22 Seniors to be Initiated into Phi Beta Kappa

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Columbia College has announced the names of 22 seniors who will be initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society, on February 15. 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 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 1777 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 2013 Junior Phi Beta Kappa members are:

Travis Baseler
Jason Bell
Tyler Benedict
Caitlin Brown
Woo Chang Chung
Peter Conroy
Kevin Crowley
Hannah Deresiewicz
Joel Dierbeck 
Frederic Dulson
Leah Friedman
Matthew Gladstone
Cynthia Harris
Yuxiao Huang
Samuel Kohn
Gavin McGown
Gerard Ramm
Billy Rees 
Rotem Rusak
Matthew Salant
Katharina Shaw
James Wiseman