Kappa Kappa Psi

Kappa Kappa Psi
ΚΚΨ
Coat of Arms of Kappa Kappa Psi. A blue shield is divided by a black chevron, on which ten gold stars are placed: five on the left side of the chevron, five on the right. On the upper-left side is a representation of the fraternity badge in gold and black. On the upper right are three black circles. In the lower half of the shield, there is a large gold star. The shield is capped by a bar of alternating blue and gold, over which rests a golden lyre. Decorative mantling of gold with blue surrounds the crest. Beneath the crest is a golden scroll, on which are written the Greek words "Alpha Epsilon Alpha."
FoundedNovember 27, 1919
(104 years ago) (1919-11-27)
Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University)
TypeRecognition
Affiliation
  • PFA
  • National Interfraternity Music Council
StatusActive
EmphasisUniversity school bands
ScopeNational (United States)
Motto"Strive for the Highest"[1][2]
Colors  Blue and   White
FlowerRed carnation
PublicationThe PODIUM (1939–present)
   The Baton (1922–1947)
Chapters
  • 211 active
  • 340 chartered
Members6,000 collegiate
66,000+ lifetime
Headquarters401 E. 9th Avenue
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
United States
Websitewww.kkpsi.org
[3]

Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity (ΚΚΨ, colloquially referred to as KKPsi) is a fraternity for college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November 27, 1919, on Thanksgiving Day, at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Kappa Kappa Psi primarily operates as a recognition society[3] providing service, leadership opportunities, and social programming for band members. The organization is led by the National Council and Board of Trustees, which are supported by the National Headquarters staff. Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, has been recognized as a sister organization since 1947, and the two organizations share National Headquarters in Stillwater Santa Fe Depot, a converted historical Santa Fe rail depot that was purchased by the fraternity and sorority in 1991.

Since 1919, more than 66,000 men and women have been initiated into Kappa Kappa Psi, with nearly 6,000 collegiate members active today. Members of Kappa Kappa Psi include President Bill Clinton;[4] chancellor and eleventh president of Indiana University, Herman B Wells;[5] composers John Williams and John Philip Sousa;[6] conductor William Revelli; and jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie.[7]

  1. ^ "Kappa Kappa Psi".
  2. ^ Happy Founder's Day 2012 Archived 2013-07-04 at archive.today
  3. ^ a b Kappa Kappa Psi (2013). "The American College Fraternity". In Smith, Nick (ed.). Guide to Membership for the 2013–2015 Biennium (PDF). Stillwater, OK: Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma. p. 88. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-02.
  4. ^ "Prominent members". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  5. ^ Alpha Zeta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi (September 26, 2009). "Honorary Members of Alpha Zeta". Alpha Zeta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  6. ^ Golemo, Michael (Spring 2005). "Kappa Kappa Psi and John Philip Sousa" (PDF). PODIUM. Stillwater, OK: Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma: 28–9. OCLC 8172619.
  7. ^ Raymond, Michael (February 2007). "Founders of Kappa Kappa Psi" (PDF). Cross and Crescent. 94 (2). Indianapolis: Lambda Chi Alpha: 10–11. ISSN 1930-1286. OCLC 19902105. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26.