LSU Chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – Breaking Records
This spring, a record 347 new members joined the LSU Chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi bringing the total number of Chapter members to 1,247, also a record.
At the spring 2012 induction ceremony and awards banquet, held on March 7th, over 100 student members received certificates of membership. In addition, LSU AgCenter faculty members Brad Leger, Organization Development & Evaluation, and Michael Kaller, School of Renewable Natural Resources, were also inducted.
The following awards were presented at the ceremony: Outstanding Senior, Christine Derbins; Outstanding Junior, Catherine Elizabeth Parsiola; National Fellowship-Chapter Award, Laure Adele Wolff. Non-Tenured Faculty Awards, co-funded by the LSU Alumni Association, went to Joshua Destre (Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness), Graham Bodie(Communication Studies), and Jas Sullivan (Political Science and African American Studies). The Outstanding Alumni Award was presented to Kenneth Kungu, Assistant Professor, College of Business, Tennessee State University; the Chapter Appreciation Award was presented to Mary Bowen, School of Renewable Natural Resources.
Dr. Michael Martin, LSU Chancellor, was the keynote speaker.
A few images from the Initiation Ceremony are available on our Photo Gallery page. Additional images are available on Dr. Vlosky's Flickr stream. Thanks to photographer Paul Darby for the images.
Phi Kappa Phi is one of the oldest and most prestigious honorary scholastic societies in the United States upholds high standards of academic performance embracing all academic disciplines.
Louisiana State University Recognized as Phi Kappa Phi
Chapter of Excellence
BATON ROUGE, LA — (21 September 2011) For the second consecutive year, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recently recognized the campus chapter at Louisiana State University as a Chapter of Excellence. The award is given to chapters that excel in recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engaging the community of scholars in service to others.
“Behind every Chapter of Excellence is a committed group of officers who give generously of their time and talent to recognize outstanding students,” said Lourdes Barro, the Society’s executive director. She added, “Officers of award-winning chapters make it possible for students to benefit from Phi Kappa Phi’s award programs and leadership opportunities.” According to Dr. Richard Vlosky, Chapter President, “the LSU chapter, which has grown dramatically over the past four years to almost 1,000 active members, is very engaged in community service and providing scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students.”
By receiving the Chapter of Excellence distinction, Louisiana State University’s chapter is being recognized as a thriving organization that meets frequently, holds annual initiations and applies frequently for Phi Kappa Phi’s select scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Phi Kappa Phi inducts annually approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.
Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, NASA Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, writer John Grisham, opera singer Renee Fleming, journalist and broadcaster Deborah Norville and Netscape founder James Barksdale.
The Society has awarded approximately $13 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $700,000 is awarded annually to qualifying members and non-members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad scholarships, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”
See the press release from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (pdf)
A Message from the President
