Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honors society. (Founded December 5, 1776)
Tau of Pennsylvania
2020 Induction
The Tau of Pennsylvania Chapter at Ursinus College was installed as a Chapter of the Society on March 29, 1992. Information regarding the annual induction ceremony is coming soon.
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most respected academic honor society in the United States, having been established at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa signifies excellence in one’s entire academic experience as an undergraduate. Furthermore, only a small fraction of all colleges and universities in the US possess a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Election of members is also limited to no more than fifteen percent of any senior class, with no more than twenty percent of these students having been elected during the junior year.
Junior students with a Grade Point Average at or above 3.75 and senior students with GPA at or above 3.50 are eligible for nomination and thus consideration for Phi Beta Kappa.
Each year the Tau Chapter solicits nominations from faculty and staff. A committee of Chapter members then reviews student records and makes recommendations to the entire Tau Chapter as to which students it recommends for membership. The Tau Chapter considers these recommendations and additional students brought forth independently by Chapter members. This meeting results in the list of students who are offered membership in the Society by the Tau of Pennsylvania at Ursinus College.
Along with election and initiation of new members each year, the Tau Chapter supports the John Moore Wickersham Sophomore Book Award. This award, in the form of a book and certificate, is presented at the initiation each spring to the sophomore(s) with the highest GPA after 3 semesters at Ursinus College. Occasionally, the Chapter invites Phi Beta Kappa scholars to speak at events open to the entire campus.
Class of 2020
Kiley Addis
Thomas Armstrong
Samantha Beck
Sarah Becker
Sarah Blatt
Garrett Bullock
Scott Campbell
Sienna Coleman
Breanna Couts
Charley Darkes-Burkey
Alissa DiGuglielmo
Gemma Dufoe
Tiffini-Amber Eckenrod
Erin Fowler
Amanda Galczyk
Melissa Hoff
Kayla Hofmann
Sophia King
Shannon Kiss
Nicole Kosar
Madison Kuklentz
Eleanor LaFountain
Zachary Larmer
Connor Loomis
Ria Malones
Domenico Mazzeo
Jacob Menzer
Rocco Mesoraca
Haley O’Malley
Daniel Powell
Rebecca Schubach
Evan Scott
Avery Sicher
Min Son
Caitlyn Sorelle
Gabriel Tenaglia
Miriam Thomas
Jakob Twill
Daniel Walker
Ryan Walker
Alyssa Weber
Amanda White
Richard Wike
Jaclyn Zaccaro
Kailyn Cohen
Parker Fairchild
Madison Moses
Class of 2021 (elected as Juniors)
Thea Pastras
Elvi Sopiqoti
2020 John Wickersham Book Award Winners (sophomore prize)
Christine Heren
Tristan Maraglio
Jesse Wun
Faculty and Staff Resident Members
Meghan Brodie ’00
Stephen Buss ’08
Alyssa Caffarelli ’13
Thomas Carroll
Cathy Chambliss
Glenda Chao
Abbie Cichowski ’10
Marcia Clouser
Mark Ellison, President
Rebecca Evans, Treasurer
Denise Finney
Roger Florka
Quinn Gilman-Forlini ’15
Lisa Hanover
Stephanie Mackler
Jonathan Marks
Kassandra Martin-Wells
Kara McShane
Anthony Nadler
Eric Parnell
Christian Rice ’98, Vice President
Jordan Scharaga ’17
Mark Schneider
Domenick Scudera
Paul Stern
Jennifer Stevenson
Erin Stroble ’02
Susanna Throop
Angela Upright ’17, Historian
Jon Volkmer
Emeriti
William E. Akin
A. Curtis Allen
Hugh Clark
Nancy Hagelgans
Joyce Lionarons
Ellen Matthews
David Mill
Patricia Schroeder ’74
Martha Takats
Victor Tortorelli
John M. Wickersham
In Memoriam
S. Ross Doughty ’68
Bobby Fong
C. Dallett Hemphill
Richard King