Honor Societies
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. For over 200 years, election to Phi Beta Kappa has served to recognize an individual's intellectual capacities and achievements, especially in the liberal arts and sciences. The objectives encouraged by Phi Beta Kappa include intellectual inquiry, honesty, and tolerance-the quickening of not only mind but also spirit.
Each year Loyola's chapter, Epsilon of Maryland, elects a small number of seniors and juniors. Requirements for election include outstanding academic achievement and evidence of good character. Because Loyola's chapter represents a continuing national tradition of excellence in humane learning, candidates for election must complete a minimum of 90 academic credits in the traditional liberal arts and sciences.
Beta Gamma Sigma - The National Honor Society for Collegiate Schools of Business
Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society in the field of business administration recognized by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The objectives of Beta Gamma Sigma are to encourage and honor academic achievement and personal excellence in the study and practice of business; to promote the advancement of education in the art and science of business; and to foster integrity in the conduct of business operations. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is a singular honor and carries with it lifetime affiliation.
Each fall and spring semester, in accordance with Beta Gamma Sigma regulations, Loyola's chapter invites undergraduates and graduates majoring in accounting or business administration to join the national honor society. Spring invitations are extended to the top 10 percent of accounting and business administration majors in the junior class; fall invitations are extended to the top 10 percent of the accounting and business administration majors in the senior class. Invitations are extended to the top 20 percent of graduating students in graduate business programs during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. In all cases, the official cumulative GPA used is as established by the student's academic record maintained by the Loyola University Maryland Records Office. (Note: Undergraduate students who study abroad should consult with the Dean of International Programs to understand the timing of grades received from international study abroad programs.)
Alpha Sigma Nu - The National Jesuit Honor Society
Alpha Sigma Nu is the National Jesuit Honor Society for both undergraduate juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students. Students who meet the academic requirements will be invited to apply. The successful candidate will have demonstrated outstanding qualities of scholarship, service, and loyalty to the university. Those accepted are inducted in the spring of each academic year.
Discipline-Associated Honor Societies
Alpha Delta Sigma - The National Honor Society in Advertising Studies
Alpha Iota Delta - The National Honor Society in Decision Sciences and Information Systems
Alpha Kappa Delta - The International Sociological Honor Society
Alpha Psi Omega - The National Theatre Honor Society
Beta Alpha Psi - The National Accounting Honor Society
Beta Beta Beta - National Biological Honor Society
Chi Alpha Sigma - National College Athlete Honor Society
Eta Sigma Phi - The National Classics Honor Society
Iota Iota Iota - The National Honor Society for Women's and Gender Studies
Kappa Delta Pi - International Honor Society in Education
Lambda Pi Eta - Official Honor Society of the National Communication Association
Mu Kappa Tau - National Marketing Honorary Society
National Honor Society - The Financial Management Association
NSSLHA - National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association Honor Society
Omicron Delta Epsilon - The International Honor Society in Economics
Omicron Delta Kappa - The National Leadership Honor Society
Phi Alpha Theta - The International Honor Society in History
Phi Lambda Upsilon - National Honorary Chemical Society
Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language Honor Society
Phi Sigma Tau - International Honor Society in Philosophy
Pi Delta Phi - National French Honor Society
Pi Epsilon Pi - The Writing Honor Society
Pi Mu Epsilon - National Honorary Mathematical Society
Pi Sigma Alpha - The National Political Science Honor Society
Psi Chi - The National Honor Society in Psychology
Sigma Delta Pi - The National Spanish Honor Society
Sigma Iota Rho - National Honor Society for International Studies
Sigma Pi Sigma - The National Physics Honor Society
Sigma Tau Delta - The International English Honor Society
Theta Alpha Kappa - The National Honor Society for Religious Studies/Theology
Upsilon Pi Epsilon - Honor Society for the Computing Sciences
Medals and Awards
Student Recognition
The Reverend Daniel J. McGuire, S.J., Alumni Association Service Award is presented for academic excellence and outstanding service to the University and the community by a graduating senior. Award winners receive a silver bowl and a $500 stipend from the Alumni Association.
The Mary O'Meara Loyola Athletic Club Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to the graduating senior who has attained the highest academic average and who has earned at least three varsity letters, not necessarily in the same sport.
The John P. O'Connor, S.J., Community Service Award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding participation in service to the Baltimore community and who has played a significant role in connecting his or her interest in service and justice with the Loyola community.
The Madeleine Freimuth Memorial Award for Chemistry ($500) is presented to the graduating senior with the highest average in chemistry.
The Whelan Medal is presented to the graduating senior with the highest academic average in all graded courses appearing on the Loyola transcript.
The honor of Distinguished Military Graduate is awarded to cadets that rank within the top 20 percent of all US Army ROTC graduates nationwide in areas of academics, physical fitness, and leadership.
A department medal is presented to the graduating senior in each major whom the tenured and tenure-track faculty in each department consider outstanding. In determining the medal recipient, grades for all courses required in the major must be included even though some may be in other departments, and the student must have a minimum average of 3.50, both cumulatively and in the major. Departments may also take into account the overall grade point average, degree of difficulty of courses taken, and performance in those courses. Honors are calculated with grades that appear on the Loyola transcript for courses completed at Loyola, through Loyola-sponsored programs, or for courses taken through the Baltimore Student Exchange Program. Each department's standards are available from the chair. The endowments for some of the medals listed below may stipulate other criteria for awarding the medal. In these cases, the endowment's criteria must be followed.
Lybrand Accounting Medal
Art History Medal
Biochemistry Medal
Carrell Biology Medal
Business Economics Medal
McNeal Chemistry Medal
Classical Civilization Medal
P. Edward Kaltenbach Classics Medal
Communications Medal
Comparative Culture and Literary Studies Medal
James D. Rozics Computer Science Medal
Data Science Medal
Economics Medal
Education Medal
Engineering Medal
Carrell English Medal
Finance Medal
Fine Arts Medal
Forensics Medal
Global Studies Medal
Whiteford History Medal
The John McFadden Family Medal in Information Systems
International Business Medal
Management Medal
Marketing Medal
Mathematics Medal
Alfons and Christine Renk Language Medal (French, German, Spanish)
The Sarkar-Dey Natural and Applied Sciences Medal
Ayd Philosophy Medal
Physics Medal
Political Science Medal
Grindall Psychology Medal
Sociology Medal
Statistics Medal
Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Medal
Murphy Theology Medal
Visual Arts Medal
Writing Medal
Community Recognition
The Milch Award was founded in 1979 by the Milch family. It is conferred annually on an individual or group who has contributed most significantly to the betterment of the intellectual, cultural, social or commercial life of greater Baltimore.
The Carroll Medal was established in 1939 and named in honor of Archbishop John Carroll, founder of the See of Baltimore and the Catholic Hierarchy in America. The award is made each year to recognize distinguished alumni for noteworthy and meritorious service on the University's behalf.
The John Henry Newman Medal was established in 2002 in recognition of the University's Sesquicentennial Anniversary. The medal recalls the life and work of Cardinal Newman, who delivered a series of lectures in 1852-the year of Loyola's founding-that became the foundation for his seminal work on Catholic higher education, The Idea of the University. The award is made at the discretion of the University's Trustees to recognize individuals whose intellectual attainments, contributions to education, and steadfast commitment to the ideals of scholarship and service distinguish them as exemplars of Loyola's Jesuit tradition.
The President's Medal was established in 1950 to show appreciation and gratitude to the cherished friends and benefactors who have performed some signal service for the University's advancement and prestige, or who have demonstrated loyalty in a notable manner.
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