Columbia College has announced the names of 23 seniors who will be initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society, on Friday, January 22. The students were chosen by a faculty selection committee of Phi Beta Kappa members based on the breadth, depth and rigor of their academic programs, as well as recommendations from faculty members who have worked with closely them. 

Each year, 10 percent of the Columbia College graduating class is elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Two percent (Junior Phi Beta Kappa) is elected in the fall and the remaining eight percent is elected in the spring. 

Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 for the pursuit of “friendship, morality, and literature.” It was the first student group to adopt  Greek letters, standing for the Greek words philosophies bios kubernetes, or “love of wisdom, the guide of life.” Today, this honor society celebrates and promotes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. To be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa is one of the highest academic honors for undergraduate students and recognizes their exceptional scholarship.

The Class of 2016 Junior Phi Beta Kappa members are:

Karen Bao
Katherine Christianson
Emily Corning
Bernhard Fasenfest
Adriano Fernandes
Vahe Galstyan
Elena Goldstein
Ethan Herenstein
Maris Hubbard
Shea Jendrusina
Lena Ji
Felix Jin
Chate Khemakongkanonth
Junghoon Kim
Omeed Maghzian
Daniel Miron
Katherine Nevitt
Zoey Poll
Alexander Remec
Benjamin Rosenblum
Jacoby Shelton
Eric Wei
Lu Zhou

Please contact Hazel May, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Secretary of New York Delta Phi Beta Kappa, with any questions.