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Honor society

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"Honor Societies", illustration from the 1909 Tyee (yearbook of the University of Washington)

In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes and promotes scholarship, leadership, service, research, professional accomplishment, or other forms of distinction. Membership standards vary by organization and may include academic performance, nomination, demonstrated contribution, or other defined criteria. Some youth, civic and professional organizations use similar recognition models; for example, the Order of the Arrow serves as an honor society within the Boy Scouts of America.

The origins of honor societies in the United States can be traced to the establishment of Phi Beta Kappa in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. Founded as a literary and debating society, it did not initially impose grade point average (GPA) restrictions for membership.[1][2] Early academically oriented groups were often described as “honorary fraternities,” reflecting their Greek-letter structure while distinguishing them from social fraternities.

Many honor societies invite students based on scholastic rank (such as the top percentage of a class) and/or grade point averages, either overall or within a specific discipline. In cases where academic achievement is not the primary criterion, other standards—such as leadership, professional training, or completion of defined programs—may be required. Scholastic honor societies frequently incorporate character or service criteria. Most honor societies are invitation-only, and some restrict overlapping membership within the same academic field.

Honor societies exist at the high school, collegiate/university, postgraduate, and professional levels. In the United States, additional honor societies were established in the late nineteenth century, including Tau Beta Pi (engineering, 1885), Sigma Xi (scientific research, 1886), and Phi Kappa Phi (all disciplines, 1897). Mortar Board was established in 1918 as the first national honor society for senior women.

During the early twentieth century and following the expansion of higher education after World War II, many honor societies adapted to broader institutional changes, including coeducation and racial integration. The adoption of Title IX accelerated the transition of previously single-sex academic organizations to coeducational membership models.[a] Racial barriers, where they existed, were increasingly challenged. Scholarship has examined disparities in membership within certain professional honor societies, including medical education contexts.[3] Media coverage has also reported on debates regarding selection criteria and equity in professional honors recognition.[4]

In the twenty-first century, some honors organizations and educational bodies, including the National Collegiate Honors Council, have promoted broader participation and inclusive excellence frameworks within honors education.[5] The founding of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society in 2005 by Yale University and Howard University reflected growing recognition of historically underrepresented scholars at the doctoral level.[6] Contemporary discussions of honor societies increasingly occur within broader conversations about equity and merit in higher education.

Academic robes and regalia identifying by color the degree, school, and other distinctions, are controlled under rules of the voluntary Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume. In addition, various colored devices such as stoles, scarves, cords, tassels, and medallions are used to indicate membership in a student's honor society. Of these, cords and mortarboard tassels are most often used to indicate membership. Most institutions allow honor cords, tassels, and/or medallions for honor society members. Stoles are less common, but they are available for a few honor societies. Virtually all, if not all honor societies have chosen such colors and may sell these items of accessory regalia as a service or fundraiser.

Umbrella organizations

[edit]

The Honor Society Caucus and Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) are two voluntary associations for national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies.[7] ACHS was formed in 1925 to establish and maintain standards for its member honor societies.[7] Four founding members later withdrew from ACHS and established the Honor Society Caucus, citing disagreements regarding the association’s direction and standards.[8][9] Not all honor societies seek or maintain membership in ACHS.[10][7]

Criticism and debate

[edit]

Honor societies have periodically been the subject of debate regarding membership fees and standards of academic distinction. Some reports note that required dues may create financial barriers for students, particularly where payment is necessary to obtain formal recognition, and education commentators have advised students and families to review society claims and transparency carefully before joining.[11][12]

Debate has further emerged over the meaning of academic distinction in the context of grade inflation in U.S. higher education. Observers have noted that rising average GPAs may complicate traditional measures of comparative academic performance.[13]

Collegiate honor societies

[edit]

Notable national and international honor societies based in or at schools include the following.

General and leadership societies

[edit]

General collegiate societies are open to all academic disciplines, although they may have other affinity requirements. Leadership societies recognize leadership, with a multi-disciplinary scholarship component.

