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Epsilon Nu Eta
With the growth of the concept of professionalism among students, there appeared to be a need for a special entity to embody the ideals of the profession. During the 1977 meeting of SNEHA, Betty Wernette, a student at Ferris State College, was appointed to chair a committee to explore creation of an honor society for environmental health. It was formally chartered as Epsilon Nu Eta at East Tennessee State University on May 28, 1978, the first environmental health honor society in the United States. The new society was not to compete, but to complement and stimulate SNEHA and involve faculty in programs. Vince Sikora, then a professor at ETSU, was the chairman. The Federated Chapters of Epsilon Nu Eta (initally ENH ENvironmental Health), stands for Elpis Neogenes Hpeirou which is translated to mean "the hope of a new born earth." The Society is dedicated to having as members those who are, and to encourage others to become, "the hope of a new born earth." Epsilon Nu Eta has some noble purposes: 1. to recognize and encourage leadership and scholarship in environmental health; 2. to coalesce into an organization of persons desiring to advance environmental health; and 3. to draw students and faculty together to share ideas and efforts. It is deliberately structured to require involvement of mature and experienced faculty in guiding the youthful and idealistic environmental health scholars. Epsilon Nu Eta is not for everybody. It is an HONOR society. Membership in the organization is highly selective. An Honor Society must define and maintain a truly high standard of eligibility for membership and achieve sufficient status that member ship is valued highly. The primary standard for membership is superior academic performance; yet to avoid a highbrow group, the society has two other standards - exemplary character, and contribution to the profession. The contribution to the pro fession may take the form of research, employment, or service as determined by the local chapters. Local chapters of the Society are independent and may be as active or inactive as they desire, without regard to the national office. Above all else, Epsilon Nu Eta is devoted to professionalism in Environmental Health. The society seeks professionals and promotes professionalism. A chapter of Epsilon Nu Eta may be established in any school where there is a program accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula. This requirement bonds the Honor Society to the profession and reinforces the profes sion's accreditation requirements. There are now three active chapters - East Carolina University, East Tennessee State University and Ferris State College. Approximately 250 members have been inducted since 1978. Honorary membership has been awarded to Dr. Bailus Walker (1979); Dr. Lawrence Krone (1980); Dr. William Walter (1981); Dr. John Todd (1982); and Dr. Trenton Davis (1983).
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