Pi Gamma Mu, a nationally recognized honor society for high-achieving students striving toward a career in the social sciences, conducted its induction ceremony Dec. 22, 2020, with a virtual format.
The society was founded in Kansas in 1924 and is the oldest and preeminent interdisciplinary honor society in the social sciences.
The Newman University chapter has been led for many years by Professor Emeritus for the Division of Social Sciences Larry Heck, Ph.D.
Heck has been involved in the organization for more than 40 years.
Pi Gamma Mu President Olivia Camarena and the executive team joined Heck and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Long, Ph.D., in recognizing 41 students as new members of Pi Gamma Mu.
Long said, “The initiation into an honor society is an important achievement. Not only does it recognize students of character, but it also helps employers and civic leaders identify new potential leaders.
“Honor societies also provide you with opportunities to meet like-minded people, network with valuable contacts that will help you throughout your career and provide you with opportunities to engage in issues and service that matter to you,” she said.
The society has seven ideals: scholarship, science, social science, social idealism, sociability, social service and sacrifice.
Camarena said, “The society aims to reward interest and achievement in the study of social sciences by the conferring of membership upon those who have thus distinguished themselves and who accept the society’s aims and ideals.”
Suzanne Rupp, executive director of Pi Gamma Mu, also congratulated the organization’s newest members.
“I am honored to join you in celebrating the newest initiates of the Kansas Theta Chapter of Pi Gamma Mu,” she said. “Congratulations new members; you should be proud of your accomplishments. Gaining an invitation to Pi Gamma Mu is no easy task. It is the result of years of hard work and dedication to the social science field that shape our society.”