Society Symbols Emphasis Colors Status Ref.
Alpha Alpha Alpha ΑΑΑ General, first-generation college students   Blue and   Grey/Silver Active
Alpha Chi ΑΧ General   Emerald green and   Sapphire blue Active
Alpha Kappa Mu ΑΚΜ General   Royal blue and   White Active
Alpha Lambda Delta ΑΛΔ General, Freshman   Maroon and   Gold Active
Alpha Sigma Lambda ΑΣΛ General, Non-traditional students   Burgundy and   Gold Active
Alpha Sigma Nu ΑΣΝ General, scholarship and service at

Jesuit institutions of higher education

  Maroon   Gold Active
Bouchet Graduate Honor Society General, Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Active
Chi Alpha Sigma ΧΑΣ General, student athletes   Gold and   Black Active
Delta Alpha Pi ΔΑΠ General, students with disabilities   Royal blue and   Gold Active
Delta Epsilon Sigma ΔΕΣ General at traditionally Catholic colleges   Black and   Gold Active
Delta Epsilon Tau ΔΕΤ General, Distance Education Accrediting Commission institutions Active [14][15][16]
Epsilon Tau Pi ΕΤΠ General, Eagle Scouts   White,   Red,   Blue, and   Black Active
Golden Key International Honour Society General   Navy Blue,   Gold, and   White Active
Ku Klux Klan Interfraternity leadership, Juniors   Black Inactive
Lambda Sigma ΛΣ Scholarship, leadership, and service   Blue and   Gold Active
Mortar Board General, Seniors   Gold and   Silver Active
National Residence Hall Honorary Residence hall leadership and service   Blue and   White Active
National Society of Collegiate Scholars Leadership, scholarship, and service   Purple and   Gold Active
Omicron Delta Kappa ΟΔΚ Leadership and scholarship, upperclassmen and graduate students   Sky blue,   White, and   Black Active
Order of Omega General, fraternities and sororities   Ivory and   Gold Active
Phi Beta Kappa ΦΒΚ Arts and sciences, undergraduate   Pink and   Sky blue Active
Phi Eta Sigma ΦΗΣ General, freshman   Gold and   Black Active
Phi Kappa Phi ΦΚΦ General   Blue and   Gold Active
Phi Sigma Pi ΦΣΠ General   Purple and   Gold Active
Phi Tau Phi ΦΤΦ General Active
SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society General, veterans and active military Active [17][18][19][20]
Scabbard and Blade General, ROTC. JROTC. and midshipmen   Red,   White, and   Blue Active
Sigma Alpha Lambda ΣΑΛ Leadership and scholarship   Navy,   Black, and

  Gold

Active
Tau Sigma ΤΣ General, transfer students   Burgundy and   Gold Active
Tu–Mas Interfraternity leadership, Juniors   Black Inactive

These societies are open to Humanities disciplines and may be department-specific.

Society Symbols Academic emphasis Colors Status Ref.
Alpha Iota Sigma ΑΙΣ Interdisciplinary studies Active [21]
Alpha Mu Gamma ΑΜΓ First-year foreign languages   Gold Active
Alpha Phi Epsilon ΑΦΕ Literary and forensics Garnet and Green Inactive
Alpha Psi Omega ΑΨΩ Theatre   Moonlight blue and   Bastard amber Active [b]
Alpha Upsilon Alpha ΑΥΑ Reading and language arts   Gold and   Silver Active
Beta Pi Theta ΒΠΘ French Royal Purple, Gold, White Inactive [22]
Chi Tau Epsilon ΧΤΕ Dance Active [23][24][25][26]
Delta Epsilon Chi ΔΕΧ Divinity Active
Delta Phi Alpha ΔΦΑ German   Black,   Red, and   Gold Active
Delta Phi Delta ΔΦΔ Art   Red and   Bright blue Active
Eta Sigma Phi ΗΣΦ Classics   Purple and   Gold Active
Kappa Kappa Psi ΚΚΨ Music - band   Blue   White Active
Kappa Pi ΚΠ Art   Purple and   Gold Active
Kappa Tau Alpha ΚΤΑ Journalism and mass communication   Light blue and   Gold Active
Lambda Iota Tau ΛΙΤ Literature   Purple and   Gold Active
Lambda Pi Eta ΛΠΗ Communication   Crimson and   Silver Active
Mu Beta Psi ΜΒΨ Music   Red and   White Active
Omega Xi Alpha ΩΞΑ Journalism Active
Phi Sigma Iota ΦΣΙ Foreign languages, literatures, or cultures   Purple and   White Active
Phi Sigma Tau ΦΣΤ Philosophy   White and   Purple Active
Pi Delta Phi ΠΔΦ French   Blue,   White, and   Red Active
Pi Kappa Lambda ΠΚΛ Music   Gold and   White Active
Pi Nu Epsilon ΠΝΕ Music Active
Sigma Delta Pi ΣΔΠ Spanish and Portuguese   Red and   Gold Active
Sigma Tau Delta ΣΤΔ English   Cardinal and   Black Active
Society for Collegiate Journalists SCJ Journalism Active
Tau Beta Sigma ΤΒΣ Music - band   White and   Blue Active
Theta Alpha Kappa ΘΑΚ Religious studies, theology, and philosophy   Red and   Gold Active
Theta Alpha Phi ΘΑΦ Theatre   Purple and   White Active
Theta Chi Beta ΘΧΒ Religious studies Active

