Phi Beta Kappa Names New Members to UW Chapter

The nation’s oldest academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), has selected 45 new members for the University of Wyoming chapter, based upon their demonstrated excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

“To be elected, a student needs to show a balanced liberal arts education that accords with the national stipulations, and which we verify by examining every candidate’s transcript in detail,” says Eric Nye, associate professor in the Department of English and chapter secretary. “It is the one distinction prospective employers and graduate schools are swift to notice.”

Nye says members cannot apply or be nominated to PBK, but are selected by faculty members in the chapter. Membership never exceeds the top 10 percent of the graduating class, and Nye says PBK members at UW typically are in the top 4 to 5 percent.

Phi Beta Kappa annually selects new members in each of its 283 chapters nationwide. Chartered in 1940, UW’s chapter sponsors lectures, scholarships and other academic activities.

Most new members are seniors or recent graduates, but a handful of outstanding students are elected as juniors. Each will receive a $1,000 Louise A. Lee Johnson Memorial Scholarship. This year’s recipients are Catherine Cloetta, Jackson; Zachary Lentsch, Worland; and Thomas Rochais and Caleb Whitman, Laramie.

The new members will be initiated at a public ceremony Friday, May 1, at 3 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Family Room.

New Phi Beta Kappa members at UW, listed by hometowns and majors, are:

Afton -- Katherine Elam, biology.

Anchorage, Alaska -- Levi Turner, mathematics and economics.

Atchison, Kan. -- Mackenzie Cory, anthropology.

Casper -- Laurel Green, physiology; Megan Jones, anthropology; Shaye Lanouette, biology; Carrie Pardee, anthropology; Danica Sveda, humanities/fine arts; and Erika Yagi, German and elementary education.

Centennial, Colo. -- Leslie Logan, geology.

Cheyenne -- Sara O’Donnell, English; and Trisha Parsons, English.

Cody -- Aaron Enriquez, biology and economics; and Jonathan Root, self-designed major.

Cokeville -- Chandler Harris, history.

Denver, Colo. -- Stephen Williams, philosophy.

Evanston -- Joseph Platt, English.

Green River -- Connor Moltzan, communication.

Guernsey -- Alana DelVecchio, international studies; and Zachary Garhart, anthropology.

Jackson -- Catherine Cloetta, physiology.

Kirkwood, Mo. -- Christian Bopp, wildlife and fisheries biology and management.

Lakewood, Colo. -- Rachel Keyes, secondary education/English and Spanish.

Lander -- Derek Peil, secondary education/English; and Korinne Thoren, art education and art.

Laramie -- Aaron Fox, history and Russian; Julie Lyon, German and art; Alex Rickert, English and French; Thomas Rochais, astronomy and astrophysics, and mathematics; Hollie Sambrooks, English; George Wheeler, mathematics; Caleb Whitman, mathematics and computer science; Kathleen Wilhelm, anthropology; and Brittany Williams, psychology and social science.

Lebanon, N.H. -- Heather Lowry, psychology.

Loveland, Colo. -- Stephanie Strasbaugh, psychology.

Pinedale -- Mariah Strike, international studies and Spanish.

Rawlins -- Jazlynn Hall, anthropology and geography.

Riverton -- Will Flagg, anthropology.

Sheridan -- Jeremiah Adsit, English.

Steamboat Springs, Colo. -- Linnea Dixson, physiology.

Waterford, Wis. -- Aaron Derner, international studies.

Wheatland -- Kirby Lawrence, statistics and economics; and Michael Scicluna, theatre and dance.

Worland -- Zachary Lentsch, anthropology.