UK's Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Inducts 82 New Members

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2014) — The University of Kentucky's chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) welcomed 82 new members during a recent ceremony held in the UK Student Center, including six current UK faculty members and administrators. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society.

The faculty and administrative inductees are:

·         Constance 'Connie' Baird, director of Distance Learning Programs at UK since 1984;

·         Susan Carvalho, associate provost for internationalization and interim associate provost and dean of The Graduate School;

·         Judy 'J.J.' Jackson, vice president for institutional diversity and associate professor of educational policy studies and evaluation;

·         H. Dan O'Hair, dean of the College of Communication and Information and professor of communication;

·         John Walz, dean of the College of Engineering; and

·         Pat Whitlow, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at UK.

In addition, 76 undergraduate and graduate students were inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. 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. Faculty, professional staff, alumni and community members who have achieved scholarly distinction also may qualify. Here is a list of the new student members of the UK chapter:

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. Specifically, Phi Kappa Phi’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.”

Strong participation by members in campus and national activities over the past year resulted in the UK Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi being named a 2014 'Chapter of Excellence' by the organization at its recent biennial convention held in St. Louis. This is the second time the UK chapter, in only its sixth year of existence after being chartered in the spring of 2009, has received the 'excellence' distinction. The chapter previously has earned 'Chapter of Merit' designation, as well.

"The University of Kentucky chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi continues to distinguish itself nationally," said Kenneth Roberts, dean emeritus of the College of Pharmacy and president of the UK chapter. "The recognition received this year is a credit to the exceptional women and men who have become active members of the UK chapter."

Across the U.S., Phi Kappa Phi's robust award programs give more than $1 million each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives.

Founded in 1897, the society annually inducts students from more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines.

For more information on the UK Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, go to  http://www.uky.edu/academy/phi-kappa-phi, or visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200; carl.nathe@uky.edu.

Phi Kappa Phi is supported by The Chellgren Center which is part of the Academy for Undergraduate Excellence within the Division of Undergraduate Education at UK.

Since its founding in 1865, the University of Kentucky has been dedicated to improving people's lives through excellence in education, research and creative work, service, and health care as Kentucky's flagship institution and one of the nation's top land grant universities. Please join us in celebrating the university's 150 year storied history and help us build on that tradition of success as part of UK's sesquicentennial celebration through 2015. Visit uknow.uky.edu/sesquicentennial to access UK sesquicentennial news, in addition to archived news stories and announcements. Keep up with UK sesquicentennial activities on social media by looking for #UK150.