After 100 years, it continues to honor the best of the best.

More than 100 ISU faculty and alumni will receive centennial medallions at a ceremony in honor of Phi Kappa Phi’s 100th anniversary.

The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on April 13 in the Benton Auditorium of the Scheman Building.

The national honor society, founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, recognizes academic excellence in all disciplines and strong personal character.

Seniors in the top 10 percent of their class, juniors in the top 5 percent of their class, graduate students, faculty and alumni with scholarly achievements are invited to join.

George Burnet, president of the local chapter, said he is looking forward to the convocation. “It’s going to be rather a grand event,” he said.

The centennial medallions will be awarded to 103 past initiates of the honor society, based on their recognition as distinguished alumni, faculty and presidents of the local Phi Kappa Phi chapter in the past. Sixty-eight of those who will receive the award will attend the event.

Agatha Burnet, secretary and treasurer of the local chapter, said ISU was the sixth chapter to join the society in 1911. The ISU chapter is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year.

Also at the April 13 event, five Phi Kappa Phi members will receive plaques of distinguished membership in the society. Included in this group are ISU President Martin Jischke, Iowa Board of Regents chair Owen Newlin and Robert Uhrig, distinguished scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy Lab in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Dr. Neil Luedke of Oklahoma State University and the national president-elect of Phi Kappa Phi, will also attend the event.

During its annual initiation ceremony on March 23, the ISU chapter initiated 251 students and five faculty members including, Elizabeth Hoffman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Dr. Robert Patterson, director of the ISU Student Health Center; Steffen Schmidt, professor of political science; Donald Thompson, professor of aerospace and mechanics engineering; and David Topel, dean of the College of Agriculture.