National History

Taken from the ODK national website:

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded December 3, 1914 at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia by 15 student 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. ODK® 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. Chapters, which we call Circles, are located on over 295 campuses throughout the nation.

The Society recognizes achievement in the following five areas:

* Scholarship
* Athletics
* Campus/ Community Service, Social/Religious Activities, and Campus Government
* Journalism, Speech and the Mass Media
* Creative and Performing Arts

So great was its success at Washington and Lee University, and such was the clamor for similar chapters in other schools that Omicron Delta Kappa has now come to its present position of esteem. In 1930 Omicron Delta Kappa beacme a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, a new organization that attempted to create colloboration and standardization between these societies. Today 68 honor societies, including most of the societies at Tech, are part of ACHS. ODK ranks 12th largest among these societies, and is the only society that focuses exclusively on leadership and scholarship.

As mentioned above, today Omicron Delta Kappa has reached a high level of national prominence, with nearly 300 member circles and over 260,000 initiated. There are now also ten alumni clubs, including one in Atlanta.

The national constitution establishes the purpose of Omicron Delta Kappa:

First, to recognize men who have attained a high standard of efficiency in collegiate activities, and to inspire others to strive for conscious attainments along similar lines.

Second, to bring together the most representative men in all phases of collegiate life and thus to create an organization which will help to mould the sentiment of the institution of local and collegiate interest.

Third, to bring together members of the faculty and student body of the institution on a basis of mutual interest and understanding.