Karen McLerran, shown here with her family, was recently elected to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Karen McLerran was recently elected to the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Standards for election are extremely high. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of second-semester juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. 

Because Phi Kappa Phi is highly selective, membership is a stamp of excellence that is recognized by graduate and professional school admissions committees and employers alike.

Phi Kappa Phi’s 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.”

In honoring “those persons of good character who have excelled in scholarship, in whatever field, it will stimulate others to strive for excellence,” the organization says. 

A few notable members of Phi Kappa Phi include: Stephen Ambrose, David Baldacci, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, John Grisham, Milton Stover Eisenhower.

“I am flattered and humbled that the faculty at TTU selected me for this prestigious honor,” McLerran said. 

The initiation ceremony and reception took place on Monday, November 9 at Tennessee Tech University.  McLerran maintains a 4.0 GPA and is working toward her Doctorate in Psychology.