IUP's chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi–the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines–will host its annual initiation of new members at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 2, in Gorell Recital Hall, on the second floor of Sutton Hall. A reception will follow in the Blue Room.
Members of the IUP community who have been invited to join this prestigious honor society, must register online no later than Friday, March 24 in order to participate in the induction ceremony.
Persons can join the society by visiting https://www.phikappaphi.org/join/chapters-list/indiana-university-of-pennsylvania-undergrads#.WM7o028rKUk and entering the code: 17SPR266.
Persons who have been invited for membership but who are not planning to attend the initiation ceremony have until May 12 to join.
Any members of Phi Kappa Phi who have been inducted prior to this year and you would like to join in welcoming new members should RSVP to Ms. Allison Baker at allbaker@iup.edu or by calling 724-357-2280 by Friday, March 24.
Michele Papakie, chairwoman and associate professor of Journalism and Public Relations, is president of the IUP honor society. She represented the institution's chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the 44th Biennial Convention held July 28 to 30, 2016, in Atlanta as the chapter's voting delegate.
IUP's Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society chapter received Chapter of Excellence recognition by the national Phi Kappa Phi organization for five consecutive years. This honor recognizes chapters that promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service.
By receiving the Chapter of Excellence distinction, the IUP chapter is recognized for meeting frequently, holding annual initiations, and applying frequently for Phi Kappa Phi's select scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
To be invited for membership, students must be in the top 7.5 percent of their class if they are juniors or the top 10 percent if they are seniors or graduate students. Faculty and professional staff members and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.
The chapter at IUP was founded in 1993. Since that time, several IUP students have received competitive Phi Kappa Phi scholarships, including a 2012 Phi Kappa Phi Walter and Adelheid Hohenstein Fellow Award, national fellowships for graduate study, study abroad scholarships, and Love of Learning awards.