On March 31–April 2, six members of the Illinois Tech Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) chapter had the opportunity to attend the annual HKN Student Leadership Conference at Purdue University. Other than networking with students from other HKN chapters, alumni, and representatives of the sponsoring organizations (including General Motors), chapter members (which is Delta chapter) had the opportunity to learn more about HKN’s mission in providing a medium for students and professionals to build relationships through a common membership. Other than networking and trying Insomnia Cookies—a popular baked goods joint in West Lafayette—the students also had the chance to attend various tech talks on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to biophotonics. For those who are not familiar with HKN, we will answer the three frequently asked questions you might ask.

What is HKN?

HKN is the honor society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). HKN was founded in 1904 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (which makes them the Alpha chapter), which then merged with IEEE in 2010. There are currently 234 chapters at different universities in the United States alone.

Who are the members of HKN?

Members of HKN must have a GPA within the top 30% of their class, and show qualities that reflect the core values of HKN, such as professional attitude, well-rounded character, and excellence in service.

Why HKN?

From attending the conference and sharing membership experiences with other HKN chapters, we have learned that membership to HKN has significantly improved relationship between faculty and students. With the stronger relationships between faculty and students, transition to graduate school has proven to be smoother for both faculty members and students. With the worldwide recognition of HKN, membership also opens door to networking with alumni around the world, even after graduation.

Want to be one of us? If you want to be a part of something big, HKN is definitely the perfect starting point for a brilliant professional-to-be like you. You can talk to us by emailing us at hkn@iit.edu.

Learn about upcoming networking events and more by looking out for HKN posters around campus.