These societies are open to social science disciplines and may be department-specific.

Society Symbols Academic emphasis Colors Status Ref.
Alpha Iota Delta ΑΙΔ Decision sciences   Green and   Gold Active
Alpha Kappa Delta ΑΚΔ Sociology   Teal Active
Alpha Mu Alpha ΑΜΑ Marketing   Red Active [27]
Alpha Phi Sigma ΑΦΣ Criminal justice and law   Blue and   Gold Active
Beta Alpha Psi ΒΑΨ Accounting and finance   Crimson and   Black Active
Beta Gamma Sigma ΒΓΣ Business programs accredited by AACSB   Royal blue and   Gold Active
Chi Sigma Iota ΧΣΙ Counseling   White and   Blue Active
Delta Mu Delta ΔΜΔ Business programs accredited by ACBSP   Purple,   Gold, and   White Active
Eta Sigma Delta ΗΣΔ Hospitality management   Blue and   White Active [28]
Eta Sigma Gamma ΗΣΓ Health education   Dark green and   Gold Active
Gamma Theta Upsilon ΓΘΥ Geography   Brown,   Light blue, and   Gold Active
Kappa Delta Pi ΚΔΠ Education   Purple and   Gold Active
Kappa Omicron Nu ΚΟΝ Human sciences   Maroon and   Gold Active
Lambda Alpha ΛΑ Anthropology   Red,   White, and   Black Active
Lambda Epsilon Chi ΛΕΧ Paralegal   Royal purple Active
Mu Kappa Tau ΜΚΤ Marketing   Navy blue Active
Nu Lambda Mu ΝΛΜ Nonprofit management Active [29][30]
Omega Rho ΩΡ Management science   Blue and   Red Active
Omicron Chi Epsilon (defunct) ΟΧΕ Economics Active [31]
Omicron Delta Epsilon ΟΔΕ Economics   Royal blue and   Gold Active [31]
Omicron Delta Gamma (Order of Artus) ΟΔΓ Economics Inactive [31]
The Order of Barristers Law school Active
Order of the Coif Law school graduates   Maroon and   Black Active
Order of the Sword & Shield ΟΣΣ Homeland security, emergency management   Blue and   Gold Active
Phi Alpha Honor Society ΦΑ Social work   Royal blue and   Light gold Active
Phi Alpha Theta ΦΑΘ History   Madonna red and   Madonna nlue Active
Phi Beta Delta ΦΒΔ International education   Gold and   Red Active
Phi Delta Phi ΦΔΦ Law   Garnet and   Pearl blue Active
Phi Sigma Chi ΦΣΧ Business administration   Yellow and   Blue Inactive [32]
Phi Upsilon Omicron ΦΥΟ Family and consumer science   White,   Yellow, and   Violet Active
Pi Alpha Alpha ΠΑΑ Public administration   Light Blue and   Gold Active
Pi Gamma Mu ΠΓΜ Social sciences   Royal blue and   White Active
Pi Lambda Theta ΠΛΘ Education   Gold Active
Pi Omega Pi ΠΩΠ Business education   Blue,   Silver and   Gold Active
Pi Sigma Alpha ΠΣΑ Political science   Red and   Black Active
Psi Chi ΨΧ Psychology   Platinum and   Dark blue Active
Sigma Beta Delta ΣΒΔ Business, management, and business administration   Hunter green and   Gold Active
Sigma Iota Rho ΣΙΡ International relations   Black,   Blue, and   Red Active
Sigma Nu Tau ΣΝΤ Entrepreneurship Active [33][34]
Tau Upsilon Alpha ΤΥΑ Human services Active [35][36][37]
Upsilon Phi Delta ΥΦΔ Health administration   Crimson red and   Blue Active

These societies are open to students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and may be department-specific. This section also includes all healthcare-related fields, including veterinary science.

