Phi Kappa Phi Holds First Initiation and Installation

MELBOURNE, FLA.—In May, Florida Institute of Technology held its charter installation and initiation ceremonies for the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. A chapter was approved for the university in fall 2008.

“We are honored and excited to have Phi Kappa Phi on campus and to begin this tradition of recognizing academic excellence at Florida Tech,” said Randall Alford, associate provost for graduate and international programs.

Alford was installed as chapter president at the ceremonies. Also installed were Mary Bonhomme, associate provost for online learning, vice president; Deborah Marino, nurse practitioner, secretary; John Trefry, professor of oceanography, treasurer; and Robert Taylor, head of the Department of Humanities and Communication, public relations officer.

Additionally, eight faculty and staff members and 194 students were initiated. The faculty members are Raymond Bonhomme Jr., senior vice provost; Steven Lazarus, assistant professor of marine and environmental systems; Mary Beth Kenkel, dean of the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts; Mary Helen McCay, College of Engineering research professor; Nathan Miller, assistant manager of information technology; Richard Tankersley, associate professor of biological sciences; Kurt Winkelmann, associate professor of chemistry; and Charlotte Young, registrar and associate provost.

One student, Alexander Aydlett, came from North Carolina for the initiation. He is an online learning student working on a master’s degree in information technology.

Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese, who spoke at the ceremonies, said “The chapter is a welcome and prestigious addition to the academic life of Florida Tech. We are in very good company as we join the ranks of many top universities.”
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.”

Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has initiated more than one million members into its ranks, which comprise the best and brightest professionals and scholars from all academic disciplines.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Phi Kappa Phi inducts annually more than 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.