Kappa Tau Alpha

Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. Membership must be earned through excellence in academic work at one of the colleges and universities that have chapters. Selection for membership is a mark of highest distinction and honor. Membership is by invitation only.

The seventh-oldest national honor society, KTA was founded at the University of Missouri in 1910 at the world's first school of journalism. It is one of 67 members of the Association of College Honor Societies. The national organization, the "Phi Beta Kappa of journalism," has more than 90 chapters, and sponsors awards for research, service and academic excellence.

In 1961, the University of Texas at Austin founded the Olin E. Hinkle chapter of KTA, named for the former newspaperman who taught in the Department of Journalism from 1946-1972.

The emblem of KTA is the key, the oldest symbol of knowledge and communication. The Greek letters mean "The Truth Will Prevail." The letters also suggest three English words: knowledge, truth and accuracy. The Society's colors are light blue, significant of truth; and gold, emblematic of worth and high standards.

Membership is only by invitation from one of the society's campus chapters and is based solely on scholarship and character. Chapters may set higher standards than those listed below.

Undergraduate students:

• must rank in the upper 10 percent of their journalism class (i.e., juniors among juniors, seniors among seniors).

• must have completed at least five semesters of degree work.

• must have completed at least nine semester hours of credit in professional skills courses in journalism.

• must have at least a 3.0 GPA (on 4.0 system) in junior/senior level journalism courses.

• must count all college courses applicable to their degree in computing the overall GPA to determine rank in the upper 10 percent.

Graduate Students:

• must have evidenced superior achievement in the graduate program.

• should have completed at least two semesters toward their degree.

• must rank in the top 10 percent of total graduate enrollment, excluding those who already are KTA members. Master's and doctoral students should be considered separately.

Initiates receive a membership card, certificate and key pin. There are no annual dues after the initiation fee for life membership.

Top Scholars:

2007 – Madeline Hollern, Jing-Rong Huang

2006 – Ashley C. St. Clair, Peggie Ilene Evans

2005 – Not indicated

2004 - Elizabeth Robertson

2003 - Kimberly Weid, Rachel Zoch

2002 - Lisa Shini

Initiates:

2007 Initiates: Bryan Brah, Stephanie Brown, Martha Dodge, Elizabeth Gardner, Erin Gardner, Brian Genchur, Jing-Rong Huang, Darius Khosravian, Laura Koether, Melinda Pillow-Braeuer, Marjon Rostami, Alfonso Salinas, Christopher Schmidt, Tara Seetharam, and Marcella Taylor

2006 Initiates: Kathy Marie Adams, David Michael Andrick, Ann Marie Enders, Peggie Ilene Evans, Angela Beth Grant, Jaime Beth Margolis, Kacie Louise Moravec, Julie Anna Neumann, Netali Peles, Farran Marie Powell, Kristen Dawn Powers, Dena Marie Richardson, Jillian Claire Rogers, Katherine S. Saucer, Ashley C. St. Clair, and Kathleen E. Thorne

2005 Initiates: Crystal Chavez, Erin Gage, Caroline E. Keating, Laura Lucas, Kathleen McCann, Allison Mokry, Louis W. Rutigliano, Tracy Watler, Jennifer N. Yee, Julie Yioutis, and Amy Zerba.

2004 Initiates: Benjamin Cutrell, Jeffrey Gilbert, Therese Glenn, Callan Henrich, Maureen King, Caroling Lee, Melissa Ludwig, Candice Mann, Sharon Meraz, Allison Mokry, Elizabeth Robertson, Amy Schmitz Weiss, Kathryn Wilson and Rachel Wyatt..

2003 Initiates: Christa Desimone, Ernesto Garrido, Margaretha Geertsema, Rachel Gor, Matthew Harlan, Emily Priest, Shannon Richardson, Gina Ross, Lacey Tauber, Kimberly Weid, Stephanie Weintraub and Rachel Zoch.

2002 Initiates: Christine R. Emmott, Brede Hertzenberg, Jamie Kopf, Lisa Shini, Ellen Simonetti and Rae Ann Spitzenberger.

2001 Initiates: Katherine Hearty, Nushin Huq, Dina Ibrahim, Christopher S. Kanewske, Gerald J. McCarthy, Courtney Sebesta, LaTonya Thomas, Liliana Velazquez, Heather A. Watkins and Amanda M. Zamora.

2000 Initiates: Royce A. Carroll, Joseph Chao, Michael T. Conway, Emily Elder, Rachele Focardi, E. Andrea Garcia, Jamie Thomas Hall, Ashley A. Kosiewicz, Jonathan L. Nelson, Amber Novak, Zizi Papacharissi, Viviana C. Rojas, Cindy L. Royal, Veronica Sainz, Cheryl C. Smith, Karin H. Steinbrueck and Albert F. Tritico.