The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi 

National History
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi traces its origin to the University of Maine, 1897. Early in that year, a small group of seniors headed by Marcus L. Urann proposed that a society be formed to elect the ten highest-ranking seniors to an honor group. Following discussion with A.W. Harris, president of the University, and several interested professors, the Society of Lambda Sigma Eta was born. In 1899, the name of the group was changed to the Morrill Society, in honor of the senator who sponsored the act which created land-grant colleges. In 1900, the Society expanded to other campuses and adopted the name Phi Kappa Phi. The name originated from the initial letters of the three Greek words forming the Society's adopted motto: Philosophia Krateito Photon, "Let the Love of Learning Rule Humanity." It is significant that this expansion was the work of three college presidents: Harris of Maine, C.W. Dabney of the University of Tennessee, and G.W. Atherton of Pennsylvania State College (now Pennsylvania State University).

In 1925, Phi Kappa Phi was one of the founding members of the Association of College Honor Societies and continues to participate actively in the Association.

In 1969, the Phi Kappa Phi Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation to promote the ideals of scholarship by providing the opportunity for Phi Kappa Phi to receive tax-exempt gifts for the support of fellowships and other awards to reward and stimulate high academic achievement. For first year graduate work, the society offers annually through the Foundation 50 Fellowships and 30 Awards of Excellence, on a competitive basis, to graduating students who have been initiated into the Society and who have been nominated by their chapters for the competition.

Currently, there are more than 285 chapters of Phi Kappa Phi in institutions from Maine to Hawaii and the Philippines, and from Alaska to Puerto Rico.

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