Phi Beta Kappa Initiation 

5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10 — Miller Hall 

Provost Jim Clark  

 

Good afternoon, parents, family members and friends, and most importantly, our initiates. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement. 

 

Today, we celebrate your induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. For nearly two and half centuries, it has recognized students who demonstrate not only academic excellence but a deep commitment to the liberal arts and sciences. 

 

Phi Beta Kappa also has a rich tradition of inviting distinguished speakers.  

One of the most famous was Ralph Waldo Emerson, who delivered his “American Scholar” address at Harvard in 1837. That groundbreaking speech became known as the “Intellectual Declaration of Independence.”  

 

It took him an hour and a half to deliver it. I can promise you I won’t take that long — and I certainly don’t expect to be that eloquent — but I do have a few thoughts to share. 

 

Being selected for membership in Phi Beta Kappa is an exceptional honor and a testament to your hard work and dedication.  

 

For 249 years, members of this society have embraced the pursuit of a liberal education and intellectual fellowship.  

They have included U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices, Nobel laureates, artists, athletes, diplomats, scientists, innovators, and business leaders. Today, you join this remarkable group. 

 

Your Phi Beta Kappa key represents much more than academic success. It symbolizes your commitment to excellence and is a point of pride for Florida State University. 

 

Only 10 percent of colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and within those, only 10 percent of arts and sciences graduates are invited to join. So your induction today is, indeed, a rare honor. 

 

 

 

Florida State University has long been grounded in the liberal arts tradition — a tradition that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.  

 

That’s why — as we heard in the history presented at the beginning of this program — it’s fitting that our university is home to Florida’s very first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. 

 

Ten faculty members from the Florida State College for Women fought hard to earn this chapter. They did so because they knew the college exemplified Phi Beta Kappa’s rigorous standards, and more importantly, that its students were worthy of this honor.   

 

 

Since 1935 when our first students were initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, this institution has grown from a small liberal arts college of 1,700 students to a major public research university of about 44,000 students. 

 

Our standards of excellence remain, and now as one of the best public universities in America, the academic quality of our students is better than ever. 

 

As Phi Beta Kappa initiates, you represent the very best of FSU. This society is about more than earning good grades. It’s about demonstrating intellectual integrity, advocating for freedom of thought, and developing good moral character and a sense of community.  

 

That’s why the Phi Beta Kappa key has three stars engraved on it, representing the principles of friendship, morality, and learning.  

 

I think those principles represent FSU’s values as well. We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive community where every voice is respected, and robust discourse is encouraged. 

 

I hope your time here has expanded your perspective — through learning about other cultures, forming friendships with people of different backgrounds, and having conversations that challenged and inspired you. These relationships and experiences may be some of the most meaningful of your life.  

 

 

And I hope FSU has helped you become not just a more knowledgeable person, but a better one. Because morality isn’t just about knowing right from wrong. It’s about acting with courage, compassion, and integrity. 

 

So many of you do that every day — by volunteering in the community, serving in leadership roles at the university, and engaging in research that will improve people’s lives.  

 

The final star on the key represents learning.  In the “American Scholar,” the address I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, Emerson noted that “the one thing in the world of value is the active soul.” 

 

I believe he meant that true knowledge is not just something you gain from reading a book or sitting in a classroom. It’s not a passive activity in which you learn what everyone already knows.  

It comes from living fully — questioning, exploring, creating, and contributing to the world around you. We embrace that philosophy at FSU by encouraging experiential learning, intellectual debate, creative endeavors, and unfettered scientific inquiry.   

 

As you embark on this new chapter in your life’s journey, I hope you will always engage your active souls and draw inspiration from Phi Beta Kappa’s motto — Love of Learning is the Guide of Life — as you navigate the challenges and triumphs of the road ahead. 

If you do this and live by the core values of Phi Beta Kappa — friendship, morality, and learning — I believe you will have a joyful and fulfilling life, and you’ll make the world a better place. 

 

And frankly, the world needs you right now. As Emerson said, “Genius always looks forward.” You have extraordinary potential to be the transformational leaders of your generation, and we’re depending on you to show us the way. If that sounds like a lot to ask, it’s because your Florida State family knows you are capable of tremendous success. 

 

Again, congratulations and may your love of learning continue to light your path and inspire all those around you.