On the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 10, Millsaps College's Pi Circle of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society celebrated its 80th anniversary at the College. ODK is a national honor society, which was founded in 1914 at Washington and Lee University to recognize leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college life—from students to faculty and administration. There are now more than 300 ODK circles in the United States, with the Millsaps chapter being the 16th established.

“One of the strengths of a Millsaps education is the strong mentoring relationship that is formed with students, faculty, professional staff members and administrators of the College,” said Janet Langley, treasurer for the circle chapter.

The 80th anniversary celebration coincided with the initiation of 11 new members. The ceremony opened with Dr. Don Fortenberry—former Millsaps chaplain and current minister for student missions—whose invocation prayed “that the desire clean living and thinking, for higher purposes and ideals, for moral strength and integrity may ever remain close to our hearts.”

Students Jessica Sanford (president of the circle), Ashley McPhail, Holly Dickens and Becky Lasoski, all of whom are seniors at Millsaps, continued the initiation with an explanation of ODK and what it means to belong to the honor society. Five faculty and staff members then lit candles to represent the five major phases of college life for which the society stands: Dr. Richard Smith, dean of the College, for Scholarship; Dr. Pat Taylor, associate professor of economics, for Athletics; Dr. Darby Ray, associate professor of religious studies and director of the Faith & Work Initiative, for Campus or Community Service, Social, Religious Activities, and Campus Government; Patti Wade, director of communications and marketing, for Journalism, Speech, and the Mass Media; and Dr. David Davis, associate professor of history and associate dean of arts and letters, for Creative and Performing Arts.

Dr. Sallis, emeritus professor of history, and Dr. T.W. Lewis, emeritus professor of religion, were guest speakers. They recalled their years of association with ODK, either as a student or a faculty secretary. One common thread found in the remarks was the significant impact ODK members had on bringing issues before the campus community. 

Throughout the years, members have discussed and acted upon weighty issues such as racism, sexual assault and the honor code. Dr. Taylor remarked that the idea for the honor code arose in ODK. Though some might think of it as a faculty or administrative initiative, he said it was ODK that pressed for the code. “It was purely a student initiative,” said Dr. Taylor. “It was invented by Pi Circle, and the faculty later adopted the idea.” Dr. Sallis noted that when Phi Beta Kappa was chartered at Millsaps in 1989, nine of the 14 charter members were members of ODK. At every turn, comments by the speakers illustrated the accomplishments of the individual members and the value of ODK to the Millsaps community.

Eleven members were inducted at this ceremony: students Beth Ann Baker, Lacey Elizabeth Cook, Ashley Joyce Ferguson, Charles Marvin Gordon Jr., Brandon Haynes, William Scott Hays II, Ashley Rae Hewitt, Jessica Lee Hoffpauir, Hannah Marie McKnight, Nancy Salloum and Amanda Dawn Stevens. M.L. Gough, of the student life office, was admitted as an honorary member. The Pi Circle at Millsaps College has initiated 1,387 members since its founding in 1926.