By Jen Cardone | The Duquesne Duke
Duquesne’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter is one of 29 chapters nationwide to receive the national’s highest commendation award.
The Chapter of Excellence award is given to chapters that promote academic excellence on campus and in the community.
“The Chapter Recognition program offers Phi Kappa Phi the opportunity to say a special thank you to chapters who go above and beyond in promoting academic excellence on their campuses,” Society Executive Director Mary Todd said.
Chapter President Laura Crothers, a professor in the School of Education, said the University’s chapter stands out because it is well rounded and achieves required goals of the honor society.
Duquesne’s chapter has hosted various events including fundraisers, book author signings and career mentoring workshops. Additionally, Phi Kappa Phi students have the opportunity to present their work on campus and receive recognition from the national chapter.
“We are confident that this distinction will further enhance the standing of this honor society, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, on Duquesne’s campus,” Crothers said.
Along with the recognition comes a special commendation letter from the society and mentions in publications.
Additionally, a $500 award will go toward student scholarships from the Undergraduate Research Conference where students present their research projects for recognition. The chapter will also use the money for its induction ceremony in April and for its study break events during final weeks.
Crothers said the award signifies the hard work of all of the members and executive board.
“They set the groundwork for this achievement and I fell it couldn’t have happened without them,” Crothers said.
Crothers commended former President Laverna Saunders for slowly paving the road for the chapter to help them meet the criteria and slowly elevate the organization over the past decade.
The Duquesne chapter received the Chapter of Merit award for the second year in a row last year.
“This shows that the chapter persisted and aimed even higher to receive the Chapter of Excellence recognition—the highest possible,” Saunders said. “Our chapter leaders and our student leaders have actively tried to meet the criteria established by the national office.”
Phi Kappa Phi members are chosen based on scholarly achievement from the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors.
Student Vice President Stephanie Confer said she is very grateful for the recognition.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive the award because it represents all of the hard work our chapter does,” Confer said. “There are numerous requirements for the award, so to receive the award demonstrates that our chapter is really trying to excel in carrying out the mission of Phi Kappa Phi.”
