Phi Kappa Phi Inducts 31 New Members
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2020) — University of Kentucky’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) welcomed 31 new members during an induction ceremony on Oct. 22. The ceremony was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, The Honor Society of 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's chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10% of seniors and graduate students and 7.5% of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The prestigious honor society also awards $1 million each year to outstanding students, members, chapters and institutions through its national awards program.
“I joined Phi Kappa Phi primarily because of its longstanding reputation as an avid supporter of academic achievement and its many scholarship opportunities,” said new member and food science senior Clarissa Somers. “Not only did its well-known name draw me in, but also its dedication to its members and their fields.”
The new members are: Harrison Avera, Laine Barschak, Lily Beasley, Jordan Bernard, Nathan Bodkin, Kayli Bolton, Elle Bottom, Cameron Brewer, Alex Chong, Arianna Conner, Chloe Ditka, Amelia Floyd, Jerrica Flynn, Brett Gasior, Kristine Gauthier, Robert Hardell Jr., Lauren Harris, Caslen Johnson, Julia Kelliher, Barrett Kerr, Mickayla Mason, Caleigh Ramey, Kelly Rodriguez, Halle Shannon, Clarissa Somers, Alexis Stewart, Benjamin Stone, Sarah Van Vooren, Luke Williams, Lindsey Young and Jingxia Zhong.
Buzz Burnam, recently retired associate director of Diversity Recruitment in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, was recognized during the ceremony for his service to Phi Kappa Phi. Burnam served as UK’s chapter secretary from 2015-2020.
Click here to watch a recording of the ceremony.
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is supported on campus by the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence within the Office of the Provost.
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.
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