President Lawrence Schovanec, along with 300 Texas Tech students, will be inducted to Phi Kappa Phi.
Three hundred Texas Tech University students will be honored Friday during an induction ceremony for Phi Kappa Phi, the oldest and largest collegiate honor society in the nation. University President Lawrence Schovanec will be a guest speaker and also will be inducted as a member.
The induction ceremony is at 7:30 p.m. Friday (March 24) in the Matador Room of the Student Union Building. Michael Gaylean, interim provost, also will attend.
“This ceremony recognizes the absolute top academically performing students at Texas Tech across all undergraduate and graduate disciplinary areas,” said Angela Lumpkin, chapter president, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management. “Every college will be represented and will help recognize their students at the event.”
President Schovanec will be inducted as an honor member. In the Phi Kappa Phi bylaws, it is stated that faculty, administration, professional staff, alumni or community leaders may be inducted to the chapter if they exhibit excellence and high ethical standards.
“It is truly an honor to be inducted into such a prestigious organization.” Schovanec said. “Members of Phi Kappa Phi are the highest standard of academic achievers and community leaders. It is a privilege to speak for and stand beside such talented and deserving people.”
Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 at the University of Maine. It has chapters on more than 300 campuses throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, with more than 1 million members.
Membership to the honor society is by invitation only. Initiates must have completed at least 72 hours and rank scholastically in either the top 7.5 percent of their class for juniors or the top 10 percent of their class for seniors. Graduate students must rank in the upper 10 percent of their class.
Members of Phi Kappa Phi have served in the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court. They have won awards such as Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes and many other national and international awards for service and achievement. All members are instilled with the values of the society including humanitarian values, academic excellence and community engagement among scholars.
(Press release from Texas Tech University)
