Omicron Kappa Upsilon - Kappa Lambda Chapter

The Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) represents the Dental College of Georgia in the national dental honor society, which includes chapters across all U.S. and Canadian dental schools.

Dedicated to fostering academic excellence and professional distinction, the chapter recognizes student achievement through several annual awards and honors:

  • Chapter Certificates of Academic Achievement presented to the top 20% of the junior and senior classes based on GPA.
  • Merit-based scholarship awards presented to the senior, junior, and sophomore students with the highest GPAs.
  • The Dr. Judson C. Hickey Research Award, named after the founding DCG dean, honoring outstanding student research.
  • The Senior Comprehensive Patient Case Presentation Award, recognizing excellence in clinical care.
  • The Dr. Ralph McKinney Professionalism Award, named after the former chapter and national OKU president, presented to a junior student selected by peers for exceptional professional character.
Seal for OKU

Membership

Membership in OKU is by election. Each year we elect alumni members from the graduating senior class. To be eligible for membership, candidates must rank academically in the top 20% of their class. From this group, a number equal to 12% of the senior class may be voted into membership and inducted into OKU just prior to graduation.

Invitations for membership are based on GPA, extracurricular activities and professional conduct. Each year we also elect one honorary member who may or may not be a dentist, and two faculty members. Their election is based on significant contributions to the art and science of dentistry. To read more about OKU, please visit Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) website.

A banquet is held annually at the end of the school year to celebrate our new members. New members are guests of OKU for an evening of dinner and recognition. This is an elegant evening in which new members are encouraged to invite guests and family to celebrate their induction.

Annual Dues

Expectations of Health Care Professionals

Healthcare Professionals have specialized skills & knowledge, an obligation to life-long education, codes of ethical conduct, and a commitment to enhancing the greater community good or interest through service and leadership. Society empowers us in ways that very few other groups can imagine. Accordingly, we owe it to society to do right, give our best and be compassionate. OKU recognizes excellence in scholarship and character in the dental profession.

Kappa Lambda Officers

Dr. Martha Brackett

  • President

Dr. Lisa Marin

  • President Elect

Dr. Regina Messer

  • Vice President

Dr. Kevin B. Frazier

  • Secretery /Treasurer

Dr. Maurice Lewis

  • Immediate Past President

Ms. Stephanie O'Dell

  • Administration

Dr. Martha G. Brackett

  • Webmaster

News & Announcements

OKU induction 2026

2026 OKU Kappa Lambda Chapter Inductees

May 7, 2026
On May 7, the Dental College of Georgia gathered to celebrate graduating seniors and dedicated faculty during the annual Senior Awards Ceremony. Applause and conversation filled the room as the program highlighted a class defined by academic excellence, leadership, service, and steady commitment to the DCG community.

The Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society, honored the following student with membership: Emily Aldredge, Karley Bates, Sarah Brandt, Isabella Burgess, Timothy Do, Erin Goode, Kyle Harris, Lauren K. Lindsey, Jacob Rehak, Kathryn Rothenhofer, Xuan Tran. The chapter also honored several faculty with membership, including Dr. Rhoda Sword, Dr. Scarlet Charmelo Silva, and Dr. Louvenia Annette Rainge.
Chapter Award

Chapter of the Year Winner

2023 and 2014
The Kappa Lambda Chapter of OKU was awarded the Chapter of the Year for 2014 and 2023.
2023frazieraward

Kevin Frazier Leadership Award

2023
Christian Walker and Katy Bigham received the 2023  Dr. Kevin Frazier OKU Leadership Award. The award was established to recognize the dedicated and longstanding service of Dr. Frazier to Kappa Lambda chapter who has served as its Secretary/Treasurer since 2004. Through his leadership, the chapter has achieved national recognition twice and continued to fulfill its mission of recognizing some of our best graduates at DCG. The award was made possible through the generosity of the local DCG membership at large. 
Pictured with The Dental College of Georgia Recently Retired Dean Dr. Carol Lefebvre and OKU Kappa Lambda Chapter Secretary Dr. Kevin Frazier

Jon B. Suzuki Research Award Winner

2018
Dr. Ahmed Zaher, Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences received the inaugural Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Jon B. Suzuki Research Award at the OKU Supreme Chapter annual business meeting held in conjunction with the 2018 ADEA Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Zaher’s research proposal- “Fatigue de-bonding resistance of acrylic denture teeth to a conventionally processed denture base, or bases fabricated using computer-assisted milling or digital printing technologies,” was selected for funding by the OKU Supreme Chapter research award committee. Dr. Fred Rueggeberg will serve as Dr. Zaher’s mentor for this project. OKU, the National Dental Honor Society, is the sponsor for this faculty research development program, and the $5,000 grant was established to help early career faculty be successful in dental education. 
Dr Rueggeberg

Stephen H. Leeper Award Winner

2016
Dr. Frederick Rueggeberg received the prestigious, "Stephen H. Leeper Award,” for [sustained] teaching excellence from the Supreme Chapter of OKU. The award was presented at the 2016 Annual Convocation Banquet by the Kappa Lambda Chapter Secretary, Dr. Kevin Frazier. Congratulations to Dr. Rueggeberg on this distinguished honor. 
Dr. Allison Buchanan was recognized for receiving the 2017 Charles Craig Teaching Award

Charles Craig Teaching Award

2017
Dr. Allison Buchanan was recognized for receiving the 2017 Charles Craig Teaching Award from the Supreme Chapter. This award honors early career dental educators who have, “demonstrated new and innovative teaching techniques in teaching the art, science and literature of dentistry.”