Phi Kappa Theta Extends Membership Invitation to Watson, Famed IBM Supercomputer

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 30, 2013 - Troy, NY, January 30, 2013:  The collegiate members of the New York Sigma chapter of Phi Kappa Theta (http://www.pktskilodge.org/) Fraternity are excited to extend a membership invitation to Watson, the IBM supercomputer (http://www-03.ibm.com/innovation/us/watson/). A membership invitation, commonly called a “Bid” by Greek Life students, is the first step in joining a fraternity.

IBM recently announced that it will provide the Watson system to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) (http://www.rpi.edu/) as part of their Shared University Research program. During the grant period, RPI faculty and students will work directly with Watson to develop the next version of the cognitive learning system that led the computer to beat Jeopardy! Champions in a 2011 contest.

“We’re excited that Watson is coming to RPI, and it simply makes sense to invite him to join our organization,” says Phi Kappa Theta collegiate president, Joseph Arizzi. “Phi Kappa Theta is always on the lookout for top caliber candidates to become brothers. Watson demonstrates many of the characteristics of Phi Kappa Theta: academic excellence, community service, and leadership initiative.”

Once accepting the bid, Watson will be an associate member of the fraternity, spending several weeks learning about the history, traditions, and values of Phi Kappa Theta. Upon completion of the associate member period, Watson will be eligible to become a brother of the fraternity.

About Phi Kappa Theta

Phi Kappa Theta is a national social fraternity with over 1,500 undergraduate members and 50,000 alumni brothers from 50 chapters and colonies at universities across the United States. Established on April 29, 1959 by the merger of Phi Kappa and Theta Kappa Phi, Phi Kappa Theta is the only American fraternity considered to be created by the true “merger” of two separate Greek letter organizations.

The mission of Phi Kappa Theta is to “actively develop men to be effective leaders who passionately serve society, Fraternity, and God.”