The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to announce the 2009 initiates into the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter at Pittsburg State University, Chapter 213. Their Initiation Ceremony was held at Pittsburg State University in the Jack H. Overman Student Center at 3:00 p.m. on April 19, 2009. Local chapter president, Randy Winzer, presided over the ceremony. The program included guest speaker, Dr Steve Erwin, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Auxiliary Services, who also provided the opening remarks.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, ten senior students, two faculty members, and the school president formed the Lambda Sigma Eta Society, an honor society that recognized and honored excellence in all academic disciplines. The Society was later renamed Phi Kappa Phi from the initial letters of the Greek words forming its adopted motto: Philosophía Krateíto Photôn, "Let the love of learning rule humanity." Today, the Society has more than 300 chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The Pittsburg State University, Chapter 213 was chartered on May 8, 1979.
Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. The upper 10 percent of undergraduate students having at least seventy-two semester hours or a 4.0 GPA were eligible for membership. Graduate students with a 4.0 GPA and at least 24 graduate semester hours also qualify, as do faculty and professional staff who have achieved scholarly distinction.
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.” In keeping with its mission, Phi Kappa Phi awards more than $800,000 annually to qualifying members through graduate and undergraduate scholarships, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. Each chapter may select one candidate from its local membership to compete for one of sixty $5,000 Fellowship Awards and forty $2,000 Awards of Excellence to pursue a graduate degree in his/her chosen field. The selection process is based on the applicant’s undergraduate academic performance, leadership and service on the campus and in the community, evidence of graduate potential, a personal statement of educational perspective, purpose, and objective, and the evaluation reports from three individuals who are in a position to attest to the student’s performance, citizenship, and character.
Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 213 is also proud to announce their 2009 Initiates. The eight-one student initiates are Osama Omar Abu Salah, Mohammed A. Alwaheeb, Jordan Clous Backs, Juan Jose Bernie Zambrini, Allison Marie Berry, Leatha Lavon Bolinger, Julie Bell Bruington, Veronica Louise Burris, Misty Dawn Button, Blake William Byford, Courtney L. Call, Donna Breanne Boose Campbell, Morgan Lane Carter, Yong Cheng, J. Elaine Colvin, Paul Cox, Courtney Michelle Crays, Lorie L. Duncan, Clinton Ryan Dunkle, Vicki Verlene Eddleman, Kevin Samuel Elliott, Lacey Boggs Elliott, Maria Ferreira Ferreiro, Krysten Leigh Fraley, Elaine Fun, Deidre E. Galloway-Nwagwu, Jessica D. Garrett, Amanuel T. Gebrekirstos, Rejéanne Cheniia LaChanel Gilkey, Javier Gimenez Pena, Lealand Savoy Grimmer, Dwayne Hale, Seth Walker Harley, Kathryn R. Hauser, Jeremiah John Hawley, Jerri Houston Haymaker, Samantha M. Heady, Kristin Heuer, Jordan Kyle Hevel, Brandi Jo Hill, Traci L. Hinman, Jessica Lynn Jones, Sarah J. Kaminski, James Kirby, Emily JoAnn Krysztof, Jason Arthur Landrum, Rebecca G. Lankford, Melinda D. Ledlow, Joanne K. Lee, Robert G. Lundien, Jena Irene Manchester, Kristen Rebecca McBride, Megan LeAnn McCullick, Kay Melander, Brandon Joel Mendez, Haley Michelle Mendicki, Amanda Leigh Moennig, Jory Brynn Murry, Benjamin J. O'Connor, Jennifer L. Paxson, Pamela A. Peters, LaShawna Blaise Powers, Sean Michael Price, Angelina M. Puckett, Jazmín Anahí Ramírez Aguilera, Kathy Nichols Ripley, Jason Mackenzie Robb, Theresa D. Rottinghaus, Cassie N. Shaw, Amy Ster, Deanna Kay Sutterfield, Valine J. Todd, Donald L. Townsend, Anthony Hoang Truong, Amanda Rae Vander Tuig, Kipp Douglas Voth, Jacklyn Kimberly Welch, Kristen Williams, Timothy D. Winnett, Lora Katherine Winters, andAnna C. Yost
