Omicron
Kappa Upsilon (OKU)
Theta
Kappa Chapter
| "...to
promote and recognize
scholarship and character among students of dentistry..." |
 |
Dr.
Toby Cheramie, vice-president, and Dr. Laurie Moeller,
secretary-treasurer, present Dr. Priya Ritwik with her OKU key
and new member certificate at the annual convocation banquet on April
23, 2009.
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Omicron
Kappa Upsilon is a national dental honor society founded for
the
purpose of encouraging scholarship and advancing the ethical standards
of the dental profession. Members, elected from the top 20 percent of
the graduating class, show potential for professional growth and serve
as examples among their peers.
The Supreme Chapter
of OKU was founded in
1914 at Northwestern University School of Dentistry. Click
here to read the history of OKU.
The LSUSD chapter,
created in 1971, is the Theta Kappa chapter. There are four
categories of members:
Alumni Members:
Senior
students. A list containing the names of at least the upper 20% of the
senior class who rank highest in scholarship for the entire period that
they have been in attendance at this dental school shall be submitted
by or secured from the Dean. From any on this list, a number
constituting not more than 12% of the entire senior class, who, in
addition to scholarship have demonstrated exemplary traits of character
and potential qualities of future professional growth and attainments,
may be elected to alumni membership by the active members of this
component chapter.
Faculty:
Dentists on the dental
school faculty who have been elected to membership after service as a
full-time teacher for three years or a part-time teacher for six years.
Honorary:
Any member of the dental profession who has made
outstanding contribution to the art, science, or literature of
dentistry, and others not members of dental profession who have made
similar contribution to the advancement of dentistry.
Life:
Active members for 30 years and having reached the age of
60. Life Members retain all privileges of Active Members while
remaining a member of the dental school faculty, and are exempt from
dues.
Current
Officers, 2009:
Dr. William
Garbee, president
Dr. Tetsuo Nakamoto, president-elect
Dr. Toby Cheramie, vice-president
Dr. Laurie Moeller, secretary-treasurer (2008-10)
Ms. Elizabeth Strother, past-president
New Members, 2009:
Faculty: Drs. Priyanshi Ritwik, Stephen
Brisco, Terence Walsh
Honorary Member: Dr. Xiaoming Xu
Alumni:
Lindsey Brown, Cecilia Chan, Ian
Fontenot, Aaron Forrester, Brittany Jones, Alan Puckett, Lydia (Jamie)
Toso
Scholarship Winners:
Kramer Award
(created by the Supreme
Chapter in 1986)
2008: Lindsey Brown
2009: Benjamin Foster
Randolph
Malloy/OKU Scholarship for Academic Excellence:
2008: Lindsey Brown, Jamie Toso
2009: David Barton, Son Nguyen
Past
Presidents of Theta Kappa Chapter
| 1971 - Fletcher
Callahan |
1993
- James Zinck |
| 1972 - Jack H.
Rayson |
1994
- Robert P. Barsley |
| 1973 - John R. Couglin |
1995
- Luis R. Guerra |
| 1974 - William
von der Lehr |
1996
- Shawky E. Mohamed |
| 1975 - J. M.
Chadha |
1997
- James F. Gardiner |
| 1976 - Ronald A.
Barrett |
1998
- William H. Wood |
| 1977 - James
Quinn |
1999
– Dr. Diana Gardiner |
| 1978
- Meffre Matta |
2000 –
Dr. James E. Cade |
| 1979 - Peter A.
Fortier |
2001
– Dr. Jim Weir |
| 1980 - Charles
H. Boozer |
2002
– Dr. John N. Kent |
| 1981 - Harold
Wirth |
2003
– Dr. Arturo Mendez |
| 1982 - Anthony
B. Carimi |
2004-
Dr. Gerald Evans |
| 1983 - Robert C.
Coker |
2005
- Dr. Sandra Andrieu |
| 1984 - Allen
Crowe |
2006
- Dr. Sandra Andrieu*
|
| 1985 - James D.
Harrison |
2007
– Dr. Chet Smith |
| 1986 - John L.
Shannon |
2008
– Ms. Elizabeth Strother |
| 1987 - Edward J.
Ireland |
|
| 1988 -
Clifton
O. Dummett, Jr. |
|
| 1989 - Paul P.
Hatrel |
|
| 1990 - Robert
Shaye |
|
| 1991 - Kavas H.
Thunthy |
|
| 1992 - Gary T.
McDonald |
|
| *repeat
due to Hurricane Katrina |
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