Phi Sigma Pi

Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity () is a gender-inclusive and mixed-sex national honor fraternity based in the United States. The fraternity is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania to foster scholarship, leadership, and fellowship. Phi Sigma Pi chapters are at more than 140 four-year collegiate institutions.

History

Interested in creating an honor society at State Teachers College at Warrensburg (now the University of Central Missouri), professors Dr. Eldo L. Hendricks, Dr. Claude A. Phillips, and Dr. Clarence H. McClure contacted Phi Beta Kappa. Phi Beta Kappa policy stated that chapters could only be established on campuses of qualified liberal arts colleges and universities; the State Teachers College at Warrensburg did not meet this requirement. They also contacted Omicron Delta Kappa and nationally known social fraternities, which all had the same requirements as Phi Beta Kappa.

On February 14, 1916, Hendricks, Phillips, and McClure founded a new fraternity named Phi Sigma Pi Honorary Professional Fraternity when they could not find an existing fraternity to establish a chapter on their campus. Hendricks was the first to sign the fraternity's roll book, becoming known as Alpha 1, followed by Phillips and McClure. Its founders included three professors (the founding fathers) and ten male students.

Phi Sigma Pi's established ideals for its members called the Tripod: scholarship, leadership and fellowship:' The Alpha chapter inducted twelve new members the next year and continued to grow. In 1921, the fraternity became national, adding the Beta chapter at Northeast Missouri State University and the Gamma chapter at Bradley University. Other chapters were added during the 1920s and early 1930s.

Several chapters closed throughout the 1930s during the Great Depression. In 1934, Phi Sigma Pi began negotiating a merger with Kappa Phi Kappa, a larger educational fraternity. At the time, Phi Sigma Pi had 18 chapters and 500 members, and Kappa Phi Kappa had more than 40 chapters.

Since the fraternity had gone national in 1921, the leaders at the national level had been faculty advisors of the chapters and active alumni. By 1950, contact with alumni was critically affected by the war, and the faculty advisors who guided the fraternity through two decades were ready to retire. By 1954, Clair B. Wilson, James M. McCallister (Alpha), James K. Stoner, and long-time regional director Simon S. Shearer (Omicron) were gone. Death claimed Beecher Flanagan in 1950 and Sanders P. McComsey (Sigma) in 1955.

The regional director system was retired to utilize the leadership of the national officer positions. At the same time, The Lampadion ceased publication, leaving the Purple & Gold as the sole communication between the chapters and the national office. The fraternity was incorporated nationally in Illinois on April 25, 1949. The fraternity publishes the Purple and Gold magazine for collegiate members and The Lampadion for alumni.

Symbols

The society's badge is a monogram of the letters linked diagonally. The Phi may be enhanced with pearls. The Centennial badge allowed for contrasting purple stones on the center stroke of the Phi.

Distinguished service keys bearing the coat of arms are awarded to chapter presidents and secretaries who perform their duties faithfully and efficiently by the Grand Chapter.

The fraternity's colors are purple and gold.

Chapters

The fraternity has more than 140 chapters located across the United States. The fraternity has several alumni chapters, including Baltimore Metro Area, Capital, Delaware Valley, Middle Tennessee, New York Metro Area, and Southern Appalachian. There are also three alumni associations, including Detroit Area, Greater Boston, and Pittsburgh Area.

Activities

Philanthropy

Between 2007 and 2014, Phi Sigma Pi chapters raised $67,104.47 for the Teach For America National Philanthropy and sent 672 members and alumni to Teach for America regions and schools. In 2015, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY) became Phi Sigma Pi's National Philanthropy.

Scholarships

The fraternity offers several scholarships for its members, including The Richard Cecil Todd and Clauda Pennock Todd Tripod Scholarship, the Rolla F. Wood Graduate Scholarship, and the Lloyd G. Balfour Fellowship.

Notable members

Bob Boozer, athletic director and athletics coach
Jeremy Moss, Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives
Jordan Wall, actor