Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa, founded in December of 1776, is the United States' oldest and most prestigious Honors Program. Despite interruptions by the British invasion under Cornwallis and later during the Civil War, the Honors Society has retained its integrity and pursued its mission of recognizing excellence in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. In August of 2003, Texas A&M University became one of the newest members of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, joining approximately 255 other chapters throughout the United States.
Membership in Phi Beta Kappa qualifies individuals for one of many scholarships or awards that the Society promotes, such as the Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship, awarded annually to young women who wish to study Greek or French language and literature. As the membership process is lengthy, and based on nominations and not on applications, potential candidates are encouraged to contact the chapter office for guidance.  New members are initiated in recognition of extraordinary academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences and are usually in their senior year of undergraduate study. 

Chapter Officers are:

David Carlson, President
Diane Kaplan, Vice President
Comer Patterson, Secretary
Arthur Hobbs, Treasurer
Paul Mitchell, Historian

For more information, please visit: http://www.tamu.edu/anthropology/pbk/

Or contact: Comer Patterson at copatbio@tamu.edu or (979) 845-2187.

back to top

Pinnacle Honor Society

The Pinnacle Honor Society was formed to reward and recognize non-traditional undergraduate students (commonly those over 25 years of age) for their academic and co-curricular accomplishments. To apply, students must have a Junior, Senior, post-baccalaureate or graduate student status, and have maintained a grade point average over 3.0. Campus and community activities are stressed, in addition to demonstrated leadership, persistence, and future promise. Applications are collected in the Fall of each year; induction into the society occurs the following Spring.

For more information, please contact:
Risa Berman, 845-1741

back to top

Phi Beta Delta

In 1986, as a result of the absence of any national Honor Society that adequately addressed the activities of international students, students with study abroad experience, and faculty and staff working in the international sphere, the Center for International Excellence founded Phi Beta Delta to recognize their contributions. Since that time, the Society has grown to over 3500 members in over 90 chapters throughout the world. The Society is open to outstanding scholars who participate in research in the international arena, and rewards those among its members who have an international focus in their particular discipline. As such, participation is limited only by an invitation to join the Society and the abilities of the researcher. The Alpha Eta chapter of Phi Beta Delta at Texas A&M University was founded early in the Society's history, in 1987.
Membership in Phi Beta Delta is of three types:
International (non-immigrant): Students in the upper levels of their undergraduate career or graduate students who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement in their institutions.
Domestic: Students in the upper levels of their undergraduate career or graduate students who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement in the pursuit of academic studies abroad.
Distinguished Faculty, Staff and Visiting Scholars: Those involved in international endeavors such as teaching, administering exchange programs, conducting research, or providing services and programs to international students and scholars.
Upon nomination, the nominee is invited to the chapter's annual installation meeting where they become official members of the society.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Kim Dooley at 862 7180
k-dooley@tamu.edu

back to top

Phi Eta Sigma

Phi Eta Sigma is the nation's oldest and largest Freshman Honors Society, remaining active since its founding in March of 1923. At present, the society retains over 300 chapters throughout the United States, encompassing over 700,000 members. The chapter on the campus of Texas A&M University has been in place since 1949. Membership in the society signifies that within their first year of University-level education, the student has demonstrated an aptitude and ability above and beyond that of their peers. Moreover, it indicates a great deal of potential in the student's future as well.

All freshmen who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 out of a 4.0 scale during a full-time course load, and who rank in the upper 20 percent of their class, are eligible to apply for membership. The Society also stresses evidence of creative ability and potential for success in your chosen field during the application process. Please also include no more than three letters of recommendation. On the Texas A&M University campus, a one-time membership fee of $30.00 is due upon induction. Half of this fee pays the dues of the National Chapter, a portion of which is then applied towards the numerous undergraduate and graduate-level scholarships that only members may be awarded. The national deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st. As membership is conferred for a lifetime period, Freshmen who earn Phi Eta Sigma membership may then apply for scholarships from the Society for graduate work, regardless of the period between the two endeavors.