Society Symbols Academic emphasis Colors Status Ref.
Alpha Epsilon ΑΕ Agricultural engineering   Black and   Gold Active
Alpha Epsilon Delta ΑΕΔ Pre-medical   Red and   Violet Active
Alpha Eta ΑΗ Allied health professions Active [38]
Alpha Eta Mu Beta ΑΗΜΒ Biomedical engineering   Red and   Gold Active
Alpha Mu ΑΜ Agricultural systems management Active [39][40]
Alpha Nu Sigma ΑΝΣ Nuclear engineering   White Active
Alpha Omega Alpha ΑΩΑ Medical students and physicians   Green,   Gold, and   White Active
Alpha Pi Mu ΑΠΜ Industrial engineering   Purple and   Light yellow Active
Alpha Sigma Mu ΑΣΜ Metallurgy and materials engineering   Silver and   Gold Active
Beta Beta Beta ΒΒΒ Biology   Blood red and   Leaf green Active
Beta Kappa Chi ΒΚΧ Natural Science and Mathematics   Golden yellow and   Royal blue Active
Beta Phi Mu ΒΦΜ Library and information science   Purple and   White Active
Beta Sigma Kappa ΒΣΚ Optometry Active [41][42][43][44]
Chi Beta Phi ΧΒΦ Science and Mathematics   Colonial blue and   Crimson Active
Chi Epsilon ΧΕ Civil engineering   Purple and   White Active
Chi Epsilon Pi ΧΕΠ Meteorology   Royal blue and   Silver Active
Delta Tau Alpha ΔΤΑ Agriculture   Green and   Harvest gold Active [45]
Delta Omega ΔΩ Public health   Black and   Gold;  

Stole color is   Peach

Active
Epsilon Pi Tau ΕΠΤ Technology   Blue,   White, and   Gold Active
Eta Kappa Nu ΗΚΝ Electrical engineering and computer engineering   Navy blue and   Scarlet Active
Gamma Alpha Rho ΓΑΡ Aeronautical engineering Inactive
Gamma Nu Eta ΓΝΗ Information technology Active [46][47]
Gamma Sigma Delta ΓΣΔ Agriculture   Sand and   Forest green Active [48]
Gamma Sigma Epsilon ΓΣΕ Chemistry   Royal blue and   White Active
Iota Tau Alpha ΙΤΑ Athletic training Active [49][50]
Iota Sigma Pi ΙΣΠ Chemistry and related fields, women   White,   Gold, and   Cedar green Active
Lambda Beta ΛΒ Respiratory Care   Blue and   Green Active
Nu Rho Psi ΝΡΨ Neuroscience   Gold and   Black Active
Omega Chi Epsilon ΩΧΕ Chemical engineering   Black,   White, and   Maroon Active
Omicron Kappa Upsilon ΟΚΥ Dentistry   Navy blue,   Gold, and   Lilac Active
Phi Alpha Epsilon ΦΑΕ Architectural engineering   Purple and   White Active
Phi Lambda Upsilon ΦΛΥ Chemistry   Pink litmus and   Blue litmus Active
Phi Sigma ΦΣ Biological sciences   Medium green,   White, and   Old gold Active
Phi Tau Sigma ΦΤΣ Food Science and Technology   Gold and   Maroon Active
Phi Zeta ΦΖ Veterinary medicine   Blue and   Yellow Active
Pi Alpha Xi ΠΑΞ Horticulture   Nile green and   Cerulean blue Active
Pi Delta ΠΔ Podiatry Active [51]
Pi Epsilon ΠΕ Environmental science   Blue and   Green Active
Pi Epsilon Tau ΠΕΤ Petroleum engineering and related fields   Gold and   Black Active [52][53][54]
Pi Mu ΠΜ Medical Inactive [c]
Pi Tau Sigma ΠΤΣ Mechanical engineering   Murrey and   Azure Active
Rho Beta Epsilon ΡΒΕ Robotics   Crimson,   Gold, and   Black Active [55]
Rho Chi ΡΧ Pharmacy   Purple and   White Active
Sigma Gamma Epsilon ΣΓΕ Geology and earth science   Gold,   Blue, and   Silver Active
Sigma Gamma Tau ΣΓΤ Aerospace engineering   Red and   White Active
Sigma Lambda Alpha ΣΛΑ Landscape architecture   Gold and   Green Active
Sigma Lambda Chi ΣΛΧ Construction management technology   Green and   Gold Active
Sigma Phi Alpha ΣΦΑ Dental hygiene, women   Deep purple   Bright gold Active
Sigma Phi Omega ΣΦΩ Gerontology   Blue and   Gold Active [56]
Sigma Pi Sigma ΣΠΣ Physics and Astronomy   Forest green and   Ivory Active
Sigma Sigma Phi ΣΣΦ Osteopathic medicine and medicine   Crimson and   Royal blue Active
Sigma Theta Tau ΣΘΤ Nursing   Orchid and   Fuchsia Active
Sigma Xi ΣΞ Research in Science and Engineering   Blue and   Gold Active
Sigma Zeta ΣΖ Natural sciences, Mathematics, and Computer science   Blue and   White Active
Tau Alpha Pi ΤΑΠ Engineering technology   Green and   Gold Active
Tau Beta Pi ΤΒΠ Engineering   Seal brown and   White Active
Tau Sigma Delta ΤΣΔ Architecture   White and   Gold Active
Theta Chi Delta ΘΧΔ Chemistry Gold, Purple, and Black Inactive
Upsilon Pi Epsilon ΥΠΕ Computer science and computer engineering   Green and   Gold Active
Xi Sigma Pi ΞΣΠ Forestry   Green and   Gray Active

