Mark of Honor: SMC Installs Phi Kappa Phi Charter
A newly framed document hangs prominently near the visitor’s entrance of Brother Jerome West Hall. The charter highlighting Saint Mary’s membership in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is one of the first signs of academic excellence that prospective students and their families encounter during a visit to the College.
Placing the Phi Kappa Phi charter in a location where SMC admissions ambassadors begin their tours of the College was intentional. “The executive council of the Saint Mary’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi voted to permanently house the charter in the visitor’s entrance in recognition of the value the College places upon the scholarship and service of our student and faculty members who are members of Phi Kappa Phi,” said SMC Associate Librarian Brother Richard Lemberg, who serves as the president of the Saint Mary’s chapter.
President James Donahue, Provost Margaret Kasimatis, members of the president's Cabinet, faculty, and students gathered in Brother Jerome on Feb. 14 to witness and celebrate the installation of the charter. “The ceremony symbolized the College’s achievement in being accepted into this prestigious national honor society—an achievement that took years of work and commitment,” Brother Richard said.
Provost Kasimatis offered congratulations to faculty members from the College’s four schools who petitioned the society for chapter recognition. “Phi Kappa Phi is a particularly appropriate honor society for Saint Mary’s, as it recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields, and provides opportunities for its community of scholars to engage in service to others,” the provost observed.
“Election to Phi Kappa Phi is an honor for our students and opens many opportunities for educational support, community-building, and other advantages,” Kasimatis added. “I want to thank those of you who brought this society to the College. You are providing a service to our students and helping support the College’s strategic goal of increasing our academic distinction.”
Invited to join the prestigious honor society last January, the College is Phi Kappa Phi’s 340th chapter. Society benefits include access to academic and career resources to assist members throughout their collegiate and professional lives. Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.4 million every two years to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study-abroad grants, and member and chapter awards for local and national literacy initiatives.
Members of SMC’s Phi Kappa Phi executive council include Brother Richard, Mathematics Professor James Sauerberg (vice president), Psychology Professor Emily Hause (secretary), Spanish Professor and Honors Program Director David Bird (treasurer), Education Professor Heidimarie Rambo (awards officer) and Library and Academic Resources Dean Patricia Kreitz (public information officer). The council also includes seniors Sabrina Nguyen, Ryan Villegas and Amanda Wong (student vice presidents).
Upcoming chapter events include the March 2018 James L. Hagerty Lecture on the Liberal Arts, co-sponsored by the Department of Philosophy and the Integral Program. The annual initiation of new members takes place in April. For more information about the chapter, contact Brother Richard at rlemberg@stmarys-ca.edu. For more information about the honor society, visit phikappaphi.org.