Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Circle 1914 to Present

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. The founders formulated the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized, that representatives in all phases of college life should cooperate in worthwhile endeavors, and that outstanding students, faculty, and administrators should meet on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and helpfulness. OΔK® was the first college honor society of a national scope to give recognition and honor for meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of general campus citizenship. The Alpha Circle also has a page www.odk.org.

The Alpha Circle Committee is comprised of the following, all of whom have been inducted into OΔK®:

  • Alpha Circle Officers - the Student President, the Student Vice-President, and the Student Treasurer each of whom are elected by the Circle Membership and serve a one-year term; the Circle Coordinator and the Faculty Adviser who both serve four-year terms; the Circle Assistant is ex officio.
  • Voting Members - the Circle Coordinator, the Faculty Adviser, adn three current faculty or staff members who serve three-year terms.

Alpha Circle

Officers

  • President: Brady Madden, '26
  • Vice-President: William Bray, '26
  • Treasurer: Owen Burns, '26
  • Faculty Advisor: Dr. Chris Dobbins
  • Circle Coordinator: Katherine Dau, '19
  • Circle Assistant: Haley Richard

Voting Members

  • Christopher Dobbins, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Activities
  • Katherine Dau, Director of Annual Giving
  • Jenny Davidson, Associate Director and Instructor of Poverty Studies
  • Alexandra Klein, Assistant Professor of Law
  • Julie Woodzicka, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Science

Alpha Circle Membership

Class of 2026

  • William Bray
  • Owen Burns
  • Aliya Gibbons
  • Meredith Hoffman
  • William Joseph
  • Brian Kim
  • Joe Lee
  • Colin Looby
  • Brady Madden
  • Claire Manning
  • Jackson Maroon
  • Courtney May
  • Anshika Patel
  • Max Patterson
  • Sarp Sahin
  • Kendall Schlueter
  • Joyce Yoo
  • Hamza Zia

Law Class of 2026

  • Shelby Brown
  • Justin Carter
  • Symone Gibbs
  • Nathan Heastie
  • Allison Hermann
  • Kaliee Jackson-Ruso
  • Sidney Johnson
  • Jack Leetun
  • Guy Mannick
  • Caroline Penfield
  • Kate Risser
  • Lillian Sampson

Law Class of 2027

  • McKayla Bibby
  • Emily Johnson
  • Danielle Latty
  • Rose Williams

History

The Omicron Delta Kappa Society, Inc., The National Leadership Honor Society for college students, recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character. Membership in ODK is a mark of highest distinction and honor.

The Society recognizes achievement in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service, social, religious activities, and campus government; journalism, speech and the mass media; and the creative and performing arts. Emphasis is placed on the development of the whole person, both as a member of the college community and as a contributor to a better society. Since its founding, Omicron Delta Kappa has initiated over 300,000 members.

The Society recognizes achievement in the following five areas:

  • Scholarship
  • Athletics
  • Campus/Community Service, Social/Religious Activities, and Campus Government
  • Journalism, Speech and the Mass Media
  • Creative and Performing Arts

The ODK "mark of distinction" is well recognized by leaders in both the academic and business worlds.

Purpose

The Purpose of The Omicron Delta Kappa Society is Threefold:

  • First, to recognize those who have attained a high standard of efficiency in collegiate activities and to inspire others to strive for conspicuous attainments along similar lines;
  • Second, to bring together the most representative students in all phases of collegiate life and thus to create an organization which will help to mould the sentiment of the institution on questions of local and intercollegiate interest;
  • Third, to bring together members of the faculty and student body of the institution on a basis of mutual interest and understanding.

Membership

Membership in Omicron Delta Kappa is as much an obligation and responsibility in leadership as it is a mark of highest distinction and honor. Membership is awarded to undergraduate junior and senior students; to graduate students; to faculty, staff, administration and alumni; and to persons qualifying for membership honoris causa. Student membership candidates must rank in the upper 35 percent in scholarship of their school or college and must show leadership in at least one of five areas:

  • Scholarship
  • Athletics
  • Campus/Community Service, Social/Religious Activities, and Campus Government
  • Journalism, Speech and the Mass Media
  • Creative and Performing Arts

Through membership in ODK, you gain potential friendships with nearly 270,000 living women and men whose peers recognize them as scholars and leaders; recognition by those around you who have been selected as the very top men and women at your college or university; recognition by leaders throughout the world; and the opportunity to continue lifetime service to your college with fellow ODK members and alumni.

The Foundation

The Omicron Delta Kappa Foundation, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation chartered to administer the professional and philanthropic activities of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society. The Foundation awards $1,000 graduate scholarships each year to 13 outstanding ODK seniors who plan to attend accredited graduate or professional schools. Washington and Lee ODK members are also eligible for a separate scholarship named in honor of W&L alumnus Kenneth P. Ruscio, former president of ODK and former president of W&L.

This page was last modified on July 11, 2025
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Send questions and comments to hrichard@wlu.edu