Kappa Mu Epsilon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kappa Mu Epsilon |
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| ΚΜΕ | |
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| Founded | April 18, 1931 Northeastern State University |
| Type | Honor society |
| Affiliation | ACHS |
| Emphasis | Mathematics |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | Develop an appreciation for the beauty in mathematics |
| Colors | Pink and Silver |
| Symbol | Five-pointed star and the pentagon |
| Flower | Pink wild rose |
| Publication | The Pentagon |
| Chapters | 150 |
| Members | 88,000+ lifetime |
| Headquarters | c/o Prof. Steven Shattuck School of Computer Science and Mathematics University of Central Missouri P.O. Box 800 Warrensburg, Missouri 64093 United States |
Kappa Mu Epsilon (ΚΜΕ) is a special group in the United States for students who are really good at mathematics. It's like an honor society for math lovers! This society was started by Emily Kathryn Wyant in 1931. She wanted to create a group that would help college students who were studying math.
Kappa Mu Epsilon began at Northeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College. Today, there are more than 88,000 members in about 150 different chapters across the country. It is also part of the Association of College Honor Societies, which means it's a recognized and respected honor society.
Contents
History of Kappa Mu Epsilon
How Kappa Mu Epsilon Started
Kappa Mu Epsilon was founded in 1931 by Emily Kathryn Wyant. She was a mathematics professor at Northeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Before KME, there was a math club on campus that started in 1927. Professor Wyant wanted to turn this club into a national honor society. Her goal was to focus on the needs of college students who were studying mathematics.
L. P. Woods, who was the head of the math department, helped Professor Wyant. He even created the special ceremonies for new members and leaders of the society. The first members included Professor Wyant, Mr. Woods, and 22 other students and teachers. Professor Wyant was the first president of Kappa Mu Epsilon.
Goals of the Society
Kappa Mu Epsilon has five main goals. These goals help guide what the society does:
- To make mathematics more interesting for students.
- To show how important mathematics has been in building civilization.
- To help members see the amazing power and beauty of mathematics.
- To celebrate the great math achievements of its members.
- To keep members updated on new discoveries in mathematics.
Growth of Kappa Mu Epsilon
After the first chapter in Oklahoma, other chapters quickly formed. The second chapter, called Iowa Alpha, started at Iowa State Teachers College on May 27, 1931. Then came Kansas Alpha at Kansas State Teachers College in January 1932. Missouri Alpha was established in May 1932 at Southwest Missouri State College. Also in May 1932, Kappa Mu Epsilon joined with another math group at Mississippi State College, forming Mississippi Alpha.
The society began publishing its own journal, called The Pentagon, in the fall of 1941. In 1968, Kappa Mu Epsilon became an official member of the Association of College Honor Societies. By 2018, the society had started 205 chapters and had more than 88,000 members.
Symbols of Kappa Mu Epsilon
Motto and Main Symbols
The motto of Kappa Mu Epsilon is "Develop an appreciation for the beauty of mathematics." This motto is also written in Greek. The main symbols of the society are the five-pointed star and the pentagon. These shapes were chosen because they were important to the Pythagoreans, an ancient group of mathematicians.
Flower and Colors
The society's flower is the pink wild rose. It was chosen because its five petals fit perfectly into a pentagon shape, which is a key symbol for the society. The colors of Kappa Mu Epsilon are pink and silver. The pink comes from the wild rose, and the silver comes from the star symbol.
Badge and Seal
The society's badge is shaped like a pentagon with slightly curved sides. The top part of the badge has a five-leaf rose, and the bottom part shows the Greek letters ΚΜΕ. The Kappa Mu Epsilon seal is a circle. Inside the circle, there's a five-pointed star that holds a five-leaf rose. Around the edge of the circle, it says "Kappa Mu Epsilon, Founded 1931."
Crest Design
The crest of Kappa Mu Epsilon is a shield. On the shield, there is a five-pointed star. In the middle of the star, you can see a special math graph that looks like a rose. Around the star, there are other symbols:
- A butterfly, which stands for biological sciences.
- A moon and three stars, representing the physical sciences.
- A symbol for the business world.
- A shamrock and a slide rule for engineering.
- A book of knowledge, symbolizing students and teachers.
The society's badge is placed above the shield, and below the shield is a ribbon with the Greek motto.
Membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon
Who Can Join
Both students and teachers can become members of Kappa Mu Epsilon. For students, there are a few requirements to join this honor society.
Membership Requirements
To be a student member, you need to be in the top 35 percent of your class. You also need to have completed at least three semesters of college. In terms of math classes, you must have finished three college mathematics courses, including calculus. You also need to have earned a "B" grade or better in these math courses.
Activities of Kappa Mu Epsilon
Conferences and Conventions
Kappa Mu Epsilon holds a national conference every two years. In the years between national conferences, they have regional conventions. These events are great opportunities for members to share ideas and learn from each other. Students can also present their own math papers at these events. This helps them get ready for doing research in graduate school.
Publications and Awards
The society publishes a journal called The Pentagon every year. This journal features articles on different mathematical topics, often written by students. Kappa Mu Epsilon also gives out an award called the George Mach Service Award. This award recognizes people who have made big contributions to the society.
Chapters
See also
- Mu Alpha Theta, ΜΑΘ (mathematics, high school)
- Mu Sigma Rho, ΜΣΡ (statistics)
- Pi Mu Epsilon, ΠΜΕ (mathematics)
- Association of College Honor Societies
