Western Illinois University Chapter Wins Phi Kappa Phi Book Drive Competition
Baton Rouge, LA (05/15/2019) — The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi-the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society-today announced the Western Illinois University chapter as a winner of its annual book drive competition. WIU was selected as a winning chapter for collecting the most books during the competition.
As part of their book drive, the WIU chapter collected 3,450 books to be donated to the YMCA, United Way, and elementary schools at Macomb, Wesley Village and The Elms.
"It has been such a blessing to be a part of this year's book drive. The overwhelming support from both the Western Illinois University community and the Macomb community allowed us to achieve far more than we had planned," said Crystal Brooke, student vice president for the WIU chapter. "We are excited to be a part of bringing the 'love of learning' to all the members of our community."
As a winning chapter, WIU will be eligible to receive either a "Little Free Library" to be placed at a location of their choice or a waived registration fee to attend the upcoming Student Leadership Summit in summer 2019. The Little Free Library is a freestanding box where anyone can donate and borrow books in an effort to promote literacy throughout communities-a prize that fits well with the Society's love of learning and literacy.
The book drive competition, held between February 1 and April 30, saw participation from 18 Phi Kappa Phi chapters across the nation with a total of more than 10,000 donated books and $461 in monetary donations. Established in 2014, Phi Kappa Phi created the event as a way to promote literacy in the communities and campuses served by its chapters.
Phi Kappa Phi's annual book drive competition has donated more than 55,000 books to organizations both locally and abroad since its creation. Organizations that have received donated books as part of the competition include schools, libraries, hospitals, correctional centers, tutoring and mentoring programs, shelters and more.
To learn more about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.
About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society's mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit us here.
