2007 Celebration

Theme: “Celebrating the Liberal Arts at Ohio Wesleyan: 100 Years of ΦΒΚ”

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The first Heritage Day celebrated the Phi Beta Kappa honor society’s 100 year existence on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus. The ceremony consisted of inducting three Ohio Wesleyan professors into the society, who were unable to be inducted as undergraduates since their institution did not have Phi Beta Kappa chapters. Those inducted were Jed Burtt, Ph.D.; David Johnson, Ph.D.; and Robert Olmstead, M.A. The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. John Churchill, Secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. To add to the celebration, members of local high school chapters of the National Honor Society were invited. OWU graduate Edward Rynearson, class of 1893, started the National Honor Society as a principal in Pittsburgh, PA in 1921. The first Heritage celebration was not held on the traditional November 13 date, but rather March 5th, the anniversary of the Ohio Wesleyan’s chartering.