Local collegiate honor societies

[edit]

Some universities have their own independent, open honor societies, which are not affiliated with any national or international organization. Such organizations typically recognize students who have succeeded academically irrespective of their field of study.

Society Emphasis Institution Colors Status Ref.
100 Senior Honorary Leadership, service, activities Emory University Active [57]
Activities Honorary Society Leadership University of Illinois at Chicago Active [58]
Aquinas Honor Society General, Seniors University of St. Thomas Active [59][60]
Aurelian Yale University Active [61]
Bucket & Dipper Scholarship, service, and leadership; Juniors Ohio State University Active [62][63][64][65][66]
Cap and Skull Service and scholarship, Seniors Rutgers University Active
Cannon and Castle Military Yale University Active
Chimes Junior Class Honorary Scholarship, service, and

leadership; Juniors

Ohio State University Active [62][67][68]
Cincinnatus Honorary Society General University of Cincinnati Active
Dean William Tate Society Scholarship and activities;

Freshmen

University of Georgia Active [69][70]
Der Hexenkreis Leadership and service; seniors Cornell University Active [71]
Florida Blue Key Leadership University of Florida Active
Friar Society Seniors University of Texas at Austin Active [72]
Innocents Society Seniors University of Nebraska–Lincoln Active
Iron Arrow Honor Society Leadership and scholarship University of Miami Active [73]
Iron Wedge University of Minnesota Active [74][d]
Lion's Paw Senior Society Seniors Pennsylvania State University Active [75][76]
Matteo Ricci Society General, fellowship candidates Fordham University Active [77]
Mirrors Sophomore Honorary Scholarship, leadership,

and service; Juniors

Ohio State University Active [62][78]
Mountain Seniors West Virginia University Active [79][80][81][82]
Order of the Golden Bear Honor and service University of California, Berkeley Active
Owl and Key Seniors University of Utah Active
Phalanx Scholarship and activities Clarkson University Active [83]
Phalanx Honor Society Leadership and service, seniors Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Active [84]
Phi Alpha Epsilon (local) Scholarship and service Lebanon Valley College Active [85]
Phi Alpha Epsilon at the University of Maryland College Park Family science, community health, kinesiology, and public health science University of Maryland, College Park Active [86]
Plumb Bob Leadership University of Minnesota Active [87][88]
Quaternion Club Leadership, scholarship, service Furman University Inactive
Quaternion Senior Order Leadership, scholarship, service Furman University Active
QEBH Seniors University of Missouri Active
Quill and Dagger Leadership and service Cornell University Active
Raven Society General University of Virginia Active
Raven's Claw Society Senior males Dickinson College Active
Rho Theta Sigma Scholarship Northeastern State University Active [89]
Romophos Leadership, service, and scholarship; Sophomores Ohio State University Inactive [62][90][91]
Senior Order Leadership, scholarship, service Furman University Inactive
Senior Skull Honor Society Seniors leadership, scholarship, and citizenship University of Maine Active
Sigma Sigma Upperclassmen University of Cincinnati Active
Sigma Tau Sigma Textlles North Carolina State University   Blue and   White Active
Signet Society Literary and artistic ability Harvard University Active
Skull and Bones Seniors Pennsylvania State University Active [92]
Skull and Dagger Seniors University of Southern California Active [93]
Society of Innocents Seniors University of Nebraska–Lincoln Active [94]
Sphinx Senior men West Virginia University Inactive [95][96]
SPHINX Scholarship, leadership, citizenship,

