Phi Kappa Phi inducts 24 new members

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 26, 2022) — A total of 24 new members were welcomed into the University of Kentucky’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi recently during the 2022 induction ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Each year, approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni are initiated into the organization and recognized for their scholarly achievements and distinction. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors.

Phi Kappa Phi members have served in the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court of the United States. They have won Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and numerous other national and international awards for service and achievement in their chosen fields. The society is proud to include among its membership thousands of men and women who, for more than a century, have sought to make a difference in the communities where they live and work.

Phi Kappa Phi awards more than 1.3 million each year to deserving students, members and institutions. Today, more than $60,000 has been awarded to outstanding UK students 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.”

Eric Fitzpatrick and Kayli Bolton serve as the student vice presidents this year and Eric had this to say about his experience with PKP, “I’m thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to be part of Phi Kappa Phi and serve as a one of the Student Vice Presidents here at UK. Phi Kappa Phi is a unique organization that promotes academic excellence, leadership, and community service that extends beyond our time at UK. Phi Kappa Phi creates a network of future leaders and provides its members with unparalleled benefits to pursue education beyond our undergraduate experience and enables us to achieve our dreams.

The executive board for the UK chapter is made up of faculty, staff and students. Along with Eric and Kayli, Dr. Pat Whitlow has served as the Chapter President for the past 4 years, C. Lynn Hiler is the chapter coordinator and treasurer, Emily Sallee is the Scholarship Coordinator and Cathy Bowers and Dr. Mary Jo Hidecker are members that assist with chapter support.

The 2022 Phi Kappa Phi Members are:

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

• Tabarak Azawi
• Rachel Kanady
• Virginia Lyle

College of Arts and Sciences

• Ella Jewel Brown-Terry
• Joshua Alexander Griffith
• S. Parks Mason
• Caden Maynard
• Victoria Orcutt
• Anna Puderbaugh
• David Matthew Stevens

Gatton College of Business and Economics

• Edward Monohan

College of Communication and Information

• Leslie S. LeRoy

College of Design

• Taylor-Beth Huff

College of Engineering

• Kyle Andrei Lastimosa
• Asa Clarence O'Neal
• John Stacy

College of Fine Arts

• Karli Danielle Fee
• Emmylou Tidwell

College of Health Sciences

• Emma Pastirik
• Molly Tierney
• Rachel Woods

College of Nursing

• Hong Trinh

College of Public Health

• Caitlin Deffendall
• Ashley Grospitch

The UK Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi is supported by the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence within the Office of the Provost. To learn more about the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, please visit www.uky.edu/chellgren/.