Trinity University

The Office of University Communications
pr@trinity.edu
(210) 999-8406
May 22, 2012

New Honor Society for All Members of Trinity University

Omicron Delta Kappa members include students, faculty, staff, and alumni

By Andrea Davis '12

SAN ANTONIO -Trinity University has established a circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) as its newest leadership honor society that accepts members from all levels of the Trinity community.

In a ceremony in the Parker Chapel Reception Room, led by a member of the ODK national board, 21 members of the Trinity community were initiated. Inductees into Trinity's inaugural ODK class included:

Professors:

• Robert Blystone, biology
• L. Brooks Hill, human communications and theatre
• Don Van Eynde, business administration

Staff:

• Ben Newhouse '99, campus and community involvement
• Jamie Thompson '05, campus and community involvement
• Cynthia Uviedo '93, major gifts

Students:

• Leigh Ainsworth '12
• Claire Baxter '12
• Sheila Castle '12
• Alison DeLizza '12
• Emily Endres '12
• Laura Fraser '13
• Joshua Friedman '13
• Erika Friedmeyer '12
• Rachel Garrett '12
• Claire Gerall '12
• Erica Jordan '12
• Natasha Kopecky '12
• Jamie McClave '12
• Christian Robison '13
• Kelly Watts '13

ODK differs from other honors societies at Trinity in that membership includes students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Usually a faculty or staff member serves as an adviser to the group, but in ODK, faculty and staff are equal members with students. The format offers a unique opportunity for collaboration, mentoring, and extensive interactions between faculty, staff, and students.

According to Jamie Thompson, assistant director for Campus & Community Involvement and co-founder of ODK, the group's members fulfill one or more of the organization's five pillars of campus life.

"ODK specifically invites students who have excelled in several areas of campus life," Thompson said. "Thus, the membership is varied and diverse, and intentionally so."

Founded in 1914 at Washington and Lee University, ODK was the first national college honor society to recognize and honor meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of general campus citizenship.  

The society recognizes achievement in the areas of  scholarship; athletics; campus/ community service; social/religious activities; campus government; journalism, speech and mass media; and creative and performing arts. Student members must rank in the top 35 percent of their class.  Since its founding, Omicron Delta Kappa has initiated over 300,000 members at more than 300 institutions across the country.

Text provided by Andrea Davis of Farmington, N.M., who graduated from Trinity University in May 2012 with a degree in history and English. She was a student worker in the Office of University Communications.