Inside Iowa State
April 4, 1997
Phi Kappa Phi hits centennial mark
by Anne Dolan
As part of Phi Kappa Phi centennial
activities, a hundred ISU faculty and alumni will receive
special medallions cast for the organization's 100th
anniversary. The medallions will be presented during a 2 p.m.
convocation Sunday, April 13, in Benton Auditorium, Scheman.
The event is open to the public.
Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society that recognizes academic excellence in all disciplines and strong personal character. It was founded in 1897 at the University of Maine. Iowa State, the society's sixth chapter, joined in 1911. Among more than 280 chapters nationwide, Iowa State has one of the most active groups. Seniors in the top 10 percent of their class, juniors in the top 5 percent of their class, graduate students, and faculty and alumni with scholarly achievements are invited to join.
During its annual initiation ceremony March 23, the ISU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi initiated 251 students and five faculty members: Liberal Arts and Sciences dean Elizabeth Hoffman, Student Health Center director Dr. Robert Patterson, professor of political science Steffen Schmidt, professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics Donald Thompson and Agriculture dean David Topel.
Phi Kappa Phi Centennial Week will be observed at ISU and in local events across the country April 13-19. The ISU Council of Academic Honor Societies and the Faculty Senate have passed resolutions congratulating the honor society on its milestone. History professor Dorothy Schwieder has been commissioned to write a history of Iowa State's Phi Kappa Phi chapter, which celebrates its 85th anniversary this year.
ISU's centennial medallion recipients are Phi Kappa Phi members who have received the ISU Alumni Association's Distinguished Achievement Citation, been named a distinguished professor or served as president of ISU's Phi Kappa Phi chapter.
Also at the April 13 event, several Phi Kappa Phi members will be granted distinguished membership in the society. They include President Martin Jischke, Iowa Board of Regents chair Owen Newlin and Robert Uhrig, distinguished scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy lab in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Known for his work on hybrid artificial intelligence systems, Uhrig will give a talk contrasting artificial intelligence and real intelligence.
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