71 New Members Inducted Into Omicron Delta Kappa During Virtual Ceremony
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2021) — The University of Kentucky Nu Circle of national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) inducted 71 new members at a virtual ceremony Tuesday, April 13, 2021. ODK recognizes superior leadership and exemplary character and encourages collaboration among members across the five phases celebrated by the society: scholarship, athletics, service, communications and arts.
The Circle was established May 2, 1925, and was recognized with a Superior Circle award from the national organization in 2018.
“Being able to serve as the president of the Nu Circle of ODK has been a privilege and a blessing,” said 2021 Circle President Cade King. “Our service event with the Special Olympics of Kentucky and their Lexington Polar Plunge was one of the highlights, especially since it was our first in-person service event in the academic year. On top of such an exciting service event, I've been honored and humbled with the Nu Circle's Leader of the Year award, granted by ODK's Nationals. Nonetheless, the positive influence, memories, and lessons from those I've worked alongside far outweigh any trophy or medal. Encouraging young leaders has been a privilege, and I advocate for any member or student to take up such an opportunity whenever possible. Under the leadership of our most recent initiates, I see great things in ODK's near future.”
Issam Harik, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, has been the faculty advisor since 1996. He is stepping down this year, although ODK holds a special place in his heart. “This is my last year as faculty advisor, but definitely not my last year as an ODK member and an active member in the future.” He reflected on his time as the faculty advisor, reminding students that the “rewards (of membership) come from the friendships you make, which last a lifetime and meeting amazing people from all feeds of study at the University of Kentucky.”
The 2021 inductees are:
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment: Brooke Barker, Megan Johnston, Hayden Klemanski, Taylor Nackers, Amanda Pacyna, Allie Grace Roberts, Katlyne Terrill, EmmaGrace Wells
College of Arts of Sciences: Ashleigh Adkins, Christen Bailey, Vickie Booth, Kayli Bolton, Eliot Bradshaw, Meghan Brockman, Zachary Brown, Robert Castle, Kaitlynne Cone, Joshua Griffith, Richard Hamlin, Kara Hucaby, Lily Hurt, Gracie Johnson, Jennifer Lamb, Lauren Magnani, Anne Marie McAtee, Hunter Morrison, Brooklyn Niravong, Victoria Orcutt, Ashlyn Pechon, Kristen Price, Gianna Riley, James Roberts, Meghana Sharma, Lakyn Steffen, Jason Wang
Gatton College of Business and Economics: Marissa Armstrong, Brennan Aucutt, Beckett Cromwell, Charles Fitzpatrick, Olivia Jenkins, Sheldon Keller, Mikale Smith, Alicia Soldat
College of Communication and Information: Lisa Blake, Chelsea Edgar, Alexandra Kraimer, Hope Rowland, Kristin Smith, Ellie Kinnicutt
College of Education: Kelsey Davis, Sydney Lough, Austin Rice, Patrick Haycraft, Dylan Richards
College of Engineering: Anna Erpenbeck, Braiden Mara, Jayla McCoy, Brayden Reichelderfer, Cody Robinson, Rob Yates
College of Fine Arts: Katherine Goble, Josephine Hyde, Madeline Mattheu, Kate Walker
College of Health Sciences: Abigail Elbert, Alyssa Glavinos, Calley Moore, Kendall Rollman, Chaney Troutman
College of Nursing: Allison Coleman
College of Public Health: Phoebe Phan
College of Social Work: Katilynn Heilman
The full induction ceremony is available on YouTube.
Omicron Delta Kappa is supported on campus by the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence within the Office of the Provost. For more information on membership, contact chellgrencenter@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.