With their merger in 2010, IEEE and its honor society, Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN), created a pathway for IEEE and IEEE-HKN to identify and develop future leaders in the IEEE fields of interest.
Ten years, 48 new Chapters, 26,000 inductees, and hundreds of thousands of community service hours later, IEEE-HKN is an engine for innovation and excellence.
“The leadership of IEEE realized this potential and enthusiastically bought into the merger, and many people worked tirelessly to make it happen,” says Bruce Eisenstein, 2000 IEEE President, 2010 HKN President. “We can look with pride at the result today.”
With 265 chapters in 20 countries, the honor society has provided IEEE a way to reach and bring into its volunteer and leadership ranks the best and brightest students, industry professionals, and academics. HKN offers a strong feeder system for IEEE societies since it is populated with ready and willing volunteers for STEM outreach, tutoring, humanitarian efforts, and committee and board-level positions throughout IEEE. Some 23 IEEE Presidents, and each since the merger, are HKN members.
In turn, HKN gained the resources to grow and transform into a multi-faceted, vibrant, global society.
“IEEE-HKN embraces its roots as an American university honor society, but we have grown into a global professional organization that brings professional development, career development, life skills development, and leadership skills development to our members throughout their careers,” says Edward A. Rezek, 2020 IEEE-HKN President. “Throughout the many changes, we have retained our core values of scholarship, character, and attitude.”
A large part of the success and growth of IEEE-HKN is the dedication of you: our members, volunteers, and supporters.
So, let’s celebrate together!
All Members
Add IEEE-HKN to your LinkedIn profile. Like our Facebook page and follow our Instagram and Twitter Accounts. Remember to use #IAmHKN when posting on your personal accounts.
Student Members and Faculty Advisors
Co-host an online event, tutoring session, or community service project with the IEEE Student Branch at your university. Brainstorm ideas together to foster cooperation and boost your joint presence in the Department. After it’s held, remember to submit an activity report.
Alumni
Reach out to or reconnect with your Chapter of Induction or a Chapter in a school near you (contact information can be found on the IEEE Roster tool). Perhaps you can mentor a member or a full Chapter or offer remarks during a remote meeting or event. You can also introduce IEEE-HKN to your IEEE Region and Section leaders or if you are part of an IEEE Society, introduce students to it.
Support Our Giving Campaign
To mark the 10th anniversary of the merger and the 116th anniversary of HKN’s founding, we are embarking on a US$116,000 campaign to ensure the society can continue to support our members and nurture innovation. Won’t you join us?
For more information on IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu, please email our IEEE-HKN Director, Nancy Ostin, at n.ostin@ieee.org.
Yours in Eta Kappa Nu,
Ed Rezek, 2020 IEEE-HKN President and Nancy Ostin, IEEE-HKN Director
