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UA Little Rock Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Chancellor Christina Drale congratulates a UA Little Rock student inducted into Phi Kappa Phi on Dec. 3.
Chancellor Christina Drale congratulates a UA Little Rock student inducted into Phi Kappa Phi on Dec. 3.

The UA Little Rock chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The chapter was originally chartered in January 1972 and is part of the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Each year, UA Little Rock hosts an initiation and initiates approximately 60 students into Phi Kappa Phi. These honorees are among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni across the nation initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

This celebration includes activities, service to both the university and community through a book drive, and opportunities for students to earn a scholarship with our essay contest.

“Phi Kappa Phi has provided the university with candidates and faculty who have demonstrated excellence in research, service, and scholarship in multiple disciplines,” said Dr. Jennifer Hune, president of Phi Kappa Alpha. “Our Phi Kappa Phi members always show that ‘Excellences Knows no Bounds.’”

Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

During a special 50th anniversary celebration on Dec. 3, 50 UA Little Rock students were inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.

UA Little Rock students were inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi on Dec. 3.
UA Little Rock students were inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi on Dec. 3.

In addition to its 50th anniversary, UA Little Rock’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi has also been recognized as a Chapter of Excellence Gold Award Winner.

The awards are given to the society’s top chapters that excel in recognizing and promoting academic excellence on their local campus and engaging the community of scholars in service to others. This year, the program named 70 chapters with recognition including 23 as Platinum, 20 as Gold, and 27 as Silver.

“Our chapters and officers are the foundation of Phi Kappa Phi,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Bradley Newcomer. “We are proud to recognize and celebrate the chapters that exemplify our mission through the Circle of Excellence Awards.”

These chapters are recognized as thriving organizations that hold annual initiations, uphold the Society Bylaws, regularly attend chapter training opportunities, and submit a chapter-endorsed nominee to the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship Program.

Chapters achieving the Circle of Excellence distinction receive a commendation letter from the society sent to campus administration, a special recognition on the Phi Kappa Phi website, a specially designed logo for use in chapter communications, and a cash award.