Remembering Mary Kennedy Lawler
(July 24, 1942 - June 25, 2008)

     Mary Kennedy Lawler, R.N., Ph.D., president of the Oklahoma State University Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 2006-2008, died June 25, 2008, from an aggressive form of brain cancer. She held degrees from the University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, and Oklahoma State University. Having been a pediatric oncology nurse in Pittsburgh and a teacher of family medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, she was, at the time of her death, Director of Oklahoma State's Upward Bound Program in Math and Science. Mary was the mother of four children: Craig, Diane, Jill, and Erin, and the wife of Dr. James Lawler of OSU's Political Science Department. Additional information, including opportunities for donations, can be found at the family's web site: www.thelawlerfamily.org

  Oklahoma State University
Chapter 024

     The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is a 107-year-old organization whose mission is "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." The organization is comprised of nearly 300 chapters located in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, which together induct more than 30,000 members each year. Since the organization's inception in 1897, more than 1,000,000 scholars have joined the prestigious organization.

    Nationally, a general convention is held triennially to elect national officers and conduct other business. Between conventions, a twelve-person Board of Directors oversees the business of the Society. The daily operations of the Society are managed by members of the national headquarters staff. Local chapters are run solely by dedicated faculty and staff volunteers who work with the National Headquarters and the Board of Directors to offer a variety of programs to the membership.