As an attendee, you will hear from a variety of accomplished speakers, get opportunities to network with fellow leaders, and participate in leadership and team-building activities. Each Chapter receives two complimentary conference registrations. Conference registration includes the hotel stay and all meals while at the conference. The annual conference provides a unique opportunity to interact with campus leaders from institutions across the nation, and the chance to learn from and alongside future professionals from a wide variety of disciplines. With speakers, workshops, and projects devoted specifically to the Blue Key founding principles of Leadership, Scholarship, and Service, members who attend often leave with a deepened understanding of the role those values can play in their lives going forward.

Paramount to the success of our organization is the free and open exchange of ideas about student leadership, and the annual conference provides unparalleled access to the ideas, strategies, and methods utilized by schools undertaking similar projects on their own campuses. Additionally, the conference has a valuable social component to it, giving students an unstructured time of fellowship with one another, something often lacking in the busy lives and overfilled schedules of student leaders. The annual conference exists not only to strengthen bonds between different chapters but also to strengthen bonds within chapters, the ultimate goal is to create more organized, efficient chapters while bolstering members’ individual capabilities to serve as more effective, confident student leaders.

We are seeking dynamic speakers to submit a proposal for the 2027 Blue Key Conference. Our goal is to provide high-quality sessions that engage, empower and energize conference attendees. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge, skills, and talents with conference attendees, we encourage you to complete a program proposal to present at the conference.

Program Proposal Submission Form

The deadline to submit a program proposal is December 1st.

The conference officially begins on Friday evening at 6pm with a welcome kickoff.

The conference concludes on Saturday evening with an awards ceremony and banquet. Chapters typically arrive at the hotel by 5 pm on Friday and depart on Sunday morning/afternoon.

A more detailed schedule can be found here: https://www.bluekey.org/schedule

The conference will be held on the campus of Colorado School of Mines from Friday, January 15th, 2027, to Sunday, January 17th, 2027.

The primary airport for reaching Colorado School of Mines is Denver International Airport (DEN), located about 40 miles east of campus. Denver's airport is a major hub for United Airlines and is one of the largest airports in the western United States. Driving from DEN to campus takes around 30-50 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day. If you choose to drive, you'll take I-70 all the way down to Golden from DEN.

Additionally, Denver has an excellent public transit system! The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver offers a direct route from the airport to campus. Students 19 and younger ride RTD for free. The cost for an airport ticket down to Golden is $10.50.

You begin at DEN and take the A Line to Union Station downtown. From there, you'll walk to the W Line station, which is about a 3-5-minute walk along a dedicated walkway. You'll then take the W Line to the Jeffco Government Center station, where you'll catch the Tungsten Ore Cart (Mines' shuttle/bus system on campus). This will take you down to downtown Golden, where you can check into your hotel. This option takes around 90-120 minutes, depending on connection times.

Additionally, Google Maps and Apple Maps also explain the route very well, if you prefer to use those! RTD and the Mines Ore Cart are both featured on these map services and are very accurate with bus and train timing.

Conference Hotel:

Denver West/Golden Hampton INN
17150 W Colfax Ave, Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (303) 278-6600

The Blue Key National Office will make hotel reservations for your chapter and the cost is included in the conference registration fee.

The goal is to have four students per room when practical to make efficient use of lodging space. Advisors are two per room.

The conference is open to all current Blue Key members, advisors, and alumni. Each chapter receives two (2) complimentary conference delegate (student) registrations. Chapters may also apply for a Travel Grant HERE.

The deadline to apply for a Travel Grant is December 1.

Additional conference delegate registrations are:

• $200 for each additional conference delegate (student/active member)

• $250 for each advisor or alumni

• $75 for each additional conference delegate (student/active member/advisor) – Host Institution

Step 1: Download the Conference Registration Template HERE.

Step 2: Upload the completed Conference Registration Template form HERE or email the form to bkdirector@bluekey.org.

Step 3: Complete your conference registration by making the payment.

Payment Option 1:
The preferred payment method is by check to the Blue Key National Office. Make check payable to Blue Key Honor Society and address to:

ATTN: Byron Thetford
University of West Alabama
101 College Drive, Station 61
Livingston, AL 35470

Payment Option 2:
Digital Purchase through PayPal (an additional $2.00 PayPal fee is applied to the cost). Please choose your preferred registration level below, update the quantity, and click ‘Add to Cart.’

Chapters may also apply for a Travel Grant HERE.

The deadline to apply for a Travel Grant is December 1st.

No conference registration refunds will be available after November 30th due to confirmation with lodging and food vendors. Even if the weather prevents a chapter from attending the conference no registration refunds will be available. The National Office encourages each chapter to speak with its institution about purchasing travel insurance.

Chapters may make substitutions of individuals registered. Please be mindful of the fact that same-gender substitutions are easier to manage by the National Office for lodging purposes. Thank you for your courtesy.

Note that registrations received after December 19th will only be accepted on a space and availability basis as per the hotel.

All Chapters are highly encouraged to submit nominations for conference awards. Award nominations are due by Wednesday, December 10th at 11:59 pm.

Submit award nominations HERE.

Read more about each individual award and criteria here.

The Blue Key Board of Directors consists of seven members (Four Blue Key Officers who are either chapter advisors or Blue Key alumni and three Student Directors who are enrolled as full-time students in the Blue Key Chapter’s institution at the time of election). Blue Key Officers serve a four-year term, while Student Directors serve a two-year term.

At the 2027 Conference, there will be one Blue Key Officer position and two Student Director position open.

NOMINATE yourself or someone else here.