Sphinx Senior Society
Encyclopedia
The Sphinx Senior Society of the University of Pennsylvania is the oldest honor society at the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Founded in 1900, the organization is self-perpetuating and today usually consists of 25-30 members. Its members represent a diverse and varied cast, coming from all areas of achievement, community, activities, and backgrounds. However each member is chosen because of the singular fact of their committed leadership to the University, its community, and the general public.
The organization is rumored to be one of the university's secret societies, but has always been open and makes no secret of its presence. Every year, recent new members are listed in the campus paper The Daily Pennsylvanian
for congratulations and recognition. Current and past members are also listed openly on the organization's website. In the past, new members are even listed in prominent papers such as the New York Times.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Founded in 1900, the organization is self-perpetuating and today usually consists of 25-30 members. Its members represent a diverse and varied cast, coming from all areas of achievement, community, activities, and backgrounds. However each member is chosen because of the singular fact of their committed leadership to the University, its community, and the general public.
The organization is rumored to be one of the university's secret societies, but has always been open and makes no secret of its presence. Every year, recent new members are listed in the campus paper The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Daily Pennsylvanian is the independent daily student newspaper of the University of Pennsylvania.It is published every weekday when the university is in session by a staff of more than 250 students. During the summer months, a smaller staff produces a weekly version called The Summer...
for congratulations and recognition. Current and past members are also listed openly on the organization's website. In the past, new members are even listed in prominent papers such as the New York Times.
Membership
The total size of the current undergraduate society ranges from 20-30 depending on each class's preference. Members, officially called "Sphinges," represent outstanding individuals that have served the university in some form or manner and are selected based on their achievement, character, involvement, leadership, and vision. This membership perpetuates through "tapping" (a common society term meaning invite) every spring where current members personally nominate deserving juniors to attend a smoker. This informal smoker provides an opportunity for the taps to pick up an application as well as for the current members to meet and screen nominees before seniors go through the selection process.Notable members
- Mitchell J. Blutt - Executive Partner, J.P. Morgan Chase - 1978
- Bill CarrBill CarrWilliam Arthur Carr was an American athlete, a double Olympic champion in 1932.Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Carr studied at Mercersburg Academy and the University of Pennsylvania, where he was coached by 1904 Olympian Lawson Robertson...
- Winner of two gold medals at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics - 1933 - Richard ClarkeRichard ClarkeRichard Clarke may refer to:* Richard Clarke , Jamaican boxer* Richard Clarke , Northern Irish footballer with Portadown* Richard Clarke , Northern Irish footballer with Newry City & Glentoran...
- Author, National Counter-Terrorism Director under Presidents Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
- 1972 - William T. Coleman, Jr. - United States Secretary of Transportation, 1975-77, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - 1925
- Jeffrey Goldberg Jeffrey GoldbergJeffrey Mark Goldberg is an American journalist. He is an author and a staff writer for The Atlantic, having previously worked for The New Yorker. Goldberg writes principally on foreign affairs, with a focus on the Middle East and Africa...
- Award winning journalist. Writer for the Atlantic and The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
- 1987 - Jon Huntsman, Sr.Jon Huntsman, Sr.Jon Meade Huntsman, Sr. is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Huntsman Corporation. He is the father of former United States Ambassador to China and former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman, Jr....
- Billionaire, founder of the Huntsman Corporation - 1959 - John B. Kelly, Jr.John B. Kelly, Jr.John Brendan Kelly, Jr. , also known as Kell Kelly or Jack Kelly, was an accomplished oarsman, a four-time Olympian, and an Olympic medal winner. He was also the son of triple Olympic gold medal winner John B. Kelly, Sr. In 1947, Kelly was awarded the James E...
- accomplished oarsman, four-time Olympian, and Olympic medal winner and President of the United States Olympic Committee; brother of famous actress Grace Kelly; Kelly Drive in Philadelphia is named for him - 1950 - John Legend/John StephensJohn LegendJohn Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
- famous American soul singer, songwriter, and pianist - 2000 - Donald Lippincott - Winner of a silver and a bronze medal at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics - 1915
- John Edgar WidemanJohn Edgar WidemanJohn Edgar Wideman is an American writer, professor at Brown University, and sits on the contributing editorial board of the literary journal Conjunctions.-Early life:...
- American writer and two-time winner of the International PEN/Faulkner Award; current professor at Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
- 1963