As the semester continues and more students seek ways to get involved, some leadership and service honor societies are expanding their membership.

About 70 percent of Penn State students are involved with on-campus organizations, said Judy Albin, senior associate director of union and student affairs.

"That is phenomenal. Most schools our size don't come near that number," Albin said.

Albin added that she has seen a huge increase in the number of students involved in leadership programs run through her office. She said involvement in the Leadership Development Series, a program to enhance leadership skills, has more than doubled this fall.

The National Resident Hall Honorary Penn State chapter (NRHH) has seen an increase in nominees and inductees this fall, said the group's president, Jonathan Strate (senior-computer science and accounting).

The number of nominations for NRHH this semester was more than that of both semesters last year combined.

"Last fall we had between 20 and 30 nominated, and in the spring we had between 30 and 40 nominated. This fall we had 70," Strate said.

Strate said NRHH can induct more members as long as its membership stays below 120 students, the top 1 percent of students living on campus.

The society inducted 26 members Tuesday night, five more than last fall.

NRHH honors not only residence assistants but any students living on campus that show exceptional leadership skills, said Kristen Wentworth, event planner and advisor for NRHH.

Leslie Shope (senior-history) and president of Mortar Board, an honor society recognizing senior leadership, said its 27-member group has grown by 10 people this year.

Strate said NRHH members are also involved in a wide variety of organizations including area student government, Lion Ambassadors, University Park Allocation Committee, and several community service groups. He believes that growing participation in organizations adds to the growth of honor societies.

"Student involvement across campus is going up," Strate said. "A lot of people are talking about Blue & White Society."

Blue and White Society, the student arm of the alumni association, was named Penn State's most active student organization for the 2002-2003 year.

That year, the 50-person active membership dwindled each month, while this year the active membership is between 300-500.

Aaron Jones (junior-advertising), Blue and White Society's director of membership, said the group can only speculate the reasons for the increase. He believes that many underclassmen are joining.

"Most are people who were involved all in high school and need to do something," Jones said.

Increased student involvement may not be the only reason for an increase in membership in honor societies.

Lynn Hyde (junior-theater), a fall inductee for NRHH, said the new on-line application process for NRHH contributed to the large number of nominations.