 |
Shannon White '10, John B. Werner '53 and Stephany Garcia '10 |
Randolph-Macon College’s Zeta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Society held its annual banquet and initiation ceremony on April 16, 2010. Twenty-four new members were inducted into the Society during the ceremony, which was attended by family, friends, faculty and staff.
Chemistry Professor April Marchetti, president of R-MC’s Zeta Chapter of the PBK Society, welcomed the inductees and their guests to the banquet in Estes, which was attended by over 100 guests. Following words from Provost Bill Franz, the banquet concluded with the presentation of the
John B. and Anita S. Werner Award, a cash award given annually to one or two graduating seniors who have been elected to PBK and who have made especially outstanding contributions to the college.
“The award is not based solely on a student’s GPA, but also takes into consideration participation in campus activities, social and service groups, athletics, as well as contributions to the larger community outside of the campus,” says Marchetti.
Shannon White ’10 and
Stephany Garcia ’10 were this year’s recipients of this prestigious award. Following the banquet, the guests attended the initiation ceremony in Copley 100. In addition to the graduating seniors, the chapter this year also inducted both an honorary member and an alumni member. The evening ended with President Robert R. Lindgren’s concluding remarks.
James E. Scanlon, Professor Emeritus of History at Randolph-Macon College, was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society as an honorary member.
James P. Wightman ’53, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Virginia Tech, was initiated into the chapter as an alumnus.
The following R-MC students, all of whom will graduate in 2010, were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society: Kaitlyn Allan, Caitlin Blake, Nikki Carroll, Sarah Carroll, Stephany Garcia, Ashley Hampton, Joshua Harris, Courtney Hiltunen, Rebecca Johnsen, Christopher Lambert , Jacqueline Laundon, Marial Maughan, Blanka Mazakova, Ashlyn McKeel, Meagan Moore, Ashley Payne, Amy Payne, Rachelle Phillips, Rebecca Robinson, Amanda Santoni, Baylee Smith, Ashley Smith, Heang Sok, Ray Varner and Shannon White. (Rebecca Lynn Robinson will be initiated in a separate ceremony.)
In October 2009, R-MC’s PBK chapter was recognized at the Triennial Convention for PBK in Austin, Texas as the most outstanding chapter of PBK at a liberal arts college. Mark Malin (modern languages), the secretary of R-MC’s PBK chapter, attended the Triennial Council of PBK to accept the award on behalf of the college. Susan Parker (psychology) is also a Randolph-Macon College PBK officer.
The Phi Beta Kappa Society, which was founded in 1776, advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding liberal arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. Each chapter can elect no more than 10 percent of its graduating class. There are over half a million members and chapters of PBK at 280 American colleges and universities and invitation to membership is a reflection of outstanding academic achievement in the liberal arts.
Phi Beta Kappa recognition was given to Randolph-Macon in 1923, and the college is one of only 10 percent of the colleges in the country so designated by this esteemed honorary society. Phi Beta Kappa’s Greek initials are ΦBK, which mean “Love of learning is the guide of life.”
For more information about R-MC’s Phi Beta Kappa Society, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/News/09-10-08%20Phi%20Beta%20Kappa.aspx.