Senior societies at University of Pennsylvania

Senior societies at University of Pennsylvania are a part of Penn student life.[1][2][3]

The three traditional senior societies are Friars, Sphinx, and Mortarboard. Friars and Sphinx explicitly seek campus leaders while Mortarboard seeks to recognize "achievements in scholarship, leadership, and service".[4] Friars and Sphinx are exclusive to the University of Pennsylvania while Mortarboard is a national honor society.

Since 2000 (with the exception of Hexagon which was founded in 1910, and Onyx which was founded in 1974[5]), students have founded ten additional senior societies, seeking to recognize excellence in other spheres of the Penn community.

Cultural/Heritage-Based - Onyx (African-American), Oracle (Asian), Cipactli (Latino)
School-Based - Lantern (Wharton), Hexagon (Engineering), Nightingale (Nursing)
Activity-Based - Omega (Greek Life), Bell (Entrepreneurship), Osiris (Performing Arts), Kinoki (Film)
Other Groups - Carriage (LGBT & Allies)

Sphinx Senior Society

The Sphinx Senior Society University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1900, is the oldest honor society at Penn, recognizing the top seniors who have made significant contributions to the university as leaders of the campus. Continuing in this tradition, the society has come to represent all facets of university life and has reflected the changing face of Penn’s student body. Members today include leaders in student government, performing arts, media, service groups, cultural organizations, Greek life, athletics, and other realms of student affairs. Sphinx was the first senior society at Penn to admit African-Americans, doing so in 1952,[6] and in February 1971 [7] was the first to admit women.

Friars Senior Society

The Friars Senior Society is one of oldest senior societies at the University of Pennsylvania and is considered the most active by alumni and undergraduates. Though there is still debate whether Friars was created in 1899 or in 1901, but both Friars and Sphinx were recognized by the University the same year, 1901. Founded by Daniel Keller, Friars was founded to protest cliques and strive against caddishness and snobbery, and to establish uncompromising democracy in University activities. Friars promotes interaction between those from all walks of life who have given their time and energies to making the University what it is; hence, the name Friars, for those who sacrifice their time during college to meaningful activities.

Each Friar senior class is composed of student leaders 'tapped' during the spring of their junior leaders year (where it accepts at least 20 into the society), and another 12 or so senior leaders taken in the fall. Membership is intentionally drawn from all walks of campus: the only common thread is that everyone in the society are top leaders and contribute to the Penn community. Typically, the group consists of about 1/3 athletic captains or otherwise excellent players, 1/3 performing arts leaders, and 1/3 Greek, Government, Publications and Community Service leaders. Members support each other throughout the year through attendance at shows and events and they get together for pure social interactions and perform various community service projects during their senior year as well. In 2004 it held its first Friarside Coffeehouse that has raised thousands of dollars for charity while bringing the talents of Penn's performing arts groups to the masses. Friars first admitted women in the spring of 1971 and it is because of Friars that there is a Penn school mascot, Feb club, over 60 activities at Penn and the march portion of Hey Day. Friars also played a part in the creation of Spring Fling.

Once Friars graduate, they still remain active in the organization. Friars receive regular Friar communication throughout the year and have half a dozen Friar alumni events they can attend at Penn and around the country which is why they are considered the most active group of its kind at Penn. As of 2015, the Friars Alumni Association numbered almost 2000 worldwide and is governed by the Friars Graduate Board.

Famous Friars include: Ed Rendell (Governor of Pennsylvania), Harold Ford (Tennessee Congressman), Jack McCloskey (NBA Coach and General Manager), Fran Dunphy (Penn and now Temple head basketball coach), David Montgomery (President, Philadelphia Phillies), Mark DeRosa (Professional Baseball Player), Elizabeth Banks (Actress), Vanessa Bayer (Comedian on Saturday Night Live), Samuel Campbell III (Creator of the Moon Pie), Brent Novoselsky and Jim Finn (Professional NFL Football Players), Andrea Mitchell Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC News), George McClelland, Martin Meyerson, Sheldon Hackney, Claire Fagin (University President).

Onyx Senior Society

The Onyx Senior Honor Society was founded at the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 by seven university students: Claudette Christian, Craig Inge, Sharon Moorer, Linda Walker, Charles Wardlaw, Joseph Watkins and Robert Wilson. These pioneers, with the aid of administrators Provost Elliot, Dean of Students, Alice E. Emerson, and Associate Dean of Students, Harold Haskins, formed the honor society to encourage and provide incentive for high academic achievement and community service at the university. These collaborators sought to recognize and commend outstanding performance within, and outside of, the classroom. The organization has played and continues to play a significant role in promoting academic success and survival for minority students operating in an often competitive environment.

