History of ASU Chapter:

Not long after then-Augusta College granted its first baccalaureate degrees in June of 1967, there developed an interest in establishing a chapter of a national honor society at the college in order to recognize outstanding students. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi was identified early in the consideration as a likely society to approach because it recognized outstanding scholarship in all of the fields in which the college offered degrees.

Quite by coincidence, Dr. James T. Barrs, a member of the faculty at Northwestern University and the Vice-President, Eastern Region, of Phi Kappa Phi, paid an unannounced visit to the campus and dropped by the Dean of the college's office one spring evening to discuss the possible interest of Augusta College in establishing a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.

It was clear from the discussion that Augusta College fell short of a number of the quantitative criteria followed by Phi Kappa Phi in approving establishment of chapters, but it was also apparent that the college was approaching a time when it would satisfy all the requirements.

The matter was referred to the college's Awards and Honors Committee which continued to monitor the situation. After correspondence and discussion with officers of Phi Kappa Phi, their Executive Council authorized Augusta College, on March 30, 1972, to prepare a petition for the establishment of a chapter on its campus.

In the fall of 1972, under the leadership of James I. St. John, chairman of the college's Awards and Honors Committee, a petition was prepared for submission to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. It was the considered opinion on campus at that time that Augusta College met all of the criteria used in evaluating petitions for the establishment of new chapters. The petition was submitted to the Board of Phi Kappa Phi in March of 1973.

Professor James St. John was informed on October 18, 1973 by Dr. James T. Barrs that the Board of Phi Kappa Phi had considered the petition of Augusta College and was delaying approval. The major points cited for the delay were concern for the present housing of the library, a request that a larger proportion of the petitioners be members of Phi Kappa Phi, and that attention be given to the importance of publishing done by the petitioners.

Additional information noting the Phi Kappa Phi membership of one more of the petitioners, and informing the Phi Kappa Phi Board that funding for a new library had been approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in October 1973 with ground-breaking scheduled for 1974 was submitted. Professor St. John was informed in April 1974 by Regent George L. Robertson that the Board had approved the petition to establish a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi at Augusta College on April 4, 1974.

The installation ceremony was conducted by Dr. James T. Barrs in the Towers of the college's Activities Center on the evening of May 30, 1974. The twelve faculty members who had signed the petition for establishment of the chapter -- Adelheid Atkins, Frances Eugenia Corner, J. Gray Dinwiddie, Marya DuBose, James Dye, Jane Elkins, Walter Evans, Julian Heyman, Louise McCommons, Harold Moon, Thomas Ramage, and James Smith -- were installed as Charter Members of the Augusta College Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, and ten of the petitioners participated in a ceremonial signing of the chapter's charter along with Harry W. Thompson, Virginia Evans deTreville, Janice Turner, and Cheryl Wilkes.

Chapter president James Smith, vice-president Louise McCommons, president-elect Cheryl Wilkes, secretary-treasurer Marya DuBose, and public relations officer Walter Evans were installed as the officers of the chapter. Students inducted as members were Francesca Boerner, Elizabeth Chancellor, John Clements, Jr., Thomas Fitzpatrick, Jr., Gwen Hopkins, Barbara Lewis, Elfriede McLean, Lenora Moffa, Cheryl Nysewanter, Sheryl Simmons, Susan Tillman Smith, Jan Sulzicki, Gloria Gail Sutherland, Kathryn Thompson, Arthur Wacaster, and Judy Walden. College president George A. Christenberry hosted a dinner for the entire group.