Hobart and William Smith Colleges

8 May 2020 HWS Welcomes Newest Phi Beta Kappa Members

This semester, 33 Hobart and William Smith students were elected to Phi Beta Kappa, the nations oldest and most prestigious academic honors society, in recognition of their commitment to academic rigor across the liberal arts. The students will be inducted into the local chapter, Zeta of New York, on May 12 at 6:45 p.m.Join the Zoom ceremony here.

Each of these students has demonstrated not only an impressive level of academic achievement, but also a spirited embrace of the liberal arts and of learning across multiple disciplines, says Professor of Physics Donald Spector, the chapter president. These are the values Phi Beta Kappa seeks to acknowledge, and we are fortunate to be able to recognize this accomplished cohort of students.

Students are elected by the current membership, comprised of faculty and staff who were elected during their undergraduate careers. Selection is based on college standing, academic breadth, intellectual curiosity and personal character. They join a membership base that includes several past U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices and Nobel laureates.

This years induction ceremony will feature a video by Associate Professor of Media and Society Leah Shafer. Keeping with tradition, there will be two toasts and remarks from faculty. Although distance prevents students from signing the book of Zeta Chapter inductees, which usually signifies their entrance to Phi Beta Kappa, Spector says facultyhave planned a special interactive component as a substitute.

The gallery below includes photographs of the newly inducted Phi Beta Kappa members engaged in studies across the Colleges curriculum, completing and presenting research, as well as participating in field studies, studying abroad, playing sports and more.

Phi Beta Kappa seniors are: Claire Abelson 20, Samuel Allen 20, Joshua Andrews 20, Joshua Barnes 20, Olivia Bloch 20, Abbey Brown 20, Kelsea Brown 20, Matthew Burnett 20 (elected as a junior), Chloe Emler 20 (elected as a junior), Meredith Fennell 20, Abigail Frederick 20 (elected as a junior), Madalyn Flood 20, Michael Goulart 20, Brianna Hurysz 20, Ellis Linsmith 20, Jesse Maltese 20, Hugh McKenny 20 (elected as a junior), James Monaco 20, Anna Moreau 20, Kelsey Pierce 20, Angus Pratt 20, Annaliese Schreder 20, Shannon Smith 20, Grace Stribling-Hough 20, Tatianna Suriel 20, Sarah Wiles 20 and Mikaela Zallen 20.

Six students received the societys highest honor, having been elected during their junior year. This year, these inductees include: Walker Anderson 21, Bailey DiSanto 21, Shannon Drew 21, Emma Hardee 21, Claire Joshi 21 and Olivia Rowland 21.