Randolph-Macon College’s Zeta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Society held its annual banquet and initiation ceremony April 27, 2018 in Birdsong Hall. Thirty-one new members were inducted into the Society during the ceremony, which was attended by family, friends, faculty and staff. The event also marked the 95th anniversary celebration of the establishment of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Randolph-Macon College.

Susan Parker, president of the Zeta of Virginia Chapter and associate dean of academic affairs, welcomed inductees and guests to the banquet. Parker also recognized the loss of C. Lydon Harrell ’38 and Doug Foard ’61, dear friends of the chapter who recently died.

Outstanding Contributions
One of the traditions of the PBK ceremony is the presentation of the John B. and Anita S. Werner Award. This distinction, which comes with a certificate and a cash award, is given annually to one or two graduating seniors who have been elected to PBK and who have made outstanding contributions to the college and the community. In addition to more than 20 years of service on the Board of Trustees, Werner has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Alumni and is a member of the Presidents Society and the Heritage Society.

The award is not based solely on a student’s GPA, but also takes into consideration participation in campus activities, social and service groups, and athletics, as well as contributions to the community outside of campus. Priscilla Koirala ’18 and Fidele Ntumba ’18 are the recipients of this year’s John B. and Anita S. Werner Award.

The following students, all of whom will graduate in 2018, were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society:

Iva Andrews, Evelyn Archer, Tara Balasubramanian, Shawn Barry, Gregory Beale, Erin Bryant, Mary Brett Campbell, Joseph Hamilton, Leif Heltzel, Noah Herrington, Jessica Hill, Alex Keller, Julia Knapp, Priscilla Koirala, William Manley, Katelyn Mein, Heidi Muller, Steven Neal, Cara Nicodemus, Fidele Ntumba, Jordan Poehler, Erin Quinn, Nicholas Ravida, Sarah Rochte, Christopher Ruediger, Rachel Salazar, Tory Stribling, Devin Strickler, Katie Terhune, Shannon Ward, Kaitlyn Zohab.

President Robert R. Lindgren, Chemistry Professor April Marchetti ’97, secretary/treasurer of the chapter, and Mathematics Professor Brian Sutton, chapter vice president, were also in attendance. Marchetti recognized Spanish Professor Mark Malin for his many years of service as secretary/treasurer of the chapter and presented him with a Phi Beta Kappa watch.

Academic Champions
Provost William T. Franz congratulated the newest members of PBK and said, “Only a few people ever have the privilege of earning admission to Phi Beta Kappa. It is a society reserved for academic champions. You have earned your place because you gave maximum effort and you should be justifiably proud of what you have done for yourself, for your college, and for your family. You are among the best in the world at what you do.”

Founded in 1776, The Phi Beta Kappa Society 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. Phi Beta Kappa recognition was awarded to Randolph-Macon in 1923, and the college is one of only 10 percent of the colleges in the country so designated. Phi Beta Kappa’s Greek initials are ΦBK, which mean “Love of learning is the guide of life.”