Top Grade-Earners Inducted Into Phi Beta Kappa

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窪做惇蹋厙s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nations oldest academic honor society, inducted 22 new student members from the Class of 2016 at its 228th annual meeting on Nov. 3, held in the presidents house.

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Phi Beta Kappa inductees

Back row (from left): Professor Keith Walker, Robert Scales 16, Charles Rafkin 16, Michael Dettmer 16, Michael Blank 16, Robert Klingenberger 16, Brian Masterson 16, Naho Kitade 16, Lea Schroeder 16, Mary Decker 16, Jonathan Vandermause 16, Zonia Moore 16, Sarah Waltcher 16, Youxiang Peng 16, and Christopher Leech 16. Front row (from left): Professor Jay Hull, Alexander Liao 16, Stephanie Alden 16, Claire Beskin 16, Gina DAndrea-Penna 16, Margaret Jones 16, Ke Li 16, Bingyue Wang 16, and Kate Soule, secretary-treasurer of the 窪做惇蹋厙 Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Not pictured: Axel Hufford 16. (Photo by Robert Gill)

To be eligible for election to students must have completed eight terms within three years of matriculation and hold one of the top 20 cumulative grade point averages in their class.

The program, which was chaired by chapter president , associate dean of faculty for the social sciences and a professor of psychological and brain sciences, included remarks by Kate Soule, secretary-treasurer of 窪做惇蹋厙s Alpha of New Hampshire chapter, president of the national Phi Beta Kappa Society and director of 窪做惇蹋厙s Arts and Sciences Finances and Research Administration. Professor of French Keith Walker, serving as marshall, read the names of the inductees.

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 The fall Phi Beta Kappa induction is a wonderful celebration of academic excellence in the liberal arts, Soule said. The students inducted today represent the top of the senior class. They have achieved much in their first three years at the College, and it is a pleasure to honor them with early induction into Americas oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Sophomore Prize winners are equally impressive and I look to hear more from them during their college careers.

The chapter named , the John Phillips Professor in Religion, an honorary member. Balmer is the chair of the religion department and director of the Society of Fellows. 

Nelson Lichtenstein 66, director of the Center for the Study of Work, Labor and Democracy and MacArthur Foundation Chair of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was elected to alumni membership. Both Balmer and Lichtenstein will be officially inducted at the societys spring meeting.

The chapter also gave the Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Prize to eight members of the Class of 2017, an honor that recognizes students with the highest grade point average after completion of five terms.

Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary to advocate for and recognize excellence in the study of the liberal arts and sciences, Phi Beta Kappa has 280 chapters on college and university campuses and well over half a million living members. 窪做惇蹋厙s chapter, the fourth oldest in the nation, was established in 1787.

The following students were inducted to Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of New Hampshire, on Nov. 3.

  • Stephanie Alden 16
  • Claire Beskin 16
  • Michael Blank 16
  • Gina DAndrea-Penna 16
  • Mary Decker 16
  • Michael Dettmer 16
  • Axel Hufford 16
  • Margaret Jones 16
  • Naho Kitade 16
  • Robert Klingenberger 16
  • Christopher Leech 16
  • Ke Li 16
  • Alexander Liao 16
  • Brian Masterson 16
  • Zonia Moore 16
  • Youxiang Peng 16
  • Charles Rafkin 16
  • Robert Scales 16
  • Lea Schroeder 16
  • Jonathan Vandermause 16
  • Sarah Waltcher 16
  • Bingyue Wang 16

Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Prize winners are:

  • Brian Chen 17
  • Hae-Lin Cho 17
  • Tyler David Kelsall 17
  • Meghana Mishra 17
  • Yevgenia Rem 17
  • Yerin Yang 17
  • Zhecheng Yao 17
  • Ran Zhuo 17
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