Cornell College’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa has elected 18 seniors and five juniors to the nation’s oldest honor society. They will be inducted at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9.
Phi Beta Kappa considers members of the top 15% of the senior class and the top 5% of the junior class. Election is based upon good character and a distinguished record of performance in courses that demonstrate a broad exposure to the liberal arts, as well as substantive work in areas outside the major.
Juniors elected were Kaden Legore, Omorinsola Olubayo, Ava Powers, Shanelys Sanchez Robles, and Sophie Stumbo. Seniors elected were Meena Barua, Kylie Berry, Hailey Carolan, Macy Chisholm, Ava Claussen-Tubbs, Elifsude Degirmenci, Mahmoud Elawady, Tanatswa Hamadziripi, Heidi Jorgensen, Hannah Kalbrener, Mark Liberko, Ella McLaughlin, Smriti Neupane, Michael-Sean Ossai, Cameron Reimers, Meredith Sconce, Gavin Soukup, and Aras Yilmaz.
Their names will be added to the permanent plaque in Cole Library listing all members of Cornell’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa since it was founded in 1922. Ella Becker, Jack Carlson, Robin Gillette, Maiha Jones, and Isabella Strauss were elected in last year’s class as juniors.
Phi Beta Kappa is often described as the country’s most prestigious honor society due to its long history and academic selectivity. Members include 17 U.S. presidents, 42 Supreme Court justices, and more than 150 Nobel laureates.