1933
The first women were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma. Until then, Gamma Epsilon Pi had served as the scholastic honor society for women. Women who were members of Gamma Epsilon Pi prior to 1933 were retroactively admitted into Beta Gamma Sigma in 1933.
The New York City Alumni Chapter, the Society’s oldest and largest, was formed.
1963
Beta Gamma Sigma celebrated its 50th anniversary. Dean Fayette Elwell, the Society’s first president, wrote The First 50 Years of Beta Gamma Sigma. In the 50th anniversary year there were 102 chapters and approximately 43,000 members.
The National Honoree Award – now known as the International Honoree Award – was established.
1969
The Society established the Directors’ Table, which is composed of BGS members who are also chairmen, presidents, CEOs and COOs of Fortune 1000 firms or their equivalents.
1975
Beta Gamma Sigma authorized a new organizational structure whereby the Board of Governors was created as the Society’s governing body.
1985
The first Outstanding Chapter Awards were presented. Beginning in 1995, scholarships were awarded to student members from the year’s Outstanding Chapters. In 1997, the Society began honoring Outstanding Chapters at different levels: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honorable Mention.
1986
The first Medallion for Entrepreneurship was awarded outstanding individuals who combine innovative business achievement with service to humanity.
1988
The Society celebrated its 75th anniversary. The Board of Governors formulated a plan to increase the organization’s effectiveness and to maintain and promote the principles of Beta Gamma Sigma. As part of the 75th anniversary celebration, the Society launched the Scholarship Program to reward some of its most outstanding student members.
1989
The first chapter outside the U.S. was installed at the University of Calgary.
1991
Utilizing a grant from the Lilly Endowment, the Board of Governors developed the Society’s long-range plan.
Beta Gamma Sigma and Delta Mu Delta established the Federation of Business Honor Societies to coordinate honor society recognition in the field of business.
1994
Beta Gamma Sigma established Sigma Beta Delta, the honor society for non-accredited business programs, to ensure that honor society recognition was available to all deserving students of business.
1998
The Board of Governors met to update the Society’s long-range plan. The Board decided that enhancing the value of Beta Gamma Sigma for student and alumni members in their professional lives should be one of the Society’s main priorities. Focusing on the same goal, a new mission statement and set of objectives were also approved. The Los Angeles Area and Chicagoland alumni chapters were established. The Board of Governors approved the establishment of three alumni chapters annually to form the Alumni Network.
The Business Achievement Awards were presented for the first time recognizing significant achievement in business through the traditional corporate route.
2000
The Society established its first collegiate chapter outside North America at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Later that year, a chapter was established at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
The Society debuted the BGS On-line Community, a free on-line service for members.
2001
The first Student Leadership Forum was held to give outstanding student leaders a chance to focus on their career and personal goals.
2003
Beta Gamma Sigma marked its 90th anniversary in 2003. Collegiate and alumni chapters participated in the anniversary by holding special events.
The Society inducted its 500,000th member - a junior from Concordia University.
BGS CareerCentral debuted. This service, the Society's on-line job board, connects "the best in business" with those companies that wish to hire them.
