Alpha Kappa Mu
Encyclopedia
The Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society (or ΑΚΜ) is an American
collegiate
honor society
recognizing academic excellence in all areas of study. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students are permitted to join. The official colors of Alpha Kappa Mu are Royal Blue
and white
.
Alpha Kappa Mu was founded in 1937 at Tennessee A&I State College
and was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies
in 1952. Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society grew out of an idea conceived by Dr. George W. Gore, Jr., then Dean of Tennessee A & I State College. Representatives from five Colleges which already had local scholastic honor societies on their campuses met in November 1937, to study Honorary Scholastic Societies at the invitation of Dr. Gore. The formation of "The Federation of Honor Societies" was the outgrowth of this meeting. The Executive Committee chosen for this Federation was:
Dean James C. Evans, West Virginia State College, Chairman
Miss Georgia L. Jenkins, Tennessee A & I State College, Secretary-Treasurer
Dean W. T. Gibbs, North Carolina A & T College
Dr. W. E. Farrison, Bennett College
Dr. George W. Gore, Jr., Tennessee A & I State College
Currently, there are approximately 92,000 members affiliated with 79 different chapters. Most chapters are found in the South
and Midwest
, and the majority are at public colleges and universities. The original goal of the honor society was to promote and reward academic excellence among African-American students. Due to their roots, most Alpha Kappa Mu chapters are still located at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
, though some can be found at predominantly white colleges, and today acceptance is race-blind.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
collegiate
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
recognizing academic excellence in all areas of study. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students are permitted to join. The official colors of Alpha Kappa Mu are Royal Blue
Royal blue
Royal blue describes both a bright shade and a dark shade of azure blue. It is said to have been invented by millers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of which won a competition to make a dress for the British queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz....
and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
.
Alpha Kappa Mu was founded in 1937 at Tennessee A&I State College
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
and was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies
Association of College Honor Societies
The Association of College Honor Societies , founded in 1925, is a predominantly American organization that serves a number of functions with respect to national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies...
in 1952. Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society grew out of an idea conceived by Dr. George W. Gore, Jr., then Dean of Tennessee A & I State College. Representatives from five Colleges which already had local scholastic honor societies on their campuses met in November 1937, to study Honorary Scholastic Societies at the invitation of Dr. Gore. The formation of "The Federation of Honor Societies" was the outgrowth of this meeting. The Executive Committee chosen for this Federation was:
Dean James C. Evans, West Virginia State College, Chairman
Miss Georgia L. Jenkins, Tennessee A & I State College, Secretary-Treasurer
Dean W. T. Gibbs, North Carolina A & T College
Dr. W. E. Farrison, Bennett College
Dr. George W. Gore, Jr., Tennessee A & I State College
Currently, there are approximately 92,000 members affiliated with 79 different chapters. Most chapters are found in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
, and the majority are at public colleges and universities. The original goal of the honor society was to promote and reward academic excellence among African-American students. Due to their roots, most Alpha Kappa Mu chapters are still located at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
, though some can be found at predominantly white colleges, and today acceptance is race-blind.
External links
- Alpha Kappa Mu - official website
- A Brief History of Alpha Kappa Mu