UK’s Phi Kappa Phi Chapter to Host Student Reception Sept. 6

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 4, 2018) — The University of Kentucky chapter of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi is kicking off the new academic year by welcoming prospective new student members to a reception at the Boone Center on Thursday, Sept. 6. The event begins at 4 p.m.

Current student, faculty and staff honorees also are invited to attend. In addition, Phi Kappa Phi members who were inducted into the organization at their previous institutions are encouraged to transfer their membership to the UK chapter, which was founded in 2009. Information on how to do this will be available at the reception and can also be found on the Phi Kappa Phi national website under Membership > Renew Your Membership.

The mission of Phi Kappa Phi (PKP), which was organized in 1897, is “to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

Membership is strictly determined by the standards set forth in the society’s bylaws. Juniors must be in the top 7.5 percent of their class, seniors in the top 10 percent of their class and graduate students in the top 10 percent of their class.

The characteristic of Phi Kappa Phi that makes it unique among the leading honor societies is its policy of electing undergraduate and graduate members from all schools, divisions or departments of the institution. Faculty, professional staff, alumni and community members who have achieved scholarly distinction also may qualify.

Strong participation by members in campus and national activities has resulted in UK’s PKP chapter being named a Chapter of Excellence and Chapter of Merit by the national organization on several occasions.

“The University of Kentucky Chapter of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi continues to distinguish itself through the active participation of its student vice presidents and through its track record of PKP graduate scholarship recognition,” said Pat Whitlow, director of UK’s Office of Nationally Competitive  Awards and president of PKP on campus.

Whitlow represented the university's chapter as a voting delegate at PKP’s 45th biennial convention held in early August in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Phi Kappa Phi’s robust award programs give more than $1 million nationally each biennium to qualifying students and members through fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, grants for literacy initiatives, and member and chapter awards. To learn more about these programs, visit www.PhiKappPhi.org/Awards.

For more information on the UK chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, go to www.uky.edu/Chellgren/Phi-Kappa-Phi or visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org. Phi Kappa Phi is supported by the Chellgren Center.