Eta Kappa Nu
Introduction
Let us acquaint you with the Eta Kappa Nu Association. It is the International Honor Society for Electrical Engineers. A Chapter or Eta Branch of Eta Kappa Nu has been established at your College, Company, or City and at approximately 200 other locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Outstanding persons are elected to Eta Kappa Nu primarily from the junior and senior classes of accredited undergraduate programs. Graduate Students and distinguished professional engineers are also eligible. Eligibility, naturally, must depend on marked ability, as evidenced by scholarship, personal character, useful voluntary services, and distinguished accomplishments, all of which indicate that the candidate will be or is a success in his profession. For undergraduate students, eligibility must depend largely on the records established during the first two or three years in college. Therefore, it is important that you set your goal early and strive steadfastly, first to do well scholastically; and, second, to give some of yourself to carefully selected activities which will help your school and fellow man. In turn, these accomplishments will bring returns to you as well.
Purpose
While one of its purposes certainly is the stimulation and reward of scholarship, Eta Kappa Nu has a far broader purpose than merely to award a badge of distinction to scholars. As conceived by its founders and as carried forward by its membership during more than two generations, another aim is to assist its members throughout their lives in becoming better professionals as well as better citizens. In turn, it is still another purpose of the organization, that its members be a constructive force, helping fellow members and non-members alike to improve the standards of the profession, the courses of instruction, and the institutions generally where its chapters are established.
Each undergraduate and alumni chapter is carrying out these ideals in the manner best fitted to its individual needs and opportunities. An international organization, elected by the chapters, exercises general supervision and correlates the efforts of these groups. A quarterly magazine keeps the members informed of the organization's activities and provides a means of contact between graduates and undergraduates. (back to top)
Services & Awards
Some of the services in which undergraduates and alumni of Eta Kappa Nu engage are set forth briefly below. Besides the membership qualification, which in itself encourages and gives recognition to high scholarship and other significant achievements, Eta Kappa Nu administers the following awards:
- Outstanding Electrical Engineering Senior
In 1965 Eta Kappa Nu inaugurated an award for the most outstanding Electrical Engineering senior in the United States. The award includes an attractive certificate, a substantial monetary gift, and a trip to Disneyland for an award dinner in his/her honor. - Outstanding Young Electrical Engineer
The most well known award given by Eta Kappa Nu is undoubtedly the award for Outstanding Young Electrical Engineer, which was first awarded in 1936. Many scholars and innovators have recipients of this distinguished honor since its inception. An award dinner is held in honor of the recipient in either New York or Philadelphia. The recipient's name is engraved on a large award bowl that is kept on display at IEEE Headquarters in New York, and the recipient is presented a smaller replica of the bowl. - Outstanding Professor Award
Each year Eta Kappa Nu recognizes an outstanding young Electrical Engineering Professor with an award dinner in his/her honor at his/her university. - Eminent Membership
Very distinguished persons in the Electrical Engineering profession have been elected to Eminent Eembership of Eta Kappa Nu. These people are usually world-renowned in their particular areas of research/innovation. It is a unique privilege to be so specially honored by this organization. - Outstanding Chapter Award
Eta Kappa Nu makes an annual award to the most outstanding undergraduate chapters that has enhanced the prestige of Electrical Engineering at their campus. A silver plaque is awarded to the chapter, representing the best record of scholarship and activities.
Activities
Implementation of that purpose of Eta Kappa Nu which encompasses aid to fellow man, the school, and the profession takes on various approaches as follows:
- College Chapter Activities
Undergraduate chapters engage in a variety of activities on the campus and beyond its borders in order to fulfill their responsibilities. These activities are numerous in kind and wide in scope. - Alumni Chapter Activities
Many alumni actively contribute to the aim and purposes of Eta Kappa Nu throughout life. Some of their voluntary contributions include: serving as officers or on committees of local alumni chapters and the international organization; participating in joint and regional meetings of alumni and college chapters; and promoting the ideals of Eta Kappa Nu throughout the Electrical Engineering profession.
Eta Kappa Nu's sound motion picture; "Engineering--A Career for Tomorrow", was developed with the cooperation of the University of Illinois. It has been used for many years in guidance work, and it has gained worldwide reputation as one of the better films for this purpose.
The Bridge is the society's international magazine. It has always maintained a high intellectual level with cultural and broadening articles to enlighten engineers about subjects outside the technical field. The Bridge has become a forum for articles on the subject of Electrical Engineering. (back to top)
Growth of Eta Kappa Nu
Eta Kappa Nu has grown steadily since its establishment at the University of Illinois in 1904. In the first ten years, ten chapters were formed. In the first fifty years, 56 chapters were in existence. In 1983, there were approximately 200 chapters including branches of Eta in five foreign countries and numerous Alumni Chapters in various cities and corporations.
Eta Kappa Nu continues to grow and to influence the progress of the Electrical Engineering profession through its high ideals about scholarship, character, and service to fellow man. (back to top)