Florida Southern College has moved up in the ranks of distinction of Omicron Delta Kappa, the distinguished national honor society.

Faculty and student leaders of the FSC chapter, or circle, of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) were notified recently that it has been named a Superior Circle by the organization. Florida Southern joins just five other schools with that distinction, out of 300 member schools nationwide.

"We are in pretty good company," said Prof. Larry Burke, who is faculty secretary for the College's ODK circle.

The honor is the second-highest distinction a campus circle can receive. Burke said FSC earned the award because it has maintained a Circle of Distinction status for five consecutive years. If the FSC circle maintains its status as a Superior Circle for three years, it may be named a Presidential Circle, an honor granted to only one school this year.

In order to attain Circle of Distinction, a circle must take an active leadership role on its campus, organizing high-profile events that demonstrate service and scholarship, Burke said. The circle must also take part in regional and national ODK activities.

"It's just showing the circle is active and doing its part to maintain the health of the organization," Burke said.
ODK began in 1914 at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. It is a society dedicated to encouraging leadership in five areas: scholarship, athletics, the creative and performing arts, campus and community service, and journalism or mass media.

Membership is limited to juniors and seniors, who must have a grade point average in the top 35 percent of the student body and demonstrate leadership in at least two of the five areas. No more than three percent of the student body may join ODK.

The ODK circle at Florida Southern marked its 60th anniversary last spring. It currently has about 22 members, and a new class will be initiated this fall.