The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi-the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines recently recognized the University of Nevada, Las Vegas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi as a Chapter of Excellence, the highest commendation a chapter can receive from the organization. The award is given to chapters that excel in recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engaging the community of scholars in service to others. “By receiving the Chapter of Excellence distinction, the UNLV chapter is recognized as a thriving organization that meets frequently, holds annual initiations and applies frequently for Phi Kappa Phi’s select scholarships, grants, and fellowships,” said Society Executive Director Mary Todd.

“Although the UNLV chapter has a long and distinguished history, it had never before won the Chapter of Excellence Award,” said Dr. Rainier Spencer, chapter president. “After hosting a meeting in June 2011 with nearby chapters, our Board dedicated the next year to doing everything we could to meet the necessary requirements. We are so proud for our chapter to have won this distinction, and we will strive to continue to clear that bar year in and year out.”

Aug. 9-11, 2012

Partnering for Success and national PKP convention in St. Louis.

The National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has awarded a $2,500 literacy grant to UNLV’s Chapter 100 to fund the creation of the Rebel Reading Room at Dean Petersen Professional Development School. The partnership will fund a special environment for Petersen students who are working hard to improve their reading, language, and interaction skills.

The Rebel Reading Room will contain a variety of books, both printed and audio (especially helpful to language learners), and reading tablets so students could have a chance to read magazines and newspapers online and do rudimentary research. “My main idea is to give kids a safe, fun, and environmentally ‘poppin’ space they can explore, read, dream, wonder, and fall in love with learning and literature,” says James Bowen, school librarian.

Petersen Professional Development School is located within a mile of the UNLV campus. About 70 percent of the students enrolled are classified as Hispanic/English Language Learners, and 96 percent qualify for free lunches. Once the Rebel Reading Room has been established, Phi Kappa Phi members will explore other ways to extend their partnership with Petersen.