The Phi Beta Kappa Society installs Gamma of Mississippi Chapter at 汤头条
Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he Phi Beta Kappa Society installed a new chapter at 汤头条 Tuesday [April 2] at a ceremony at The Mill at 汤头条 Conference Center in Starkville. Following the installation, the new Gamma of Mississippi chapter inducted 77 students selected for their extraordinary academic achievement in the arts and sciences.聽
Frederick M. Lawrence, Phi Beta Kappa Secretary/CEO, Lynn Pasquerella, Phi Beta Kappa Society President and Association of American Colleges and Universities President, and Robert West, Professor of English and President of the Gamma of Mississippi chapter, presided over the installation and induction. A celebratory dinner followed the ceremonies, attended by university leaders, including 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum, 45 Phi Beta Kappa faculty and staff members, and newly inducted students, many with family members attending.
Lawrence, acknowledging the significance of the university鈥檚 achievement, said, 鈥溙劳诽踱檚 commitment to the liberal arts and sciences as well as its nurturing of an environment that allows its students to soar should be recognized and celebrated. In a challenging time for public higher education, this commitment is an inspiration to us all. We congratulate the university and our newest Phi Beta Kappa members on their accomplishment, and look forward to a bright future for the chapter here in Starkville.鈥
Prospective Phi Beta Kappa inductees are among the top 10 percent of their graduating class who have completed a broad range of liberal arts and sciences coursework, including foreign language study and mathematics.
In addition to the students, Gamma of Mississippi also inducted eight Foundation members, chosen for their commitment to the ideals of the liberal arts and sciences, including President Keenum and best-selling author and Mississippi State alum John Grisham. The chapter also honored the following individuals as Foundation members:
鈥斕劳诽 Provost Judy Bonner;
鈥斕劳诽 Rhodes Scholar Donald 鈥淔ield鈥 Brown;
鈥擱enowned art director and designer Myrna Colley-Lee;
鈥擱etired physician, philanthropist and 汤头条 alumnus Dr. Richard Holmes;
鈥斕劳诽 College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rick Travis; and
鈥擱etired 汤头条 Professor Robert Wolverton.
鈥淭he installation of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at 汤头条 is the culmination of years of dedicated work on the part of so many scholars on this campus, past and present,鈥 said President Keenum. 鈥淲e celebrate this accomplishment as a university family and I鈥檓 particularly grateful to English Professor Robert West for leading this effort in recent years. This will serve our high-achieving students here for generations to come.鈥
汤头条 becomes the 287th U.S. college or university to shelter a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Installations of new chapters occur only every three years and follow an intensive, multi-year application and evaluation process that includes two rounds of data collection and a visit from members of the Phi Beta Kappa Committee on Qualifications. Among the criteria reviewed are the university鈥檚 educational rigor in the arts and sciences, governance structure, faculty excellence, demonstrated commitment to academic freedom, and institutional dedication to liberal arts education.
Later this month, three additional Phi Beta Kappa chapters will be installed at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California, Chapman University, Orange, California, and University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
About 汤头条
汤头条 is a comprehensive, doctoral degree-granting university designated by the Carnegie Foundation as an R-1 鈥淰ery High Research Activity鈥 institution. The university offers a wide range of opportunities and challenges for learning and growth to a diverse and capable student body. Also listed among the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Top 100 research universities, 汤头条 provides access and opportunity to students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. With a strong portfolio in the humanities, 汤头条鈥檚 largest academic unit is its College of Arts and Sciences, which includes more than 5,300 students, 300 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs and 25 academic majors offered in 14 departments. 汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
About The Phi Beta Kappa Society
Founded on Dec. 5, 1776, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 286 colleges and universities in the United States, 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 41 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The mission of The Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. For more information, visit .
