The Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon at its annual business meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 9, 1986, approved the creation of the Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence to honor a man who served Omicron Kappa Upsilon in an exemplary manner for over 25 years, the last 17 of those years as an officer of the Supreme Chapter.

Purpose:  The purpose of the  Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence will be to recognize a rising junior dental student at each Component Chapter school who has demonstrated scholarship, character, and the potential promise for advancement of dentistry and service to humanity as shown by Dr. William S. Kramer's dedication to his profession, his specialty, and the principles and ideals of Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

About Dr. Kramer: This award is presented by the Supreme Chapter in honor of William S. Kramer, B.Sc., D.D.S., M.S., who served the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon as President (1969-70) and as Secretary-Treasurer (1971- 1986), the longest term of office since the founding of the Society in 1914.  

Dr. Kramer's career was primarily in dental education where he served as Chairman of the Department of Pedodontics at the University of Nebraska.  His activities in Pediatric Dentistry included service on the American Board of Pedodontics as an examiner (1962-1969) and as Executive-Secretary (1973-1982).  He served the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry on the Board of Directors (1971-1974), (1977-1981), and as President (1978-1979).  He published many articles and has lectured extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.  Dr. Kramer retired from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in 1988.

Selection Criteria: Each Component Chapter will elect one student each year for the  Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence.  The student to be eligible must have completed the second year of dental education.  The student will be selected on the basis of scholarship at the completion of two full years of academic dental study, character, and potential promise for future advancement of the profession of dentistry and service to humanity as embodied by the dedication and service of Dr. William S. Kramer.  A two-thirds affirmative vote of the faculty members of the Component Chapter will be necessary for selection.  The method of balloting shall be determined by the Component Chapter.  

The Award: The award will be an appropriately engraved OKU certificate which will be provided to the Component Chapter with the name of the student and the school engraved on the certificate.  The award will be unframed but Component Chapters may have it framed for presentation at their option.  

Presentation: The award should be presented at a formal award ceremony, either at the Component Chapter annual convocation or other appropriate ceremony at the School of Dentistry.  Method of presentation will be left up to the Component Chapter, but it should be in an appropriate and sophisticated manner recognizing the ideas embodied by Dr. William S. Kramer.  It is encouraged that the Component Chapter read the purpose of the award and a brief synopsis of Dr. Kramer's career and contributions to dentistry and Omicron Kappa Upsilon at the award ceremony.  

Administrative Details: Component Chapters will report the complete name of their awardee each year (at least 8 weeks before the date to be awarded) to the Corresponding Secretary of the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon.  The Corresponding Secretary will have the name of the awardee and school engraved on the certificate and return the certificate to the school before the award ceremony.  There will be no charge to Component Chapters for the Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence certificate.   

Publicity: It is encouraged that the Component Chapter will give wide publicity to the student awardee and the award.