Kappa Eta Kappa
American professional fraternity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kappa Eta Kappa (ΚΗΚ) is an American co-educational professional fraternity and sorority for students of electrical engineering, computer engineering, and allied technical fields. Founded in 1923 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, it is a member of the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA). As of 2025, Kappa Eta Kappa comprises three active collegiate chapters, three alumni associations, and an estimated lifetime membership of six thousand.
| Kappa Eta Kappa | |
|---|---|
| ΚΗΚ | |
Coat of Arms | |
| Founded | February 10, 1923 University of Iowa |
| Type | Professional |
| Affiliation | PFA |
| Former affiliation | PIC |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | Electrical and computer engineering |
| Scope | National |
| Member badge |  |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Symbol | Lightning bolt |
| Publication | The Electron |
| Chapters | 3 active, 6 inactive |
| Members | ≈ 6,000 lifetime |
| Headquarters | 114 North Orchard Street Madison, Wisconsin 53715 United States |
| Website | khk |
History
Founding and early expansion (1923–1941)
Kappa Eta Kappa was founded on February 10, 1923 at the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa) in Iowa City, Iowa by fourteen electrical engineering students.[1][2][3] However, efforts to form the fraternity began the prior year.[4] It was established as a professional fraternity for male students who were majoring in electrical engineering.[5][6] There were 25 charter members, including its first president Clinton H. Smoke, Will D. Crozier, William Nelson, Richard Schump, Leslie T. Tilton, and professors Claude H. Lapp and James R. Eyre.[4][7] The charter members selected three honorary members from the electrical engineering faculty: Arthur K. Ford, head of the electrical engineering department, and professors Glenn K. Pierce and W. E. Schwob.[4][7]
After the founding of the Alpha chapter, other chapters were quickly added.[1] Beta was established in May 1923 at the University of Minnesota, followed by Gamma at Kansas University, Delta at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Epsilon at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1924.[1][2][8]
The Alpha chapter purchased a chapter house on South Linn Street in Iowa City in October 1923.[9] The chapter incorporated in May 1924.[10] In May 1926, Beta chapter purchased a chapter house with eleven rooms on 631 Walnut Street SE in Minneapolis, Minnesotain.[11][12]
In 1928, the fraternity was a founding member of the Professional Interfraternity Conference (PIC);[13] however, it dropped its membership before PIC merged with the Professional Panhellenic Association to form the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA) in 1977.
Wartime contraction and revival (1941–1979)
World War II mobilization reduced Kappa Eta Kappa's enrollments so sharply that by 1944, only two chapters remained active.[1][2][14] Its national conventions resumed in 1947; with its slow revival culminating in the establishment of Theta at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1957.[1][15]
Co-education and renewed growth (1980–present)
In 1981, Kappa Eta Kappa voted to admit women.[1][6] The organization now calls itself a professional co-ed science and engineering fraternity and sorority.[16] Iota at St. Cloud State University was installed in 1990, and remains active.[1][17][2] The fraternity joined the Professional Fraternity Association in 2016.
Kappa Eta Kappa celebrated its centenary with coordinated founders’ day programs. Beta hosted a three-day technical symposium and gala in April 2023.[18] Delta followed with a Centennial Banquet on October 12, 2024.[19]
Mission
Kappa Eta Kappa's mission statement is:
Believing that the attainment of education as well as technical training is the aim of all true engineers, we band ourselves together to foster and promote fraternal relationships among the Electrical Engineering students; to strive at all times for the maintenance of a complete and lasting understanding and fellowship between the faculty and students; to unceasingly cherish and develop character and ideals of service as necessary attributes of the profession.[20][21]
Symbols
Kappa Eta Kappa's coat of arms is a quarterly shield in purple and gold and bears the instruments of the electrical profession. The fraternity's colors are purple and gold.[1] Its symbol is the lightning bolt.[1] Its badge is a binding post.[6] Its publication is The Electron.[1]
Membership
Membership in Kappa Eta Kappa is limited to students in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or related disciplines.[1] Potential members cannot belong to other professional fraternities.[6] Faculty members who teach electrical engineering and graduates who are active in the profession are eligible for an honorary members.[6]
Kappa Eta Kapa is co-educational.[16] As of 2025, it has initiated 6,000 members.
Activities
Chapters provide exam files, peer tutoring, industry lectures, social events, and STEM-outreach projects such as the 2024 University of Wisconsin–Madison Engineering EXPO.[22]
The Beta Alumni Association manages the Kappa Eta Kappa Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) endowment established in 2021.[23] Alumni of the Beta chapter established the Kappa Eta Kappa Scholarship at the University of Minnesota in 1985, awarding scholarships to active members of the chapter.[24]
National Executive Council conventions
- 97th annual convention – February 24, 2024 – hosted by Beta chapter (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota).[25]
- 98th annual convention – February 22, 2025 – hosted by Delta chapter (Madison, Wisconsin).[26][27]
- Next convention (announced) – February 21, 2026 – hosted by Iota chapter (St. Cloud, Minnesota).[28]
Governance
Chapters
Collegiate chapters
The collegiate chapters of Kappa Eta Kappa are designated by letters of the Greek alphabet.[6] In the following is a list, active chapters are in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.[1][2]
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | February 10, 1923 – 1944 ? | University of Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | Inactive | [3][4] |
| Beta | May 26, 1923 – 1968; 1970 |
University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Active | [29][30] |
| Gamma | February 2, 1924 – 1968 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | Inactive | [31] |
| Delta | February 9, 1924 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | Active | [29][32][8][a] |
| Epsilon | May 17, 1924 – 1944 ? | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Inactive | |
| Zeta | April 6, 1928–1944 ? | Georgia Tech | Atlanta, Georgia | Inactive | [33] |
| Eta | May 9, 1935 – 1944 ? | Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas | Inactive | |
| Theta | April 6, 1957 - >2000 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Inactive | [34][35] |
| Iota | November 11, 1990 | St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Active | [29][36] |
- Chapter formed from the Technical Club (local).
Colonies
- Kappa – University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois); chapter recruiting publicly as of Winter 2026.[37][38]
Alumni associations
| Association | Location | Status | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHK Beta Alumni Association | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Active | [39] |
| KHK Delta Alumni Association | Madison, Wisconsin | Active | [40] |
| KHK Iota Alumni Association | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Active | [17] |
Notable members
- David T. Anderson (Delta 2005, honorary) – emeritus professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison[41][42]
- John H. Booske (Delta 1993, honorary) – University of Wisconsin–Madison Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor[43]
- Thomas W. Fitzgerald (Zeta 1941, honorary) – head of the School of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia School of Technology[44]
- Leslie E. Flory (Gamma 1930) – RCA research engineer; Institute of Radio Engineers fellow[45]
- Arthur H. Ford (Alpha 1923, honorary) – professor and head of the Department of Engineering at the State University of Iowa[4][46]
- Richard A. Greiner (Delta 1963) – emeritus professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison; Kappa Eta Kappa faculty advisor and president of the Kappa Eta Kappa National Executive Council[47][48]
- Susan Hagness (Delta 2000, honorary) – chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison[49]
- Oscar B. Hanson (Zeta 1928) – NBC director of engineering; 1940 Institute of Radio Engineers Medal of Honor[50][51]
- John C. Kettner (Delta 1963) – NASA Apollo program and Space Shuttle communications engineer[52]
- Edwin H. Perkins (Epsilon 1929) – chief of the Systems Branch of the United States Army Signal Corps[53]
- George Sutton (Zeta 1936) – U.S. Army Air Forces B-24 navigator; killed in England on February 3, 1944.[54]