Kentucky Alpha (KY-A) is the University of Kentucky chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. KY-A is dedicated to promoting integrity and excellence in engineering and supporting our members, college and the Lexington community. We achieve these standards through hosting fundraisers and outreach events, connecting our members with industry and professional resources, and promoting a social community of academic excellence and comraderie among UK Engineering students.
Kentucky Alpha has a long history of excellence, exemplified by our chapter's awards, member's successes, and continued commitment to our campus and community. Visit the About tab to learn more about our organization and what we stand for.
Dr. Bruce WalcottBruce.Walcott@uky.edu453 FPAT
Did You Know...
The Beginning
The Tau Beta Pi Association, national engineering honor society, was founded at Lehigh University in 1885 by Dr. Edward Higginson Williams, Jr., “to mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as undergraduates in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges.” A member of Phi Beta Kappa, the first established honor society, Williams was head of the mining department of Lehigh University when he determined to offer technical men as good a chance of recognition for superior scholarship in their field as that afforded by Phi Beta Kappa in the liberal arts and sciences. Working alone he conceived an organization, gave it a name, designed its governmental structure, drew up its constitution, prepared its badge and certificate, established its membership requirements, and planned all the necessary details for its operation including the granting of chapters and the holding of conventions. Late in the spring of 1885 he invited the valedictorian of the senior class, Irving Andrew Heikes, to membership and he accepted, becoming the first student member of Tau Beta Pi. The parent chapter, named Alpha of Pennsylvania, existed alone until 1892 when Alpha of Michigan was founded at Michigan State University. Since the founding of the Michigan Alpha chapter, Tau Beta Pi has grown steadily; there are now collegiate chapters over 230 institutions, charted alumnus chapters in 59 cities, and a total initiated membership of more than 500,000!
Kentucky Alpha's Role for Women
With its roots in liberalizing the freedom of honors toward engineering students, Tau Beta Pi is known as a liberal society. However, has had its share of traditional controversy. In 1903, the first eligible female became known, but Tau Beta Pi refused her acceptance. The gender issue became a huge debate between members of past and present, as Tau Bates had always been men. Many strove to keep it that way.
Tau Beta Pi’s “first lady” Katherine C. Harelson, KY ’24, Women Badge No.1 was fully initiated in 1969. (Image from “The Changing Face of Membership.” The Bent, Issue Fall 1985, pg 33.
There was a ban on women in the honors society until 1936, when Tau Beta Pi decided to recognize superior female students in engineering. The first to be presented the “Women’s Badge” was Katherine C. Harelson of our own University of Kentucky. The badge did not represent membership in the society until 1968, when the final ballot voting to allow women to be permitted membership was counted. Harelson was officially inducted into Tau Beta Pi in 1969, along with 154 other women that year.
Visit the following links for more information on the history of women in Tau Beta Pi.
No Bent! All Women Were Given Was A Badge
THE STRUGGLE: Women's Badge to Full Membership
Being a member of Tau Beta Pi means participating in projects and outreach activities which uphold the ideals of our organization. We strive to to stay involved with our students, our college, and our greater Lexington community!
Community Support Projects:
College/University Support Projects:
Opportunities for Members
TBP Senior-Year Scholarship Program: Multiple $2,000 scholarships for senior-year study will be granted to Tau Bates who have junior-year standing in the current academic year. The scholarships will be granted on the basis of high scholarship, strong recommendations, extracurricular activities, and financial need. The application deadline is March 1.
Graduate Fellowship Program: Multiple $10,000 cash awards will be given in conjunction with Tau Beta Pi’s annual graduate fellowship program. The awards will be granted to Tau Beta Pi members for graduate school on the basis of promise of future development in engineering or related fields, and financial need. Even if your graduate study is already fulled funded, we encourage you to apply for a Tau Beta Pi Fellowship. Additional honorary fellowships with no cash award will be granted by the Tau Beta Pi Fellowship Board to recognize promising engineers. The application deadline is February 1.
Laureate Program: The Laureate Program recognizes student members who have demonstrated exceptional talent outside the field of engineering. Chapters may nominate one or more members as a Laureate based upon their contributions in arts, athletics, service, or diverse achievements. Each Laureate will be presented with a $2,500 cash award and a plaque at the Annual Convention. Laureate nomination packages are assembled by a chapter nomination committee, excluding but in consultation with the candidate. The nomination deadline is March 15.
Educational Loan Fund: Since 1935, the Tau Beta Pi Association has aided student members with their financial needs while in school, or with payment of their initiation fees, through the Educational Loan Fund. This service is offered for student members in amounts up to $2,500 per member. Repayment is required after three years, and a simple interest rate of 6% is charged from the day the loan is received.
Student Assistance Program: The Tau Beta Pi Student Assistance fund was endowed in 1992 through the interest and generosity of C.C. Young, Illinois Alpha ’24. Its purpose is to make funds available to student members of TBP who would otherwise be without sufficient financial resources to remain in college. Repayment is not required, no interest is charged, and grantees are requested to help others in need should they become financially secure.
Eligible undergraduate initiates must:
Information for Eligible InitiatesCongratulations on your nomination to Tau Beta Pi! To become a member of the Kentucky Alpha Chapter, you will need to provide your information on the national Tau Beta Pi website and complete a few chapter requirements. Please contact an initiation chair with any questions or concerns. View the Officers listing for contact information.
Bent ShiningThe bent is the insignia of the Tau Beta Pi honor society. As an eligible initiate, you will be provided a Tau Beta Pi bent to hand-polish prior to initiation day. The initiate with shiniest bent will receive a discounted initiation fee!
SignaturesAnother initiation week requirement will be to obtain signatures from Tau Beta Pi members (both students and faculty). You can use this link to search for Tau Beta Pi members. A list of University of Kentucky faculty who are Tau Beta Pi members can be found here.
Statement of CharacterTo be initiated into Tau Beta Pi, you must write and submit a statement of character. This will be a short essay (300-400 words) about why you meet the criteria to become a Tau Bate: review the powerpoint attached to the initiation invitation email or visit the national website. This must include one picture as well. (The picture is under your discretion, can be of yourself, somewhere you have volunteered, something that means a lot to you, etc.)
Initiation FeeAll Tau Beta Pi members must pay a one-time initiation fee (cost TBD) which provides membership for life! Please reach out to an initiation chair with any financial concerns regarding the initiation fee.
