Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Honor Society
Ohio State University College of Dentistry Chapter
D4 Inductees - Class of 2026
- Taylor Beard
- Abbey Brewer
- Nicole Fleming
- Kaitryn Franzmann
- Kaylee Gomez
- Jori Meyer
- Joe Morrow
- Daniel Szarvas
- Jacob Tuckerman
- Josh Turner
- Jessie Weidner
- Nathaniel Wilhelm
The William S. Kramer Award of Excellence: Mr. Brett Balle
This award is to honor a rising junior dental student at each dental school who has demonstrated scholarship, character and the potential promise for advancement of dentistry and service to humanity, as shown by Dr. William S. Kramer’s dedication to his profession and the principles and ideals of Omicron Kappa Upsilon. Dr. Kramer was an officer of the Supreme Chapter for 17 years.
The Orville E. Russell Award of Excellence: Ms. Taylor Martinez
This award is to honor a rising sophomore dental student at The Ohio State University who has demonstrated scholarship, character and the potential promise for advancement of dentistry and service to humanity, as shown by Dr. Orville E. Russell’s dedication to his profession and the principles and ideals of Omicron Kappa Upsilon. Dr. Russell was an officer of Theta Chapter for 17 years.
Faculty Inductees
Historical Reviews
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Omicron Kappa Upsilon had its inception with the class of 1914 at Northwestern University Dental School. A committee from this group submitted a petition to the faculty of the School which stated that they were “desirous of organizing and founding a national honorary fraternity similar to other honorary fraternities now existing in the leading universities... but which shall consist of dental students exclusively; admission and membership to which shall be based upon scholarship and character as manifested by election by the faculty.” We are fortunate in having found the original petition which is included in this review.
Dr. Green Vardiman Black, Dean of the Dental School at that time, received the suggestion very favorably and appointed Dr. H.A. Potts, Dr. Arthur D. Black and Dr. Charles R.E. Koch as a committee to counsel with the students. A form letter was prepared by the student committee and addressed to the Deans of fifty-one Dental Schools in the United States and Canada. In their replies, the Deans of the various schools displayed much interest in the proposal and, in most cases, were eager for more information regarding the proposed organization. A number of these replies are preserved in the Secretary’s records.
While correspondence was being carried on, the local committee was active in formulating plans. It was decided that the new organization should be known as OMICRON KAPPA UPSILON.
The following statement appearing in the Northwestern Dental Journal, March 1914, was prepared by Mr. John C. Burg, Northwestern University, Liberal Arts, ‘09 who was requested to select a name and design a key for the new Society.
“My duties and opportunities as Secretary to President Harris have been varied, interesting, and sometimes exciting, for I have been called upon to do many things. But the most original request was the
one conveyed to me in a telephone conversation with Dr. Arthur D. Black when he asked me to think up Greek letters for the new honor society in the Dental School and to design a key as a badge. I wanted to please the Doctor, and besides I felt that it was no small honor to have originated the insignia of a scholarship organization, so I undertook the task imposed.” “I first secured from Dr. C.R.E. Koch a statement outlining the ideals of the dental profession as he understood them. This I thought essential, as a basis. I knew that his expression would fit, for few men have a greater knowledge of the
history of the dental profession or a higher estimation of its purposes. I learned from him that the ideal of the modern Doctor of Dental Surgery is neither long nor tiresome; simply expressed, it is the conservation of teeth and health.”“I had therefore three words upon which to build the name: conservation, teeth, and health. I then went to John A. Scott, professor of Greek in Northwestern University, and asked him for the Greek terms expressing the three words, and he informed me as follows: SOTERIA (Σωτηρiα) is the Greek for conservation, ODONTOS (Oδοντοs) for teeth, and HY-GEIA (Υγεiα) for health.”
“Using this information I selected the initial letters of the last two Greek words, that is OMICRON and UPSILON, chiefly because they were appropriate but also because they were euphonious and have now to suggest that the name for the new Dental Honor Society be OMICRON KAPPA UPSILON --- Kappa (K) being the initial letter of the Greek word for ‘and’ (Kai). Upsilon is the Greek letter which under certain conditions indicates the sound of the English letter ‘h’.”
“My reason for the design submitted is obvious; honor societies in other departments of education use the ‘key’. When Phi Beta Kappa was organized in 1776 the key was not only ornamental but useful, for in those days the wearer used it to wind up his watch. Few, if any watches are made nowadays requiring a key, yet the idea of a key as a symbol of an honor society has persisted and is being used by scholarship organizations in medicine, law, and oratory, each one varying from the others only in shape. It seemed altogether proper to let it be also the basis for symbol design of the Dental Scholarship organization. I therefore used it. The shape suggested is different; that is about all I can say for it.”
“If you will note the design you will see that the most prominent letter is SIGMA (Σ) which stands for conservation. OMICRON (Ο) and UPSILON (Υ) the initial letters for the Greek words meaning teeth and health, appear as they should be within the larger symbol of conservation.”
“Of course that which I submit is in the nature of a suggestion. I have enjoyed contributing toward the accomplishment of what I believe is good and useful, but I would not take amiss if the founders of this society saw fit to change both name and design.”
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One of the noteworthy events in the history of dental hygiene occurred on March 28, 1958, when Sigma Phi Alpha was founded. This date marked the culmination of several years’ work on the part of those who were keenly interested in the development of such a society. The idea of a dental hygiene honor society had its inception among faculty members of schools of dental hygiene.
In April 1958, letters were sent to each of the schools of dental hygiene then in existence, informing the faculty members of the aims and purposes of Sigma Phi Alpha and inviting them to petition for charter to form a component chapter. The response was gratifying and, in the first year, ten schools organized component chapters; five more chapters were organized in 1959 and another five in 1960. At this time, there are chapters located in 141 of 204 schools of dental hygiene.
During the first year, there were many matters of interest and concern to the officers of the Supreme Chapter. One such concern was the selection of a design for the key which would be an outward and visible symbol of membership. The name of the society has been chosen after much thought. Three Greek words had been selected as being identified with the criteria on which election to membership would be based. These words were Sophia (wisdom), Philanthropy (humane feeling and action) and Arete (virtue). The first letter of each of the words provided the Greek letters Sigma, Phi and Alpha, the name given to the society.
A charter member of Sigma Chapter, Patricia McCullough submitted several designs for a pin, one of which was used as a guide by the official jewelers in preparing the new familiar key-pin. To add further meaning to the insignia, each Greek letter was superimposed on an appropriate symbol. Article V of the by-laws referring to the official insignia indicates the reasons for choosing the Greek letters which form the name of the Society. In the design of the key-pin the letters have been superimposed on symbols. The letter Σ is superimposed on a ball to show there are many aspects to every question. A wise man analyzes all aspects before making a decision. This is the essence of wisdom. The letter Φ is superimposed on a circle conjoined by a lozenge. The circle represents the individual, the lozenge the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of human relationship, one or all being involved in philanthropy or aid to others according to needs. The letter α is superimposed on a pentagon to symbolize the five cardinal virtues; prudence, fortitude, temperance, justice and faith.