Eighty years later, Stephens College and the Missouri Region planted roots of a different sort for the Society. On November 19, the day set aside to honor the Society's founders, Phi Theta Kappans gathered at Stephens College for a special celebration which included a luncheon and presentation of the Society's history provided by Stephens College. After the luncheon, International Officers Thomas Jordan, Brandi Bates, Kim Pratt and Jessica Supinski, the Missouri Regional Officers, and Stephens College dignitaries joined in the planting of a laurel tree and an oak tree in the Memorial Garden on campus. The trees were planted in memory of Elizabeth Moore, Dean of Women, who founded the first honor society for two-year colleges.

Phi Theta Kappa members in Missouri weren't the only ones applauding Phi Theta Kappa's milestone anniversary. To meet the Founders Day Challenge issued by the International Officers, chapters from coast to coast observed Founders Day by planting an oak tree or another tree or shrub representing stability and strength of character.

The chapter at Waycross College in Waycross, Georgia met the challenge by planting an oak tree in the newly-created "Hall of Trees" on the college campus. The college plans to establish a "Hall of Trees" where each tree will have a marker explaining the tree's historical information. The college hopes that students from surrounding communities will visit the college and study the information about each tree. "The exciting part is that our tree is the lead tree, or as we will call it the ‘Tree of Knowledge' for this collection of trees," says chapter advisor Robyn Hubacher.