Arts & Sciences

The NKU chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society has received an award of distinction from the national organization.

Alpha Beta Phi, a chapter established in 1985 within the NKU History & Geography Department, was given the 2012 Nels A. Cleven Award after earning the honor society’s Best Chapter Award 20 times in the last 21 years.

“We have a few chapters that have won as many awards as NKU,” said Dr. Graydon Tunstall, executive director of Phi Alpha Theta, “but we consider NKU to be one of our flagship chapters for its long record of impressive success.”

Phi Alpha Theta has more than 930 chapters across the country. The chapters are divided into six divisions based on student enrollment.

The society gives its Best Chapter Award based on student activities, community service and participation in local and national Phi Alpha Theta events. The Cleven Award was established in 2003 to recognize perennial winners of the Best Chapter Award. This is the second time in the last five years that NKU has received the national award of distinction.

“This award reflects our students’ commitment to excellence in academics and in community engagement, and it illustrates that they do those things better than any other chapter in the country,” said Dr. William Landon, interim chair of the NKU History and Geography Department.

The Alpha Beta Phi chapter at NKU publishes the scholarly journal, Perspectives in History, each year. Members have also delivered research papers at Phi Alpha Theta national conventions.

Landon, who has served as faculty advisor for Alpha Beta Phi, knows the level of commitment NKU students have made to

the organization.

“Here is a group of dedicated young women and men who have put the mission of our university –  its dedication to public service and community engagement and the rigors of academics – into practice,” Landon said. “And, they manage to have an exceptionally good time doing it.”