Kappa Delta Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon

 

International Geographical Honor Society

 

Brief History of the Honor Society and Explanation of its Symbolism

 

 

Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) was organized as a local professional fraternity on May 15, 1928, at Normal, Illinois, under the leadership of Dr. Robert G. Buzzard.  The organization went national, with four chapters, in 1931.  Following years of growth, GTU re-designated itself as an International Geographic Honor Society.  Today, GTU has over 200 chapters in the United States, Canada, and other countries.  Our initiates tonight join more than 42,000 distinguished scholars who have already become members.

 

The local chapter, Kappa Delta, was founded in January, 1968, with nine charter members.  Their names are inscribed in our chapter’s charter certificate, which hangs on the wall of the Departmental Computer/ GIS Laboratory in DiLoreto Hall.

 

The colors of GTU are symbolic of the three domains of Geography: brown for the earth, light blue for the sea, and gold for the sunlight of the sky.  The GTU badge is reproduced on the preceding page of this booklet.  This badge is a key that signifies achievement of quality in the field of science.

 

The base or body of the key is a seven sided shield, the bevel of which is carried on each side of the initial of the great land masses of the earth.  Spread across the base of the key are five wavy lines standing for the earth’s five great bodies of water.  Above the waves is placed a white star, symbolic of the North Star, Polaris.  At the top of the key stands the Greek letters Gamma, Theta, and Upsilon, initials of Greek words (Gee, Thalatta, and Hypaithrios)—meaning the earth, sea, and atmosphere—and placed there to remind you of the three great environmental domains with which geography deals.  We wear this badge as a sign to the world of our interest in Geography and our academic achievements in that discipline.