Pharmacy students, dean initiated into Phi Kappa Phi

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's most selective honor society for all academic disciplines.

even students associated with the School of Pharmacy, as well as the school's dean, David D. Allen, were initiated April 11 into the University of Mississippi chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society during a ceremony in the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines.

Student initiates are Aftan Paige Cato of Advance, Mo., Brian Hubbard of Eupora, Taylor Loosier of Olive Branch, Tyler Mickey McCay of New Albany, Brianna Michelle Mills of Waynesboro, Sarah Phillips of Collierville, Tenn., and Marcie Ramey of Fulton.

Cato, McCay and Phillips are enrolled in the third year of pharmacy's early-entry program, while Loosier is a junior pre-pharmacy major. Hubbard, Mills and Ramey are enrolled in the first year of pharmacy's professional program.

Student membership in Phi Kappa Phi is based on sound character and academic standing. Juniors must have completed 72 credit hours and must be ranked in the top 7.5 percent of their class, while seniors and graduate students must be ranked in the top 10 percent of their class.

"I am very honored to have been inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and to have been recognized by such a prestigious and selective society," Mills said.

Members of the university's faculty, administration and professional staff, whose scholastic records and/or outstanding achievements have rendered them worthy, are also eligible for membership. To become members, they must be nominated by representatives from their respective schools. In addition, their credentials must be examined by members of the local Phi Kappa Phi chapter's executive committee and recommended to the chapter for membership.

"Yesterday's Phi Kappa Phi initiation ceremony was an extremely rewarding event for me," Allen said. "It is always a joy to celebrate the achievements of our students, but it is also wonderful to have your own scholastic and professional accomplishments reviewed, validated and appreciated by your colleagues."

"Dean Allen's accomplishments are outstanding," Ramey said. "It is a great honor to be initiated along with him into Phi Kappa Phi."

Phi Kappa Phi was established 216 years ago, when its first chapter was created at the University of Maine.