Cornell elects 20 to Phi Beta Kappa in 100th year

March 25, 2022

In its 100th year on campus, Cornell College’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa has elected 17 seniors and three juniors to the nation’s most prestigious honor society. 

A Phi Beta Kappa initiate signs the historic ledger during initiation in 2018. Longtime Phi Beta Kappa Treasurer and Secretary Professor David Yamanishi looks on.
A Phi Beta Kappa initiate signs the historic ledger during initiation in 2018. Longtime Phi Beta Kappa Treasurer and Secretary Professor David Yamanishi looks on.

Their names will be added to the permanent plaque in Cole Library listing all members of Cornell’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Elected from among the top 15% of the senior class were Amelia Ayers, Hanna Bergsten, Sarah Carvo, Allison Colvard, Justin Howe, Sunny Khan ’21, John Linderman, Emily Lucie, Skye McCormick, Samantha O’Brien, Jakob Orel, Keynan Pearson, Marcus Quirk, Renee Robinson, Tessa Stolz, Will Sturms, and Camille Wong.

In addition, elected from the top 5% of their class last year as juniors were Kenna Ebert, Shae Hagler, and Sophie Pionek.

Three current juniors were elected from the top 5% of their class: Emma Burnett, Billie Fogarty, and Greta Henderson.

All members were selected based on good character and a distinguished record of performance in a broad range of liberal arts courses.

Phi Beta Kappa is the country’s most prestigious honor society, due to its long history and academic selectivity. Members include 17 U.S. presidents, 41 Supreme Court justices, and more than 140 Nobel laureates.