Hype on organizations

[preceptsky]

I am in my last semester of my ADN program. I use this site often but we have been asked to do a networking assignment and ask our own questions. I have a previous post so if you read this, please take a moment to look at the other.:)

I am very involved in my student nurses association. I have been a class rep for 3 of my four semesters. I am also the the state chair for breakthrough to nursing. I focus first on my school work, but if I am not doing that, I am putting hours in planning, organizing, fundraising and volunteering at events. Myself and 3 others were co-authors of a resolution passed at the NSNA convention. Our instructors have started putting a weight on our involvement outside the classroom. In my first semester it was required to do at least one volunteer activity and attend one meeting. They dropped those requirements because they had heard employers were looking for what students did outside of their regular program requirements. I have gone beyond my school organization and am now working on becoming a member of the Red Cross DAT team. Over the summer I attended an ethics training and suicide preventions course where I recieved 6 CEU's and a certificate. Nursing is my passion and I enjoy all the activities I have been involved in. Our program has put a hype on what we do outside the classroom. Will volunteering my time and being involved with the community help to stand out to future employers? Are employers looking for people that will represent their hospital (or other agency) for professional organizations? Are there other organizations we can become a part of as students to help us stand out to future employers now that they are looking more toward BSN degrees and also hiring less often?

In general...

Are employers taking interest in the organizations nursing students are involved in when considering hiring new graduates?

Thank you for your response!