Phi Beta Kappa

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honors society. (Founded December 5, 1776)

Tau of Pennsylvania
2020 Induction Ceremony and Reception

The Tau of Pennsylvania Chapter at Ursinus College was installed as a Chapter of the Society on March 29, 1992. The annual induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center’s Lenfest Theater. All are welcome.

A dinner will follow at 6:45 p.m. in the Black Box Theater, Kaleidoscope for initiates and their families.

PBK Reception RSVP

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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.

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 2019

Gabriella Altmire
Colleen Becker
Emily Blaszkow
Caroline Buckley
Corinne Cichowicz
Morgan Cope

Sarah DeFelice (elected in 2018 as a junior)
Julia Dorsheimer

Courtney Duchenne (elected in 2018 as a junior)
Omar Elghawy
Benjamin Espenhorst
Lauren Feldman
Samantha Garritano
Brittany Gasser
Katarina Gereda
Stephanie Hawkins
Brianna Hurley
Elizabeth Iobst
Sonya Jacobsen
Indira Joell
Laura Johnson
Vilajet Kovaci
Jake Lachowicz
Craig Lauer
Eric LeBlanc
Yuqing Liu
Bailey Ludwig
Joseph Makuc
Heidi Maurer
Cassidy Mazza
Duncan McLeod
Megan McTaggart
Isabella Morris

Audrey Pitcher (elected in 2018 as a junior)
Faraha Rathod

Emily Reeve

Serena Schaefer (elected in 2018 as a junior)
Bridget Sherry
Audrey Simpson
Daan Slaats
John Solomon
Gregory Stryker
Joanna Timmerman
William Wehrs
Leo Welsh
Taylor Wilson
Sarah Wonsidler
Kelly Wright

Class of 2020 (elected as Juniors)

Kailyn Cohen
Parker Fairchild
Madison Moses

2019 Sophomore book prize winners:

Hakan Atillasoy
Jessica Greenburg
James Haasis
Sarah Johns
Thea Pastras
Elvi Sopiqoti

Faculty and Staff Resident Members

Meghan Brodie ’00
Stephen Buss ’08
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
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
Victor Tortorelli
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
John M. Wickersham

In Memoriam

S. Ross Doughty ’68
Bobby Fong
C. Dallett Hemphill
Richard King

Phi Beta Kappa

Tau of Pennsylvania 2020 Induction Ceremony and Reception

PBK Reception RSVP

What is Phi Beta Kappa?

Who is eligible for nomination?

How are new members nominated and selected for induction at Ursinus?

In what activities does the Tau Chapter engage?

Class of 2019

Class of 2020 (elected as Juniors)

2019 Sophomore book prize winners:

Faculty and Staff Resident Members

Tau of Pennsylvania
2020 Induction Ceremony and Reception