Bronze Tablet, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Ma-Wan-Da, and the Rhodes Scholarship – these are a sampling of the honors earned by our Omicron brothers over the years. The list below is based on research conducted in the Fall of 2006 – if you have any additions or corrections, please email alumni secretary, psiuoalumsec@gmail.com. Thanks very much to all the brothers who contributed information to this list – it simply wouldn’t have been possible to compile without everyones’ efforts.
Alumni Achievement Award: The Alumni Achievement Award was established in 1957 to recognize alumni of the University of Illinois who have attained outstanding success and national or international distinction in their chosen business, profession or life’s work, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on or bring honor to the institution.
Rexford S. Blazer ’28, Chairman of the Board – Ashland Oil and Refining Company (honored in 1968)
Beta Alpha Psi: Founded in 1919 at the U of I, it is the premier professional business information fraternity, recognizing academic excellence and complementing members’ formal education by providing interaction between students, faculty, and professionals.
Timothy T. Miller ’80
Beta Gamma Sigma: eta Gamma Sigma is the honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB International.
Peter Jensen ’54
Bronze Tablet: Since 1925, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has recognized the academic achievement of a select group of undergraduate students by inscribing their names on bronze tablets, which are prominently displayed on the first floor of the Main Library. Only the top 3% of undergraduate students receive this highly coveted award.Brock Booton ’11
Birton Cowden ‘05.5
Shawn E. Goodman ‘91.5
Brian D. Hughes ‘89.5
Mark G. Johnston ’87
Lawrence D. Rakers ’86
David Chen, M.D. ‘83.5
Jim Archer ’57
Ken Derby ’57
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering Machine Design Award: This award was established to honor a senior who has displayed outstanding interest and proficiency in the area of machine design. Faculty nominations are made to the Awards Committee, which selects the recipient whose name resides on a bronze plaque within the Mechanical Engineering Building.
Martin J. Hower ’80
Eagle Scouts: The Omicron Chapter as of late has recruited more than its fair share of Eagle Scouts. The Boy Scout rank of Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting but also in higher education, business or industry, and community service. To earn the award, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills; only about 2 percent of all Boy Scouts do so. Though this award primarily is earned before coming to campus, it is earned so close to one’s undergradute days and is such a rare honor, we’ve included it as well.
Kevin Sanchez ’10
Nathan Kuehlthau ’07
Scott Nellis ’06
Michael Warden ’06
Frank Bieszcat ’04
Justin Kuehlthau ‘03.5
Patrick Zurek ‘03.5
Justin D. Clark ’01
Henry W. “Trey” Meers III ’01
Chris Monroe ’01
Adam Boyko ’99
Chris Tierney ’99
Matthew Plavcan ‘97.5
Howard L. “Tad” Huntington ‘95.5
Rob Bohnsack ’93
John “Jay” B. McManus, Jr. ’89
Eta Kappa Nu Eta Kappa Nu is a unique membership organization dedicated to encouraging and recognizing excellence in the electrical and computer engineering field. Founded at the University of Illinois in 1904, members consist of students, alumni, and other professionals who have demonstrated exceptional academic and professional accomplishments.
Ken Fairbanks ’55
Chuck Morrill ’41
Golden Key Golden Key is an academic honour society which recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence among college and university students from all academic disciplines. The Society awards its members over $400,000 annually through 17 different scholarship and award programs.
Matt Buckles ’08
Ma-Wan-Da: This is a selective senior honor society which recognizes the dedication to the University of Illinois, service to the community, scholarship, and outstanding leadership of its members. Each Ma-Wan-Da class is limited to a maximum membership of 40.
Alan S. Hope ’89
Tom Sykes ’61
Sheldon J. Hauck ’58
Howard Emrich ’34
C. Lyman Emrich, Jr. ’32
George O. Hoffman ’27
Everett F. Wells ’26
Harold J. Orr ’20
National Society of Collegiate Scholars: The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is the nation’s premiere honor organization for high achieving students. Founded in 1994 at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., NSCS recognizes outstanding academic achievement among first- and second-year college students. Membership is based on grade point average and class standing, and is by invitation only. NSCS aims to honor, inspire and engage its members, and offers benefits including scholarships, leadership development, travel opportunities and career resources.
Mark Baker ’09
Matt Buckles ’08
Order of Omega: The Order of Omega is a National Honorary Greek Leadership Society. Members display excellence in academics, community service, and leadership within the Greek community, and participation in campus activities. The members represent the top 3% of all Greeks on campus by possessing these qualities.
Matthew Cajda ’03
Matthew DalSanto ’03
Thomas J. Fox ’00
Adam Boyko ’99
Rob Bohnsack ’93
Phi Alpha Theta: The History honor society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.Matt Buckles ’08David Komie ‘92.5
Tom Sykes ’61
Jim Archer ’57
Phi Beta Kappa: This esteemed honorary was founded on December 5, 1776, at the College of William and Mary. Since then, Phi Beta Kappa has evolved to become the nation’s leading advocate for the liberal arts and sciences at the undergraduate level. The Society’s distinctive emblem, a golden key, is widely recognized as a symbol of academic achievement.Matt Buckles ’08Kevin J. Clancy ‘90.5
Jim Archer ’57
Jack Rooney ’53
Dick Woods ’35
C. Lyman Emrich, Jr. ’32
Richard B. Ainsworth ’31
Hugh Graham ’31
Phi Eta Sigma: Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Phi Eta Sigma is the nation’s oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students in all disciplines. Inspired by the past and dedicated to the future, the Society’s mission is to encourage and reward academic excellence among freshmen in institutions of higher learning.
