Members of Phi Kappa Phi and the University of Memphis Honors Student Council are hosting "Geek Week" from April 21-25, and will host several events throughout the week to raise awareness for their associations.
"For Geek Week, Phi Kappa Phi and the Honors Student Council are joining forces to promote our organizations and to promote academics and honors on campus," TK Phung, 21, a senior biomedical engineering major and volunteer from the Honors Student Council, said.
Festivities began Monday as volunteers passed out popsicles on the University Center lawn to promote their upcoming activities.
Tuesday, the groups will hold a Harry Potter lecture by professors Cathy Dice and Tammy Jones at 6:30 p.m. in the Honors Hall. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Wednesday, career services will be on hand for a graduate school prep where they discuss the LSAT, MCAT, GRE and other graduate school exams. Geek Week concludes Thursday with a game night in Honors Hall.
Organizers hope that this week's events will help make eligible students aware of the benefits of joining an academic society.
"During the school year there is not a lot of opportunities for the honors councils to promote themselves because we usually do events just for our members," Phung said. "So, we are trying to open it up to all students so that they can learn about the honors program and Phi Kappa Phi to see if they want to join these organizations next year."
The Honors Student Council is part of the University Honors program, which describes itself as an enhanced educational experience for high-achieving students that offers students the opportunity to take small classes and interdisciplinary seminars with the University's faculty.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest honor society and was founded in 1897. While it is a nationwide, multidisciplinary society only the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors are eligible to join.
"There are a lot of networking possibilities, we have a scholarship grant for joining and a lot of other membership benefits to take advantage of," Shelby Price a child development major with Phi Kappa Phi said. "If you study hard, you can reward yourself by being recognized."
