Kent State University's
Laurels Chapter History

A senior women’s honorary was formed at Kent in March of 1955 with the name of Duerna. Duerna is taken from Latin, the language symbolic of scholars, and represents

• Ductus, leadership
• Erudite, scholarship
• Natura, character

In each case the first two letters have been taken to remind us that we must always be

• First to give
• First to share
• First to aid

During the spring initiation ceremony of 1964, the Laurels historian read the following statement: “We hope in the near future to become affiliated with the national Mortar Board whose purposes are scholarship, leadership, and service.” The affiliation was finally realized on March 4, 1972 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon when Laurels became the Laurels Chapter of Mortar Board, the 147th chapter nationwide.

The following excerpt is taken from an article that ran in the Daily Kent Stater in 1972: “In the past, Mortar Board has served as hostesses for Kent State University presidents and their guests. They conduct tours of the campus for visiting groups, new professors, and act as public relations agents for the university. They have frequently entertained Kent’s international students, talked to high school students about college life, and acted as a social as well as service organization whenever asked.”

Since those early days of the Laurels Chapter, things have changed quite a bit – our purpose is no longer a social one, but rather a commitment to serving the university.