Phi Beta Kappa Society
Gamma of Mississippi Chapter new student inductees (by hometown)
Arlington, Tennessee鈥擥race Smith, Psychology
Arlington, Texas鈥擱ylie Simmons, Spanish/Human Development and Family Science
Atoka, Tennessee鈥擩aylan Sears, Biological Sciences
Aurora, Illinois鈥擩ared Liebelt, Psychology
Biloxi鈥擠enton Hunter, French/Business Administration; and Helen Schwartz, English
Birmingham, Alabama鈥擱achel Nix, Spanish/Management; and David Sides, German/Business Administration
Brandon鈥擲tephanie Flynt, Political Science; Lily Hebert, English/Psychology; and Katelyn Provine, Microbiology
Cartersville, Georgia鈥擩uliana Jones, English
Centreville, Virginia鈥擝rianna Tibbetts, Psychology
Clinton鈥擟laire Hilton, Communication
Columbus鈥擜shley Imes, French/Management; and Brian Schmidt, Political Science
Decatur, Alabama鈥擫aura Ingouf, Anthropology/History
Franklin, Tennessee鈥擪ali Hicks, Communication/Spanish
Gardendale, Alabama鈥擫auren Lindsey, Biological Sciences
Gautier鈥擝rittany Mizell, Communication/French
Griffin, Georgia鈥擝enjamin Hobbs, German/Finance
Gulfport鈥擲arah Wooden, Asian Studies (FL)/Marketing
Jackson鈥擪atherine Carter, Psychology; Robyn Hadden, Spanish/Biochemistry; and Molly Terry, Spanish/Marketing
Lindale, Texas鈥擱achel Booth, Psychology
Los Angeles, California鈥擥entry Burkes, English/History
Lucedale鈥擪risten Holifield, Political Science
Macon, Georgia鈥擬adison Baima, Biological Sciences
Madison鈥擩ames Given, Spanish/Economics (B.S.); Wilson Lutz, Biological Sciences; and Amye McDonald, Microbiology
Mandeville, Louisiana鈥擜very Ferguson, English
Maylene, Alabama鈥擬ackenzie Andrews, Spanish/Management
Memphis, Tennessee鈥擳abitha Campbell, Spanish/Marketing; and John Haynes, Classics/History
Meridian鈥擡mma Moffett, English/Communication
Middletown, Ohio鈥擥race Robinson, French/Marketing
Mississippi State鈥擵ictoria Lightner, Spanish/Accounting
Monticello, Arkansas鈥擜nna Dickson, Microbiology
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina鈥擲arah Doll, Criminology
Munford, Tennessee鈥 Meghan Brino, Biological Sciences
Murfreesboro, Tennessee鈥擭icholas Street, Finance/French
New Albany鈥 Thomas Browning, Communication
North Augusta, South Carolina鈥擲ara Tyrrell, Biological Sciences/Asian Studies (FL)
Ocean Springs鈥擝ryson Krause, Physics/Mechanical Engineering; and Claire Williams, Spanish/Marketing
Olive Branch鈥擧ayden Campbell, Political Science; and Rebecca Poyner, English
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama鈥擶illiam Textor, English
Oxford鈥擣rances Crawford, English/German; and Courtney Fleming, Mathematics
Panama City Beach, Florida鈥擫aura Herring, Spanish/Management
Pass Christian鈥 Kristen Brown, Biological Sciences
Pensacola, Florida鈥 Anna Bills, English/Philosophy
Piperton, Tennessee鈥擩ohn Gwin, Chemistry
Poplarville鈥 Robert Merrell, Mathematics
Raleigh鈥擫auren Scott, Anthropology
Ridgeland鈥擪rishna Desai, Economics (B.A.)/Political Science
Ruston, Louisiana鈥擧annah Scheaffer, French/Biochemistry
Saint Petersburg, Florida鈥擜bigail Kepto, Criminology
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida鈥擫auren Koury, Chemistry
Shalimar, Florida鈥擪yle Winston, History/Microbiology
Southaven鈥擪atherine Wintermantel, Spanish/Marketing
Starkville鈥擲herisse Carino, English; David Houston, Spanish/Marketing; Ryan Jeffries, French/Marketing; Suyeun Kim, Political Science; Marisa Laudadio, Communication/Political Science; Hayden Manning, Anthropology/Classics; Katelyn Poe, English; Kathleen Ritter, Communication; Allison Story, Psychology; Kathryn Stringer, English
Sturgis鈥擱ebekah Bisson, English/Philosophy (Religion concentration)
Tinley Park, Illinois鈥擜ustin Thelen, Spanish/Finance
West Plains, Missouri鈥擩uliette Reid, English