Honor society reaches out to Long Beach community

The satisfaction of helping people is what motivates K.C. Offenberg to stay in the business of community service.

Offenberg is a member of Mortar Board, Cal State Long Beach Cap and Gown Chapter.

Recognized for scholarships, leadership and service to the university community, Mortar Board is a national honor society and a service organization made up of college seniors.

A liberal arts major, Offenberg said that Mortar Board is unique because of the society's focus on helping people.

"Mortar Board is nice because you make good friends, but the focus is on helping people and not to benefit yourself," he said. "I've been in another service community group and it was more of a social club."

Every two years, Mortar Board chooses an organization or community service as its focus. This year's focus is on children, according to Kenna Koon, who is the current president of Mortar Board.

"We've donated toys to the fire department and donated food to the Long Beach Rescue Mission," Koon said.

Mortar Board has also hosted a program in the Orange county Performing arts Center on the importance of including arts in a child's life.

Offenberg encourages people with strong leadership skills to look into working with Mortar Board.

"Obviously we want people with the right academic standards and people who want to go out and help people," he said. "But it's a hands-on society, it's not for people who only want to put it on their resume."