Oxford, MS – (Contributed) – University of Mississippi students, including some from Jonesboro, were welcomed into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor societies for all academic disciplines.

The university held an induction ceremony on Nov. 2 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on campus.

The following Jonesboro students were inducted:

  • Morghan Weaver, majoring in general business
  • Sydney Woodard, majoring in English education

“Phi Kappa Phi is a prestigious honor society with high academic performance requirements, but there is so much more to this organization,” said Allyn Cascio, Phi Kappa Phi chapter president and UM instructional associate professor of management. “We must also recognize other aspects of Phi Kappa Phi’s mission: using scholastic and leadership skills to enhance the surrounding community.

“Our members do not only exhibit outstanding scholastic accomplishments. They truly embrace the organization’s founding vision: ‘Let the love of learning rule humanity.’

“This profound statement deserves a moment’s consideration. It reflects the fundamental notion that the act of learning is not simply a means to an end. The learning process – and the belief that all should have the opportunity to experience it – is something we cherish. We challenge our new members to continue making their marks academically and channel those talents as they serve others with the same vigor.”

Phi Kappa Phi membership is based on a student’s character and academic standing. Juniors must have completed 72 credit hours and rank in the top 7.5% of their class, while seniors and graduate students must rank in the top 10% of their class.

The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state’s flagship university.

Included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. Its 16 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and an Honors College acclaimed for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action.

Recognized among the nation’s most beautiful, Ole Miss’s main campus is in Oxford, which is routinely acknowledged as one of the country’s best college towns.