For more information, please visit: www.tamu.edu/pes

Or, contact: Steven Houston at hintx@tamu.edu

back to top

Lambda Sigma

Lambda Sigma is the Sophomore Honor Society on the campus of Texas A&M University. This Society is a service-oriented organization of 50 students who have each earned a cumulative GPR of at least 3.25 and, at the time of application, have completed at least 12 hours at Texas A&M University. Scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship are the goals of Lambda Sigma, and it is the responsibility of the members to fulfill these objectives. The local chapter is part of a national organization.

Eligible and interested students can attend one of two informational meetings held in early February. At these meetings, current members explain the organization and its goals. Applications can be obtained only at these meetings. From the completed applications, about 100 candidates are selected for the interview. Fifty initiates are identified by this process.
Selection takes place in the spring semester of the freshman year. Active membership occurs in the sophomore year and life-time inactive membership thereafter. There is a strong emphasis on leadership potential and academic credentials. Lambda Sigma is active on campus, conducting Faculty-Student luncheons, new student tours, and a variety of service projects.

For more information, please contact:

Brian Lusk, President at blusk@tamu.edu, or

Travis Bragg, Advisor at TravisB@studentlife.tamu.edu

back to top

Tau Kappa

Founded in 1936 on the campus of Iowa State University, the Cardinal Key society epitomized the virtues of leadership, service, scholarship and character. The local affiliate of the Cardinal Key society is Tau Kappa, which reinforces these virtues across all disciplines in Texas A&M University. The Society promotes service to the campus and the community, as well as support for all of its members. Tau Kappa is open to Juniors in all fields who have a grade point ratio of a 3.3 or higher; new members are chosen though an application and interview process organized each year. Its membership dues are $60.00.

For more information, please contact:
Glenn Hodge
crazyhorse2005@hotmail.com

back to top

Cap And Gown

This interdisciplinary Senior Honor Society is affiliated with National Mortar Board, Inc. Between thirty-five and forty students from the Junior class are selected each spring for active membership throughout their Senior year. These selections are made solely by application based on scholarship, leadership and service. To apply, a student must have completed 75 hours before January 1 with a minimum overall GPR of 3.25.

The Cap and Gown Society serves the Senior Class by publicizing traditional senior events such as Elephant Walk, Ring Dance, and Graduation as well as registering graduating seniors for the Real World Seminar. Other service projects are implemented depending on the interests of the active group.

Cap and Gown is recognized as one of the most prestigious honor societies on campus. Being selected for membership is a high honor and should be accepted with pride and commitment.

For more information, please contact:
Liz Brennan, 696 6535

back to top

Golden Key National Honor Society

Founded in 1977 at Georgia State University by a group of undergraduate students, the Golden Key Honor Society sets out to recognize those individuals who have shown excellence in the field of scholastic achievement. Since its founding, the Society has emerged as one of the most dynamic, forward-thinking organizations in higher education and now has 335 chapters at colleges and universities in seven countries. Every year the Golden Key Society awards its members approximately $500,000 through 17 different scholarship and award programs. Moreover, its members are also connected to exclusive career opportunities and assistance through the Society's partnerships with major corporations and graduate programs.
Students who wish to participate must be Juniors or Seniors, and in the top 15 percent of their class. There is no formal application process, instead, members matriculate by invitation only.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Don Curtis at dcurtis@libarts.tamu.edu, or

Annely Domas at elisedomas@tamu.edu

back to top

Phi Kappa Phi

Beginning in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi set out to recognize and honor excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others. Since that time, over one million scholars have been inducted into the Society, representing endeavors in Law, Medicine, Science, Business and the Arts. Over 285 active chapters recruit new members each year on campuses throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. The Society's members represent the best and brightest in each field, and are expected to influence greatly the economic, political, social and
educational life in the coming decades.

There is no formal application; election to membership is through an invitation process and may only be done on a campus with an active chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. Juniors wishing to join must be in the top 7.5 percent of their class and have completed at least 72 credit hours of University-level courses. Seniors must rank in the top 10 percent of their class. Following induction into the Society, a National fee of $30.00 and a chapter fee of $5.00 are required. These fees form the fund from which many of the Society's scholarships are awarded. These scholarships award post-graduate study, undergraduate study, and also fund research abroad.

For more information, please contact:
Barbara Lee, 845-3210
barbara-lee@tamu.edu

back to top