Academically outstanding Sacramento State students check your mailbox: The prestigious CSUS Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is sending out invitations to eligible students in early March.

Juniors with a 3.7 or above, seniors with a 3.5 or above, and graduate students with a 3.8 or above are honored for their academic achievements with the chance to become a member of the oldest and largest interdisciplinary honor society in the United States.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 at the University of Maine. Its primary purpose is the recognition and promotion of superior scholarship in all fields of higher education.It recognizes and honors those who have excelled in scholarship, in any field, in the hope of inspiring others to strive for excellence.

The national office of Phi Kappa Phi annually grants 50 fellowships of up to $7,000 each and 30 awards of $1,000 each for the first year of graduate study.

The CSUS chapter provides over $2,000 of annual awards to outstanding senior members.According to current CSUS Chapter President Dean Dorn, out of the 8,065 seniors at Sac State, only 604 qualify for the honor this year, and only seven graduating seniors will receive the scholarship money.

Members of Phi Kappa Phi receive a membership certificate, an emblem of the society, and a year?s subscription to the Phi Kappa Phi Newsletter and its journal, National Forum.

Students who join the society can highlight the membership on their resumes for graduate school and on job applications.

The 2001 banquet for the students who decide to join will be held on April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Ballroom of the University Union.

Along with the students, every year a very few faculty are elected into the society. Of these initiates, one is named the Outstanding Faculty Initiate.

Last year?s Outstanding Faculty Initiate, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies Angus Wright, will speak at this year?s banquet.

CSUS is one of only 281 select colleges and universities nationwide to have a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.

It is the only honor society on campus that recognizes exceptional student performance and scholarship without regard to major.

Phi Kappa Phi requires an institution that expects and promotes excellence by creating strong faculties and generous libraries for the students.

Other existing chapters include the University of Southern California, UC Davis, University of Connecticut, University of Michigan and Cornell University.