Phi Beta Kappa initiates 69 undergraduates

Sixty-nine Washington University undergraduates were initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honors organization, in an April 9 ceremony held in the Women's Building Executive Lounge.

The ceremony was conducted by Washington University's chapter officers: President Kristin Zapalac, Ph.D, assistant professor of history in Arts and Sciences; Secretary Ronald Freiwald, Ph.D., professor of mathematics in Arts and Sciences; and Treasurer Leonard Green, Ph.D., professor of psychology in Arts and Sciences. Jonathan Spence, noted historian on China and the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University, delivered the address.

The new members are: Amy Angert, Catherine Arvidson, Casey Ash, Karen Autio, Frederic Bloom, Lisa Bourne, Rachel Brass, Kari Braun, Darren Brenner, Jonathan Brenner, Susan Brown, Christopher Brummer, Hilary Burke, Erica Burns, Michelle Carr, Carla Cartwright, Ritik Chandra, Melissa Chernofsky, Amy Chi, Daniel Cohen, David Cohen, Joy Coleman;

Jodi Dektor, Courtney Dodson, Miranda Fraley, Kira Frank, Diane Gannon, Alison Gould, Joshua Greenberg, Elizabeth Hanslik, Thomas Hardy, Martha Hernandez, Hilary Highfield, Graham Hubbs, Yekaterina Karpitskaya, Victoria Katsov, Charles Kaufman, Jason Keune, Hardave Kharbanda, Jane Kim, Michelle Komie, Maxwell Krem, Lyn Kuo;

David Lefkowitz, Naomi Mendelsohn, Jason Mendler, David Moeller, Christine O'Brien, Erin Orzel, Andrea Osborn, Kimberly Riehle, Amy Ripperger, Jennifer Robbins, Jodie Schoenfeld, Sean Scott, Kristin Shepard, Lisa Shusterman, Adam Simon, Noel Smith Jr., Kate Stanitski, Jill Swartz, Lucy Tan, Amye Tevaarwerk, Rachel Van Sambeek, Amanda Weeks, Tara Wehrly, Mitchell Wunsh, Kathryn Wycoff and Robin Zimbler.

Phi Beta Kappa initiates are selected by a committee based on demonstrated academic excellence in a broad array of rigorous undergraduate courses in the arts and sciences. The organization sets high standards not only for its initiates but also for the institutions that may establish chapters. The first Phi Beta Kappa honorary was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Washington University's chapter was established in 1914.