Dr. Kenwyn Cradock, professor of entomology at Eastern New Mexico University, represented the university's chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—at the Society's 45th Biennial Convention held August 2-4 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Dr. Cradock currently serves as president of the ENMU chapter and attended the convention as the chapter's voting delegate.
The convention, themed Keep Calm and Carry on Excellence, brought together more than 250 attendees including chapter officers, board members, national office staff and guests from across the nation. The two-day event started with a keynote address from Julie Schumacher, best-selling author and professor of creative writing and literature at the University of Minnesota.
Other highlights of the convention included a panel of three provosts discussing issues impacting higher education, presentation of the Society's $100,000 Excellence in Innovation Award to Western Michigan University, divisional meetings, chapter development trainings, and elections for the 2018-2020 board of directors and divisional vice presidents.
Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its 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."
About Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. 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. Some of the organization's notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, retired NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards nearly $1 million to outstanding students and members through graduate fellowships, study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org
