About OΔK
Omicron Delta Kappa was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, by 15 students and faculty leaders. The founders formulated the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized, that representatives in all phases of college life should cooperate in worthwhile endeavors, and that outstanding students, faculty and administrators should meet on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness.
OΔK was the first college honor society of a national scope to give recognition and honor for meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of general campus citizenship.
The basic unit of Omicron Delta Kappa is the collegiate Circle. The Samford University Circle was founded April 6, 1951. Since then, the Circle has been consistently involved with outreach activities in Marion, Alabama, the original site of Howard College (now Samford). In 2001, Samford's Circle was recognized for its fiftieth anniversary, and very recently was dubbed a "Circle of Distinction" by the national Omicron Delta Kappa organization. The Samford Circle strives to uphold the OΔK idea, which follows:
The OΔK Idea
The Purpose of The Omicron Delta Kappa Society is Threefold:
First, to recognize those who have attained a high standard of efficiency in collegiate activities and to inspire others to strive for conspicuous attainments along similar lines;
Second, to bring together the most representative students in all phases of collegiate life and thus to create an organization which will help to mould the sentiment of the institution on questions of local and intercollegiate interest;
Third, to bring together members of the faculty and student body of the institution on a basis of mutual interest and understanding.
Five Major Phases of Campus Life: Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes and encourages achievement in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service, social and religious activities, and campus government; journalism, speech, and the mass media; creative and performing arts.
Five Indispensable Qualifications for Membership: Exemplary character, responsible leadership and service in campus or community life, superior scholarship, genuine fellowship, and consecration to democratic ideals.
Diversity Statement: The OΔK Idea affirms and promotes openness and inclusiveness among all people. Membership selection shall be free of bias so that all qualified will be considered equitably for membership.
Five Point Program for Every College Campus: Inculcation of The OΔK Idea into every field of campus life; provision of intellectual leadership to campus movements; coordination of constructive movements; preservation of worthwhile traditions and customs; and improvement of the general welfare of the student body.
For more information about the national organization of Omicron Delta Kappa, please visit their web site: www.odk.org.