Southeastern Louisiana University

Phi Kappa Phi celebrates 50 years with new scholarship, rededicated charter

Contact: Christina Chapple

5/10/06

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UNVEILING HISTORY – President Randy Moffett, right, assists Sarah Spence, historian of the Southeastern Louisiana University chapter of the national honor society Phi Kappa Phi, and Paul Riggs, emeritus professor of mathematics and a long-time Southeastern chapter officer, unveil the chapter’s original charter. The charter has been rededicated and reframed in honor of the chapter’s 50th anniversary and will hang in Sims Memorial Library.

     HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University 's chapter of the national honor society Phi Kappa Phi celebrated its 50th year on campus May 4 with its annual induction and banquet -- and with a special announcement.

     In honor of its half-century mark, the chapter announced that it has established the Phi Kappa Phi Endowed Scholarship.

     “We discussed several ways in which to celebrate our 50 years at Southeastern,” said Phi Kappa Phi President Donnie Booth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “What could be more fitting for an honor society whose motto is ‘Let the love of learning rule humanity’ than to create a scholarship? It is a gift from our chapter to our current and future students – a gift that really will ‘keep on giving’ in perpetuity.”

     Endowed at the “Dean’s Level” through a $10,000 donation by the chapter to the Southeastern Development Foundation, the scholarship will be awarded for the first time next spring. To qualify, recipients must be second semester junior with a 3.5 grade point average and “of moral character that exemplifies the spirit and intent of Phi Kappa Phi.”

     Southeastern Phi Kappa Phi members can continue to contribute to the scholarship fund, which has been christened “Our History … Our Legacy.” For a contribution of $10 or more, donors will receive a copy of the history of Southeastern’s chapter, available on CD.

     The history was originally written in 1996 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the national organization by long time Phi Kappa Phi secretary Lou Ballard, now an emeritus professor of English. The document has been updated by chapter historian Sarah Spence and secretary Joan Faust, both members of the English faculty.

     The “Our History … Our Legacy” CD can be obtained through the Southeastern Public Information Office in East Stadium, (985) 549-2341. An order form will be available soon on the chapter’s Web site, www.selu.edu/phikappaphi.

     Also to commemorate its anniversary, Phi Kappa Phi unveiled a newly framed version of its original charter, which will hang in Sims Memorial Library. As the banquet’s keynote speaker Professor Emeritus of History C. Howard Nichols profiled the 24 charter members.

     The list of charter members -- eight initiated at other institutions and 16 Southeastern initiates – is a “who’s who” of Southeastern faculty and administrators. The eight original faculty members included Luther H. Dyson, then president of Southeastern Louisiana College; Roy E. Hyde, dean of the Division of Liberal Arts; Preston B. Allison, principal of Southeastern High School; Ralph W. Wilson, professor of business administration; Lucile Burgdahl, first grade supervisor at the Lab School; Anna S. Fendlason, professor of economics; Patricia Catlett, assistant librarian; and Christian Fischer, Jr., professor of agriculture.

     Other charter members were Roland Abegg, biology; Martina Ellis Buck, history; Luther E. Chandler, dean of the Division of Student Life; Anna P. Davis, librarian; Thomas E. Eudy, business administration; F. G. Fournet Jr., mathematics; Lynn F. Kluth, English and speech; Jack W. Knight, chemistry; Elmer E. Puls, dean of the Division of Applied Sciences; John T. Purser, English; Sidney J. Romero, history; Ronald D. Stetzel, music; J. B. Wooley, dean of the college; and Southeastern Laboratory School supervisors Sara Smythe eighth grade; Lucille England, third grade;  and Mary Schmidt, sixth grade.