Sphinx Senior Society

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,cite web |url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/1991/10/10/Archive/Ivory.Towers.Skull.And.Bones.Controversy-2184324.shtml |title=IVORY TOWERS: Skull and Bones controversy] 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.cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B04E0DA1E3CE633A25751C0A9609C946396D6CF |title=PRIZES FOR ARCHITECTURE.; Two Are Won by Seniors of the University of Pennsylvania.]

Notable members

* Mitchell J. Blutt - Executive Partner, J.P. Morgan Chase - 1978
*Bill Carr - Winner of two gold medals at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics - 1933
*Richard Clarke - Author, National Counter-Terrorism Director under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush - 1972
*William T. Coleman, Jr. - United States Secretary of Transportation, 1975-77, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - 1925
*Jeffrey Goldberg - Award winning journalist. Writer for the Atlantic and The New Yorker - 1987
*Jon Huntsman, Sr. - Billionaire, founder of the Huntsman Corporation - 1959
*John B. Kelly, Jr. - 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 Stephens - famous American soul singer, songwriter, and pianist - 2000
* Donald Fithian Lippincott - Winner of a silver and a bronze medal at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics - 1915
*John Edgar Wideman - American writer and two-time winner of the International PEN/Faulkner Award; current professor at Brown University - 1963

References