Omicron Kappa Upsilon had its inception with the class of 1914 at Northwestern University Dental School. It is a National Honor Society consisting of Dental Students exclusively. Admission and membership to OKU is based upon scholarship and character as manifested by election by the faculty.

The name of this Dental Honor Society was selected from the Greek Words - Omicron - meaning teeth and Upsilon - meaning health. These letters appear in the design of the key within the larger symbol Sigma - meaning conservation.

In the first year and a half of Omicron Kappa Upsilon's inception, eight (8) new component chapters were organized. Today, there are 61 active chapters in every Dental School in the United States (except one). In Addition, four (4) chapters are located in Canada and one in Puerto Rico. OKU conducts annual business meetings of the Supreme Chapter ands National Symposia on varying topics, such as Professional Ethics, Human Values, Impact of Corporate Health Care on Dentistry and Dental Education.

Pi Pi Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon was installed as The National Dental Honor Society at Howard University on June 2, 1948 in the Chemistry Building. Charter Members were:

Russell A. Dixon, Dean

C. Carnot Evans

Percy A. Fitzgerald, President

Raymond L. Hayes, Secretary-Treasurer

Emmet J. Scott

John A. Turner, Vice-President

Adolphus Walton