Two local residents have been initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.
Kerrigan Clark of Maben and Mary Mae Turner of Mathiston were both initiated at Mississippi State University.
Kerrigan is majoring in business administration at MSU with a concentration in accounting, finance and insurance. She has also been inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society.
Kerrigan is the daughter of Brian and Mimi Clark, and granddaughter of Danny McMullen and the late Libby Pepper McMullen and Jerry Clark and the late Waynette Johnson Clark.
Mary Mae is pursuing a degree in biological science at MSU. She is the daughter of Rob and Valerie Turner of Mathiston, and granddaughter of Jeanette McMurry of Mathiston and Sam and Tricia Turner of Starkville.
These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.
Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann, who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”
