VALDOSTA — International business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) named Valdosta State University BGS a Premier Chapter for achieving an 85 percent acceptance rate among students who qualify for membership. The recognition qualifies the chapter to award a $1,000 scholarship and pre-qualifies it for consideration as an Outstanding Chapter, the honor society’s highest designation.

Dr. Bruce Caster, professor of Accounting and Finance, said the Premier Chapter classification reflects VSU business students’ achievements as well as their ambition to gain lifelong membership in an organization dedicated to furthering the world’s best business students. BGS serves business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the foremost accrediting agency for schools of business. Valdosta State is among 570 schools throughout the world that qualify for BGS chapter membership.

“Membership is offered to the top 10 percent of the senior class and top 7 percent of juniors. Our acceptance rate indicates a high level of awareness among our students about the importance of being a part of BGS,” said Caster, who has served as chapter adviser for the past four years. “Our students are being identified as the top business students worldwide. It is such an honor and membership significantly impacts their visibility in the business world.”

Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma’s mission is to promote and honor academic achievement in business and foster personal and professional excellence among its members. Valdosta State established a chapter in 1982.