Phi Beta Kappa Society, UW Chapter
1000 E University Ave, Dept 3413
Merica Hall room 10
Laramie, WY 82071
Email: pbk@uwyo.edu
The Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship Awards for Excellence in the Liberal Arts are made possible by an endowment presented to the University of Wyoming Phi Beta Kappa chapter by Harald V. Johnson of Bensenville, Illinois. This endowment, in honor of Louise A. Lee Johnson is now used to support undergraduate students whose scholarship and research display excellence in the liberal arts. Mrs. Johnson participated in the University of Wyoming Phi Beta Kappa Chartering in its inaugural year of 1940. Today, the University of Wyoming is one of only 293 colleges and universities in America to meet the rigorous qualifications for hosting a chapter. This year, the members of the University of Wyoming Chapter are honored to be able to recognize undergraduate researchers who expertly weave together physical, intellectual, ethical and social issues in their research.
The 2024 Undergraduate Research Day took place April 20th. This year, the awards recognize two remarkable individuals whose work exemplifies the highest standards of academic inquiry. The esteemed panel of judges for this year's awards included Member-at-Large Jim Herrold, Past President Carol Frost, Betsy Bress, Grace Erholtz, and Ric Reverand. Their careful evaluation and discernment ensured that the selected projects exemplified the highest standards of academic excellence and intellectual rigor.
Excellence in the Liberal Arts: Karter Dunham
In the category of Excellence in the Liberal Arts, Karter Dunham, hailing from Worland, WY, was honored for their work titled "A Memoir on Being Out and LGBTQ+ in the Rural Mountain West." Through a deeply personal exploration, Dunham's memoir sheds light on the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in rural settings, offering poignant reflections on identity, authenticity, and societal acceptance. Karter is also a 2024 inductee to the University of Wyoming Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Mimi Fenton and Molly Brown served as faculty mentors for Dunham’s research.
Integration of Science and the Humanities: Rae Gerking
The recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Award for Excellence in the Integration of Sciences and the Humanities was Rae Gerking. Rae's project involved the development of an easy-to-use and intuitive app-based Athelete Management System software program which integrates athlete training data in real-time. Dr. Timothy Robinson was the faculty mentor for this project.
Phi Beta Kappa Society, UW Chapter
1000 E University Ave, Dept 3413
Merica Hall room 10
Laramie, WY 82071
Email: pbk@uwyo.edu