Northern Arizona University Chapter
"Let the Love of Learning Rule Humanity."
(Philosophía Krateítõ Phõtôn)
About Phi Kappa Phi
The history of Phi Kappa Phi has been characterized by a constancy of purpose and an unswerving commitment to its mission. It was a desire to effect change that brought ten senior students, two faculty members, and the school president together in 1897 at the University of Maine. Under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann, they sought to create an honor society that was different from the few others then in existence-one that recognized and honored excellence in all academic disciplines. Thus was born Lambda Sigma Eta (later to be renamed Phi Kappa Phi), a community of scholars whose membership has grown to more than one million.
There are today chapters of Phi Kappa Phi on the campuses of nearly 300 colleges and universities in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Phi Kappa Phi has been and remains a unifying force for academic excellence on these campuses, inducting high-ranking undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni. From the original thirteen members in 1897, the Society now annually confers membership on more than 30,000 persons. Today's initiates, like those who preceded them, are the "best and brightest" and will greatly influence economic, political, social, and educational life in the coming decades.
History of Phi Kappa Phi - NAU Chapter
The Northern Arizona University Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was chartered on May 15, 1959. At that time NAU was known as Arizona State College. Charter members were individuals whose names are familiar across campus and throughout the Flagstaff community including Tom Bellwood and Virgil Gillenwater. The original charter document is on display in the new collections room in Cline Library.
Facts
- Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.
- 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."
- The motto of Phi Kappa Phi is Philosophía Krateítõ Phõtôn, translated "Let the love of learning rule humanity." For a detailed explanation of the motto, click here.
- Those elected to membership include upper 7.5 percent last-term juniors (having completed at least seventy-two semester hours) and upper 10 percent seniors, along with outstanding graduate students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni.
- Since its founding, more than 1,000,000 scholars have been inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.
- More than 120,000 members maintain their active status in Phi Kappa Phi, which affords them the benefits associated with dues-paying membership.
- Nearly 300 chapters of Phi Kappa Phi exist on the campuses of colleges and universities across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
- More than 1,200 faculty and staff volunteers give of their time to serve as officers of local Phi Kappa Phi chapters.
- More than $500,000 in national and local scholarships is awarded annually.
