Academic honor societies provide important recognition for students’ achievements during their time at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). EKU offers two prestigious all-discipline honor societies: Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, each focused on unique aspects of educational achievements and success. This spring, EKU inducted new members into Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
“We know that college success goes beyond the classroom,” said EKU President David McFaddin. “The honor societies established on campus celebrate academic distinction, lifelong learning and service, offering an excellent means of recognizing student leaders and their dedication to positively impacting our campus and their communities.”
Omicron Delta Kappa (O∆K) and Phi Kappa Phi are a part of the Honor Society Caucus, a consortium of the most prestigious honor societies in the country. Invitations into these honor societies recognize distinguished performance in scholastics, research or leadership, sustained over their time at EKU.
“It is rewarding to recognize the academic achievements of our students by inducting them into Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. These honor societies have exacting standards, and I am proud that our students have demonstrated the intellectual capacity, work ethic and drive to be welcomed into the EKU chapters. It is a true reminder of mission and purpose—our faculty create opportunities for these students to envision and realize their potential,” said Dr. Sara Zeigler, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.
The spring inductees for OΔK enter the ranks of over 340,000 individuals who are seen as scholars and leaders. Those inducted into Phi Kappa Phi at Eastern Kentucky University this year include 36 students and 4 faculty members. Inductees for both honor societies are listed below.
“Being part of a community that values leadership and learning beyond the classroom really spoke to me,” said Dorthy Claire George, a sophomore at EKU studying biomedical science. Dorothy was inducted into both O∆K and Phi Kappa Phi, and her mother, Julie George, dean of EKU Libraries, was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi as a faculty member.
Omicron Delta Kappa was the first college honor society to give recognition and honor for leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of general campus citizenship. O∆K stands for the five major components of college life:
The unique mission of O∆K is to recognize and encourage collaboration among collegiate leaders and to help them improve their skills, share their ideas and continue to make a difference in their communities. Only juniors, seniors and graduate students who rise to the top 35% of their class and demonstrate leadership on campus and in the community are eligible to be initiated into OΔK.
Founded in 1897, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only to the top 7.5% of juniors and the top 10% of seniors and graduate students.
“The academic community that Phi Kappa Phi creates is truly what motivated me primarily to join. I love meeting like-minded and driven people at college, and PKP is the best of the best,” said Addyson Turner, a senior at EKU double majoring in English and communication studies.
The primary objective of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the recognition and encouragement of superior scholarship in all fields of higher education. Through their service to others, members of Phi Kappa Phi envision a better world driven by the love of learning.
Phi Kappa Phi has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni are initiated into the society each year. The chapter at EKU was formally established in 1971.
EKU Honor Societies 2025 Inductees
(Lists separated by honor society and sorted alphabetically by hometown, then by last name)
| Omicron Delta Kappa: Initiate | Hometown |
| Lauren Shea Fannin | Antioch, TN |
| Brandon Paul Edwards | Baxter, KY |
| Kacy Brocious | Berea, KY |
| Aidan Matthew Tackett | Berea, KY |
| Tori Watkins | Berea, KY |
| Grayson Elizabeth Dickens | Bowling Green, KY |
| Shanna Rae Myers | Bowling Green, KY |
| Ahmaud Rashaud Harris, Sr | Clarksville, IN |
| Thomas Edward Moore | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Matthew Hiner | Cuyahoga Falls, OH |
| Michael Scott Little, Jr | Eastview, KY |
| Amber Margaret Rose Norris | Eubank, KY |
| Samantha Lauren Flowers | Florence, KY |
| Selena Miskimen | Irvine, KY |
| Angel Boucher | La Grange, KY |
| Hazalen Cheyenne Grow | Lancaster, KY |
| Dorothy Claire George | Lexington, KY |
| Elizabeth Rebecca Greiner | Lexington, KY |
| Oryonne Linor Agnes Maynard | Lexington, KY |
| Crystal S. Washington | Lexington, KY |
| Davis Potter Veljkovic | Lexington, KY |
| Kaylyn Renee Stewart | Louisa, KY |
| Jason Davis | Louisville, KY |
| Kennedy Faith Bowles | Mount Sterling, KY |
| Taylor Gant | Perryville, KY |
| Cheyenne Rose Morton | Radcliff, KY |
| Dominic Caleb Acciardo | Richmond, KY |
| Sabrina LeAnn Moore | Richmond, KY |
| Mackenzie Jade Osterberg | Richmond, KY |
| Eric Lee Sokolowski | Richmond, KY |
| Meghan Mariah Sullivan | Richmond, KY |
| Dr. Janna Vice (Alumni) | Richmond, KY |
| Blake Andrew Parman | Shepherdsville, KY |
| Abigail Faye Howard | Simpsonville, KY |
| Hannah M Huff | Totz, KY |
| Madeline Rose Lindauer | Troy, IN |
| Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate and Graduate Students: Initiate | Hometown |
| Mia Thomas | Alexandria, VA |
| Mariah Winstead | Berea, KY |
| Kaylie Farmer | Corbin, KY |
| Kira Louise Kent | Edgewood, KY |
| Clara Diaz Maldonado | Galloway, OH |
| Tara Sky Haddix | Georgetown, KY |
| Katie Hendrix | Hebron, KY |
| Kathleen Irwin | Irmo, SC |
| Olivia Madison Clemons | Jackson, KY |
| Jackson Marchal | Lakenheath, United Kingdom |
| Maddie Bowen | LaGrange, KY |
| Lily Xiaoting Breeze | Lexington, KY |
| Kira Ashley Dooley | Lexington, KY |
| Malina Gaworski | Lexington, KY |
| Dorothy Claire George | Lexington, KY |
| Abigail Jeffries | Lexington, KY |
| Addyson Turner | Lexington, KY |
| Kassidy Burke | Louisa, KY |
| Rebecca Alexandra Benge | Mount Sterling, KY |
| Emily Colonel | New Richmond, OH |
| Kendall Pierce | Nicholasville, KY |
| Natalie Abner | Richmond, KY |
| William Robert Lampert II | Richmond, KY |
| Julia Ellen Luxon | Richmond, KY |
| Danielle Renfro | Richmond, KY |
| Gracie Howard Smith | Richmond, KY |
| Mary Pat Nelson | Richmond, VA |
| Madeline Joyce Lainhart | Shelbyville, KY |
| Graden Quinn Baker | Somerset, KY |
| Hannah Leigh Cundiff | Somerset, KY |
| Mahala Marie Gibson | Somerset, KY |
| Evan Mullins | Somerset, KY |
| Kelsey Young Downs | Springfield, KY |
| Mary Louise Hesterwerth | Tucson, AZ |
| Sarah Hallman | Versailles, KY |
| Kyle Miller | Versailles, KY |
Phi Kappa Phi Faculty and Professional Staff Inductees:
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