and service; Seniors

Ohio State University Active [62][97]
Sphinx Head Seniors Cornell University Active
Texnikoi Engineering Ohio State University   Black and   Yellow Active
Tiger Brotherhood Service Clemson University Active [98][99]
Torch Yale University Active [61]
White Key Society Leadership and service,

freshmen and sophomores

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Active [84][100]

Community college, two-year college, and vocational school honor societies

[edit]

Society Symbols Emphasis Colors Status Ref.
Alpha Beta Kappa ΑΒΚ Private certificate, vocational and trade schools   Red and   Blue Active
Alpha Beta Gamma ΑΒΓ Business at two-year colleges   Black and   Red Active
Alpha Gamma Sigma ΑΓΣ California community colleges Active
Delta Psi Omega ΔΨΩ Theatre at two-year colleges   Moonlight blue and   Bastard amber Active [b]
Epsilon Phi Delta ΕΦΔ German at two-year colleges Active
Kappa Beta Delta ΚΒΔ Business at community colleges Active
La Sociedad Honoraria de la Lengua Española Spanish at two-year colleges   Red and   Gold Active
Mu Alpha Theta ΜΑΘ Mathematics at two-year colleges   Turquoise blue and   Gold Active
National Technical Honor Society Workforce vocational education institutions   Purple,   Silver, and   White Active
Phi Rho Pi ΦΡΠ Forensics at two-year colleges Active
Phi Theta Kappa ΦΘΚ General, community and junior colleges   Blue and   Gold Active
Psi Beta ΨΒ Psychology at two-year colleges   Royal blue and   Gold Active
Sigma Kappa Delta ΣΚΔ English at community and junior colleges   Green and   Gold Active

Secondary school honor societies

[edit]

Commonly referred to as high school societies. This list also includes middle school societies.

Society Symbols Emphasis Colors Status Ref.
California Scholarship Federation General Active
Computer Science Honor Society Computer science Active
Cum Laude Society General Active [101]
Delta Epsilon Phi ΔΕΦ German Active
Ephebian Society General Active [102]
International Thespian Society Theatre   Sapphire and   Gold Active
Mu Alpha Theta ΜΑΘ Mathematics   Turquoise blue and   Gold Active
National Art Honor Society Visual arts Active
National Business Honor Society Business, juniors and seniors Active [103][104][105][106]
National Beta Club General   Black and   Gold Active
National Chinese Honor Society Chinese Active [107][108]
National English Honor Society English   Cardinal and   Black Active
National Honor Society General   Blue and   Gold Active
National Honor Society for Dance Arts Dance Active
National Junior Classical League Latin and Greek Active
National Junior Honor Society General   Blue and   White Active
National Scholarship Society for Secondary Schools Genera Active [101]
National Society of High School Scholars General Active [109][110]
National Speech and Debate Association Public speaking   Red and   Silver Active
National Technical Honor Society Vocational education   Purple,   Silver, and   White Active
Quill and Scroll Journalism   Blue and   Gold Active
Rho Kappa ΡΚ Social studies Active
Science National Honor Society Science Active
Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica Spanish and Portuguese Active
Société Honoraire de Français French   Blue,   White, and   Red Active
Technology Student Association STEM   Red   Blue   White Active
Tri-M MMM Music   Pink Active
Society Symbols Emphasis Colors Status Ref.
Firecrafter Boy Scouts Crossroads of America Council Active
Order of the Arrow Boy Scouts of America Active
Tribe of Mic-O-Say Boy Scouts Heart of America Council and Pony Express Council Active
Tribe of Tahquitz Local Boy Scout honor society Active
  1. ^ Some professional fraternities continue to maintain single-sex housing, whereas honor societies, typically non-residential, more readily adopted coeducational membership structures.
  2. ^ a b In theater lighting, a "bastard" color is a lighting gel that has been mixed with a small amount of a complimentary color, creating a more natural result. See Bastard color.
  3. ^ Merged with Phi Chi in 1922.
  4. ^ Was originally an honor society but is now a secret society.
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