  Join a CLC.  CLCs are more than just another meeting to attend.  Being part of a Christian Life Community is a way of life!

Praying with the tools of Ignatian Spiritulaity, Christian Life Communities are small groups that meet weekly to seek and better understand God’s activity in their lives.

For more information about Christian Life Communities at SLU, attend an Information and Discernment Session.

The information sessions are listed below.

Sunday, Jan. 29 @ 10pm in Our Lady’s Chapel (located beneath College Church);

Monday, Jan. 30 @ 6pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Tuesday, Jan. 31 @ 7pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Wednesday, Feb. 1 @ 12pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Thursday, Feb. 2 @ 12pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Friday, Feb. 3 @ 3pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Sunday, Feb. 5 @ 10pm in Our Lady’s Chapel (located beneath College Church)

For more information, email clc@slu.edu.

Photo by Steve Day. Licensed by Creative Commons.

Here’s something you might not have known about Saint Louis University. Our college-in-prison program has been nominated for Monsanto’s “Grow St. Louis” contest. This could mean that our program could win an award of up to $15,000!

This money would go towards buying books for students, compensating faculty, bring in speakers to the faculty, and support other administrative aspects of the program.

It’s  up to you to make it happen: vote here before Sunday, Jan. 29th!

Support the SLU Prison Program
Before Sun. 29th
here
free

Spirit and History: Paintings by Father James Hasse and Judge Nathan B. Young will open with a 6 p.m. reception on Friday, January 27.

Father James Hasse spent over 40 years of his ministry in African-American parishes throughout the Midwest. He was deeply influenced by the community he served, and his work reflects Biblical themes, as related to the strife of the African-American woman.

Judge Nathan B. Young practiced law for nearly 40 years in St. Louis, co-founded the St. Louis American newspaper; and became the first African-American municipal judge in the city.  Young created paintings that chronicled the changes and development of the American experience for for change and development.

Spirit and History exhibit
opening reception Friday, January 27  6PM
SLUMA
free

Tonight, January 26th, Students United for Africa presents “SUFApalooza,” a cultural affair in the BSC Wool Ballrooms from 6:30PM – 9PM. All proceeds tonight will go to SUFA’s school and library project in Ghana!

Bring $10 for delicious food and a great show. Food from Meskerem (Etheopian), Ranoush (Syrian) and The King and I (Thai) will be served starting at 6:30PM. Performances will take place from 7PM – 9PM including SLU student groups and professional African Dancers from African Musical Arts, Inc!

T-shirts and authentic Ghanain bracelets will be for sale! There will be a 50/50 raffle drawn at the end of the night!

SUFApalooza
Thurs. Jan. 26th 6:30 PM
BSC Wool Ballrooms
$10

Questions from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings, Twilight to True Blood, and any witch, wizard, or warlock in between!

Test your knowledge of these mythical things and have a magical time this Thursday, Jan 26th. Join Billikens After Dark with your team of four at the Billiken Club from 9:15p.m. until 10:15p.m.

Billiken Series of Pop Culture- Do You Believe in Magic?
Thursday, Jan. 26th: 9:15p.m.-10:15p.m.
Billiken Club (Salsarita’s)
free

Praying with Scripture, or Lectio Divina (sacred reading), is an ancient approach to reading the Bible that invites us to meditate upon a selected passage and pay attention to the personal way that God speaks to each of us.

Campus Ministry will be hosting Lectio Divina bible studies every Wednesday in the Fusz Hall Campus Ministry Office, starting tomorrow, January 25th. The studies go from 8:30PM to 9:15PM. For more information, contact Rachel Kondro, Fusz Hall Campus Minister, at rkondro@slu.edu or  977-1533.

Praying With Scripture
Wednesdays 8:30PM
Fusz Hall
free

Photo by Wonderlane. Licensed by Creative Commons.

Check out what the biggest service fraternity on campus is up to. Go to one of the upcoming information meetings about Alpha Phi Omega (APO). Here’s what they have to say about themselves:

Enjoy meeting new people? Like community service? Then consider joining Alpha Phi Omega, the nation’s largest co-ed service fraternity! The SLU chapter has over 400 activities and has social events and service opportunities for everyone.

The meetings will be in Fitzgerald Hall room 222 on these dates:

• Tues., Jan 24th: 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
• Wed., Jan 25th: 8:00p.m.-9:00p.m.
• Thurs., Jan 26th: 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.

Alpha Phi Omega Info Session
Jan, 24th, 25th ,26th (7:00-8:00, 8:00.-9:00, 7:00-8:00)
Fitzgerald Hall, 222
free

The Billiken Club is hosting an open mic night show this Friday on January 27 from 7PM to 10PM! Quoth the Billiken Club:

–This event is for SLU student, faculty, and staff performances only. However, all are welcome to come and enjoy the performances.

–All types of performances welcomed, including (but not limited to) music, comedy, spoken word, acrobatics, dance, dog and pony tricks, etc.

–Sound equipment will be limited, so please, no full bands. Acoustic performances recommended.

–Time slots for the performances will be approximately 10 minutes long, including any necessary set-up.

If you wanna get your mic on, sign up here ASAP!

Billiken Club Open Mic Night
Friday Jan. 27 7PM-10PM
The Billiken Club, BSC
free