Anna Kempf Inducted in Phi Eta Sigma
Anna Kempf, of New Woodstock was one of 49 students inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, the International Honor Society rewarding first-collegiate-year scholarship, during a ceremony held Family Weekend in Peterson Chapel.
In addition to the 49 students, Joel Stoker, professor of religious studies, was inducted as an honorary member. Professor Stoker was selected because the membership found him to exemplify the qualities of Phi Eta Sigma through his commitment to continually pursuing intellectual growth and encouraging his students to do the same. Members also commented that Professor Stoker is extremely passionate about what he teaches and always finds ways to make his classes interesting.
Phi Eta Sigma, the oldest and largest first-year honor society, was founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois with the goal of encouraging and rewarding academic excellence among full-time, first-year students in institutions of higher learning.
The Society has established chapters in over 350 institutions of higher learning in the United States. Elmira College is the 289th chapter, established in 1990.
The three Greek letters, Phi, Eta, and Sigma, represent the basis of the organization’s membership, in that they mean literally “lovers of wisdom.”