Andrew Chapello ’10
Mark Baker ’09
Matt Buckles ’08
Matthew Cajda ’03
Dave Komie ‘92.5
Bob Strauss ’63
Larry Weller ’63
Jon Hinrichs ’60
George Pease ’60
Robert Stiven ’58
Jim Archer ’57
Ken Derby ’57
C. Lyman Emrich, Jr. ’32
William M. Rice ’32
Richard B. Ainsworth ’31
Phi Chi Theta: Phi Chi Theta is a National coeducational Professional Fraternity in Business and Economics. Founded on June 16, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, the fraternity’s mission is: “To promote the cause of higher business education and training for all individuals, to foster high ideals for everyone pursuing a career in business; to encourage fraternity and cooperation among people preparing for such careers; and to stimulate the spirit of sacrifice and unselfish devotion to the attainment of such ends.”
Andrew Chapello ’10
Phi Kappa Phi: Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. Its chapters are on nearly 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.Matt Buckles ’08Jim Archer ’57
Peter Jensen ’54
Jack Rooney ’53
Pi Mu Epsilon: This honorary is dedicated to the promotion of mathematics and recognition of students who successfully pursue mathematical understanding.
Jack Rooney ’53
Rhodes Scholars: The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Only a handful of individuals in the entire history of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have earned this most prestigious of honors.
C. Lyman Emrich, Jr. ’32
Senior 100: Student Alumni Ambassadors and the University of Illinois Alumni Association recognize outstanding seniors through the Senior 100 Honorary. Undergraduate students are selected based on their academic standing and their involvement, initiative and leadership in both campus and community activities.Andrew Chapello ’10Alex Florea ’10
Matthew R. DalSanto ’04
Dean C. Marinakis ’90
E.L. Anderson ’83
Sachem: The U of I’s Junior Activities Honorary Society
Howard L. “Tad” Huntington ‘95.5
Howard Emrich ’34
C. Lyman Emrich, Jr. ’32
Jim McEdwards ’31Everett F. Wells ’26 Ralph Carlson ’20
Harold J. Orr ’20
Sigma Gamma Tau: Sigma Gamma Tau’s mission is “to offer appropriate recognition to persons of superior scholarship, outstanding character, and professional achievement in the field of Aeronautical Engineering.
Alan S. Hope ’89
Sigma Iota Epsilon: This management fraternity is dedicated to stimulating interest, scholarship, and achievement in the field of management and to facilitate contacts between students and practicing managers. It also seeks to recognize persons who have made contributions to the field of management and gain recognition of the contribution and value of scholastic achievement in the management discipline.
James W. Baker ’69
Skull & Crescent: Sophomore honorary society to recognize service to the University and the student body.
Tom Butler ’70
Mike Bracken ’70
Pat Gilmore ’69
James W. Baker ’69
Terry Stringer ’63
Sid Frisch ’62
Bob Pfeiffer ’61
John Bergstrom ’60
Deana Haning ’60
Rick Hudson ’59
Joe Miller ’59
Sheldon J. Hauck ’58
Sidney J. Hormel ’57
Ken Derby ’57
Barney Quandt ’56
John G. Knox ’50
Linell Bock ’46
Tom Davis ’46
Philip Dieffenbacher ’45
John F. Feagan ’44
Henry Diettrich ’44
John Austin ’43
Damon Tunnicliff ’43
Charles Schroeder ’42
Thomas Martin ’42
Park L. Brown ’41
Clark Zim Steward ’41
Kenneth L. Sears ’40
Gilman Paynter M.D. ’40
Charles McNair ’39
William McCoy ’39
Norman Lewis ’38
Roy J. Solfisburg Jr. ’38
G. Cameron Brown ’37
Selim Tideman Jr. ’37
Robert O. Lewis ’35
John Barth ’35
W. Howard P. Emrich ’34
John R. Clements ’34
John H. Holstein ’33
A. Holstein Jr. (class uncertain – probably ’32?)
Leo B. Varty ’32
John C. Nichols ’32
Wilbur McEdwards ’31
E. Willis Brown ’31
Frederick Blayney ’30
George Webster ’30
A Elliott (class uncertain – probably ’29)
Frederick A. Nichols ’29
Stephen Ambrose ’28
Walter Rogan ’28
John W. Cullen, Jr. ’27
Alvord L. “Al” Boeck ’27
Everett F. Wells ’26
John Howe ’25
Albert Eyclestymer ’25
F. Olney Brown ’25
Delmar L. Kroehler, Jr. ’24
Donald Huckins ’24
J. Russell Scott ’23
Arthur Humphries ’23 (possibly Humphrey)
Donald Warren ’22
H. H. Evans ’22
John Tredwell Jr ’21
Rodney Mason ’21
John Guthrie ’20
George Koch ’20
R. Carbon (class uncertain – probably ’19)
John Cook ’18Walter Hayne ’18
Richard Foster ’17
Christian Gross ’17
Oscar R. Zipf ’16
Dudley Crane ’16
J. Reber (class uncertain – probably ’15)
D. F. Comstock ’15
William Fielder ’14
H. Egan (class uncertain – probably ’13 or ’14)
P. N. Chase ’13
G. Richmond (class uncertain – probably ’12 or ’13)
Tau Beta Pi: Tau Beta Pi is a national engineering honor society for those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as undergraduates in engineering.. and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges.
Alan S. Hope ’89
Mike Summers ’69
Ken Derby ’57, President
Ken Fairbanks ’55
Gene Lewis ’55
University of Illinois Presidents Council
Sheldon J. Hauck ’58
John W. Healey ’58
G. Cameron Brown ’37
William E. Winter Award for Outstanding Advocate Leadership for the Urbana-Champaign campus: This award was established by the university to recognize individuals who understand, support, and promote the development efforts of the University of Illinois.
Guy Fraker ’60 – Recipient in 2005 and past president of the U of I Library Friends Board of Directors