Klamath Falls, Oregon – On October 24, Oregon Tech reached a big milestone by officially installing its own Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society chapter. This made it one of 364 schools across the country that are known for having high academic standards. The celebration honored the university’s commitment to service, scholarship, and integrity in all fields.
The oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society in the United States, Phi Kappa Phi, rewards the best students in every subject of study. Only the top 7.5% of juniors, 10% of seniors and graduate students, and outstanding faculty, staff, and alumni can join. The Society’s goal is to encourage academic success and build a community of people who are dedicated to learning and helping others.
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Oregon Tech’s chapter installation is a sign of its regional accreditation and long-standing reputation for academic achievement.
“Congratulations to the outstanding students, faculty, and staff establishing the Oregon Institute of Technology chapter of Phi Kappa Phi,” said Bradley R. Newcomer, Ph.D., Society Executive Director. “Your commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service reflects the very core of our Society’s values. May this new chapter stand as a beacon of scholarship, integrity, and the pursuit of a better future for all.”
Dr. Nagi Naganathan, the president of the university and a long-time member of Phi Kappa Phi, said that the chapter’s founding was a major accomplishment for Oregon Tech.
Naganathan says that this event increases the community’s commitment to scholarship and integrity since it shows that the initiative is the result of years of hard work and a common vision.
The newly formed chapter elected its first officers, including President Christopher J. Syrnyk, Ph.D., who also serves as Executive Director of the Honors Program and Professor of Rhetoric and Writing. Other officers include President-elect Christy VanRooyen, Secretary Mary-Jane Owen, and Treasurer Pake Melland, Ph.D. Syrnyk noted that membership in Phi Kappa Phi connects students to a network of accomplished individuals, including Nobel laureates, while also providing access to scholarships and professional opportunities.
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During the installation, 11 administrators from Oregon Tech became charter members. This shows how dedicated the university is to academic excellence as a whole. Some of them were Mandi Clark, the Vice President for Student Affairs; Hesham El-Rewini, the Provost; and Denise Seabert, Ph.D., the Interim Dean.
“Academic culture thrives when people set a good example. When faculty and staff show what it means to love learning and students encourage one another to reach higher, Oregon Tech becomes stronger,” Syrnyk said.
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The new chapter represents more than an honor—it stands as a symbol of Oregon Tech’s continued investment in excellence, leadership, and service to its academic community.
