About Eta Kappa Nu
Introduction
Eta Kappa Nu is the International Honor Society for Electrical Engineers.
There are over 200 chapters in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Student in the upper fourth of their junior class or upper fifth of their
senior class can be elected to Eta Kappa Nu. Graduate students and
professional engineers are also eligible. Eligibility depends on
scholarship, personal character, voluntary services, and distinguished
accomplishments. For undergraduates, the most important qualification is
scholarship during the first years of college.
Purpose
One of the purposes of Eta Kappa Nu is the stimulation and reward of
scholarship. It is also dedicated to assisting its members throughout
their lives in becoming better professionals as well as better citizens.
Another purpose of the organization is that its members be a constructive
force, helping to improve the standards of the profession, the courses of
instruction, and the institutions at the locations of its chapters.
History
During his sophomore year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne,
Maurice L. Carr came up with the idea of establishing a collegiate society
of electrical engineering students. He first mentioned the idea to a
friend of his named Charles E. Armstrong or "Army". Armstrong agreed with
the idea and the two decided to share it with other classmates. Their
first formal meeting was on Friday, September 23, 1904. Two days later,
Armstrong and Carr effected a meeting with three other classmates. Soon
thereafter the number of members increased to ten. During the next
five weeks, the original members chose the name, emblem, policies,
membership qualifications, and induction ritual for their new society.
Then, on October 28, 1904, the first induction meeting was held. Otto
Wiemer became the first formal initiate. The organization later received
recognition from the university administration.
The Gamma Xi Chapter of Eta Kappa Nu was founded at the University of
Maryland, College Park in 1957.
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