The University of Wyoming’s Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa inducted 26 UW students
into the prestigious honor society during a ceremony April 29.
Established in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious
academic honor societies. The University of Wyoming chapter was chartered in 1940
and is one of 293 chapters at colleges and universities across the United States.
“We are especially proud to celebrate our national honor society’s achievements this
year, since, like our nation, it is Phi Beta Kappa’s 250th anniversary,” says Joy
Landeira, UW Phi Beta Kappa president.
Each year, UW faculty and administrators select fewer than 2 percent of graduating
seniors for membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Several outstanding juniors also are selected.
Along with demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, inductees must complete
a well-rounded curriculum that includes coursework in foreign language, mathematics,
and the liberal arts and sciences. All senior inductees graduated in summer 2025,
fall 2025 or spring 2026, and each earned a GPA of 3.8 or higher. Four juniors were
inducted this year, each with a GPA of 4.0.
This year, in memory of Sarah Collins -- former Phi Beta Kappa vice president of the
UW Alpha Chapter and a UW associate professor in zoology and physiology -- two Sarah
Collins Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Awards were presented at UW’s Undergraduate
Research and Inquiry Day.
As vice president of the chapter, Collins oversaw the selection of the new Phi Beta
Kappa inductees each spring. She worked with other faculty members and the UW Registrar’s
Office to verify eligibility and hand-select members based on scholarship, character
and courses taken. Her dedication to executive leadership, chapter meetings, special
events and the promotion of the liberal arts and sciences will not be forgotten. Catherine
Hartmann, a UW associate professor of religious studies, will step into the role of
vice president beginning in July.
The winners of this year’s Sarah Collins Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Awards,
are:
-- Aidan McGuire, of Evanston, won the oral presentation award for his project “Against
Empathy: How Fascism Wields Our Conscience Against Us.”
-- Cutter Barrus, of Powell, was awarded for his poster presentation “Individual Xenopus
Tadpoles Display Distinct and Enduring Visual Preferences.”
These students, who are not members of Phi Beta Kappa, each won a monetary award.
Collins’ dedication to Phi Beta Kappa will be honored for years to come through these
awards.
UW Phi Beta Kappa elected members, listed by hometown and areas of study, are:
Buffalo -- Olivia Ricks, philosophy and religious studies, with a minor in honors.
Casper -- Lilly Avila, psychology and sociology, with a minor in honors; and Karli
Woodruff, political science and international studies, with a minor in public law.
Cheyenne -- Andrea Edwards, history and environment and natural resources, with a
minor in museum studies; Nadia Farris, physiology, with a minor in neuroscience; Isabelle
Hunt, English, with a minor in Spanish; and Savannah Kohlhagen, political science.
Chichester, Pa. -- Eric Psonak, Spanish.
Edgewater, Colo. -- Jose Campos Juarez, physiology, with minors in honors and Spanish.
Grand Junction, Colo. -- Micah Hanly, philosophy and religious studies.
Jackson -- Lachlan Brown, history and religious studies, with minors in honors and
Spanish; Jackson Fouras, chemistry, with a minor in mathematics; Payton McEntire-Larimer,
international studies and political science, with a minor in honors; Eddie Owens,
biology, with a minor in German.
Jefferson, Wis. -- DJ Lueloff, anthropology, with a minor in honors.
Lander -- Theresa Bautz, English, with minors in honors and creative writing.
Laramie -- Jade Howdeshell, English, with a minor in honors.
Lombard, Ill. -- Jay Janetka, international studies, with minors in honors and music.
Maracaibo, Venezuela --Victoria Rivas Zambrano, international studies.
Powell -- Jace Bohlman, social work and Spanish, with minors in psychology and honors;
Aidan Jacobsen, physiology, with minors in Spanish and neuroscience.
Rock Springs -- Brady Anderson, mathematics and Spanish.
Sheridan -- Rachel Sayer, history; Sean Walker, religious studies and history, with
a minor in honors.
Stillwater, Okla. -- Glenn Goodwin, history.
Thermopolis -- Jean-Luc Willson, political science and international studies, with
minors in honors and French.
All Phi Beta Kappa members are supported by the UW Phi Beta Kappa Society. Its current officers include Landeira, Dianne Thompson, Leif Cawley, Jim Herrold, Bunny Logan and Carol Frost. For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/pbk/index.html.