One of the goals of Onyx was to re-establish the Society for African-American Students at the University of Pennsylvania. The society provided an all expenses paid program for black students in the summer before their first year. The program lasted from 1969–72 and concentrated on preparing its participants for the academic mainstream by providing books, room and board, a stipend, and two credited courses. This program later birthed the Pre-Freshman Program. In response to such changes, the goals of Onyx have also changed and developed over time. In the past, Onyx has focused on forums as a means to inform the campus community about black issues. Some topics have included the organization and promotion of networking and support within the black community as well as the provision of mentoring for both the campus and surrounding Philadelphia communities. Onyx hopes to create a positive social experience for blacks at the university and to recognize black achievement past and present. Notable members include Grammy Award winning singer John "Legend" Stephens, former U.S. Congressman Harold Ford Jr., and former mayor of New Orleans and current National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial.

Hexagon Senior Society

Hexagon is a senior society devoted to recognizing leaders of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The society was founded in 1910 to promote fraternization across different engineering majors. Members often lead tours of the Engineering School buildings.

Mortar Board Senior Society

Mortar Board is a chapter of the national Mortar Board Senior Honor Society. They recognize Juniors and Seniors for their achievement.

Bell Senior Society

The Bell Society was founded in 2014. The organization brings together leaders of innovation and technology around Penn's campus. It is often associated with members of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology.

Oracle Senior Society

Oracle, founded in 2003 recognizes students demonstrating passion, leadership, commitment and achievements benefiting the Asian Pacific students and the Asian-American community[8] at the University of Pennsylvania.[9] The current class selects the new class every year based on the aforementioned qualities.[10][11]

Osiris Senior Society

Osiris, founded in the spring of 2013 by Lainie Huston and Jackson Foster, brings together senior leaders and outstanding members of the performing arts community at the University of Pennsylvania. The society draws its name from the god Osiris, who was believed by some in ancient Greco-Egyptian times to have been the god who brought together the 9 muses. Similarly, the society provides a forum for students of different art forms, including vocal, dance, theatrical, instrumental, photographic, and tech among others, to strengthen ties across the performing arts community. Throughout the year, members attend social events and support each other at shows, and each May members perform a senior showcase highlighting the talents of these students and fostering collaborative performance.[12]

Cipactli Latino Honor Society

Philosophy: The three pillars of Cipactli: Leadership, Academic Achievement, and Community Service.[13]

History: The Cipactli Latino Honor Society was founded in 2001 at the University of Pennsylvania by four students: Nancy Calderón, Randy Quezada, Sabrina Harvey, and Shaun Gonzales. The mission and purpose of the Cipactli Latino Honor Society is to acknowledge individual academic achievement, valued leadership, and distinguished service to the Latino community.[13]

Today: Cipactli continues its dedication to the Latino population at Penn and in the surrounding Philadelphia community. Cipactli is the only Latino Honor Society in the Ivy League and all of our members, whether of Latino heritage or not, are representative of our mission and purpose.[13]

Membership: The members of Cipactli are chosen anytime between their Sophomore Spring semester and Senior Fall semester and go through a rigorous application process. They are chosen for their outstanding work both in and outside the academic sphere as well as their deep commitment to helping their communities develop in a sustainable and meaningful way. We represent all four different schools at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a wide spectrum of student groups.[13]

Nightingales Senior Society

The Nightingales Senior Society was founded in 2011. It is a senior society designated for seniors in the School of Nursing.

Carriage Senior Society

Carriage, founded in the spring of 2013, is a senior society of leaders from around campus who are members of the LGBT community or allies. Their symbol is the a carriage wheel and members refer to themselves as "Spokes."

Kinoki Senior Society

Kinoki was founded in the spring of 2014. It is an organization that brings together students who are passionate about film and plan on pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osa/honorsoc.html
  2. ↑ Finkelstein, Morgan (April 8, 2010). "Oh, Look, Senior Societies". Under the Button.
  3. ↑ Pollock, Jody (April 15, 2008). "'Tapping' into senior societies". The Daily Pennsylvanian.
  4. ↑ "About". Penn Mortar Board. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "History". Onyx Senior Honor Society. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. ↑ NEGROES ELECTED TO SPHINX AT U.OF P|New York Times, May 24, 1952>
  7. ↑ Male Honor Society at Penn Planing to Admit Women||New York Times, February 07, 1971>
  8. ↑ Congrats to the New inductees of Oracle Pan Asian American Community House
  9. ↑ Mission Oracle Senior Honor Society
  10. ↑ Class Oracle Senior Society
  11. ↑ Spring Senior Societies, Round Two Under the Button - April 9, 2012
  12. ↑ Osiris Senior Society
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 http://www.cipactlilhs.org/about.html