Randolph-Macon College’s Zeta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Society held its annual banquet and initiation ceremony on March 22, 2019 in the Dalton Room in Birdsong Hall. Thirty-six members were inducted into the Society during the ceremony, which was attended by family, friends, faculty and staff. The event marked the 96th 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. President Robert R. Lindgren, Chemistry Professor April Marchetti ’97 (chapter secretary), and Mathematics Professor Brian Sutton (chapter vice president) were also in attendance.

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 those 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. Katelyn Jordan ’19, Grace McIntire ’19 and Paranjay Patel ’19 are the recipients of this year’s John B. and Anita S. Werner Award.

The following students, all of whom will graduate in 2019, were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society:

Casey Abernethy, Nathali Aguilar-Diaz, Dea Alqurwani, Joel Barron, Keavy Baylor, Rebekah Bell, Lillian Bergloff, Ashleigh Bryant, Jenna Burns, Sarah Cimring, Mariah Clark, Erin Connolly, Jolene Davis, Ali Fay, Sarah Fralich, Noah Holman, Oziegbe “Monique” Iyile, Katelyn Jordan, Julia Kinder, Erin Kober, Zoe Kolotos, Tanner McClelland, Sean McDonald, Grace McIntire, Hannah Mercer, Haylie Moore, Zachary Olmsted, Paranjay Patel, Jose Perdomo-Trejo, Madeleine Purcell, Natalie Realubit, Haley Saine, Ashley Snead, Nguyet “Luna” Tran, Jonathan Tyler, and Mekenzie Wilson.

“These initiates were elected for outstanding academic achievement,” says Sutton. “Recognizing their hard work and dedication to the liberal arts is a highlight of the year for all of us.”

A Special Honoree
At the event, RMC Provost William T. Franz was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa. Honorary membership is strictly limited by the national Phi Beta Kappa Society but can be awarded in exceptional cases based on “clear evidence of the possession of distinguished scholarly capacities” in the liberal arts.

Franz, a magna cum laude graduate of Muhlenberg College, has served on the Randolph-Macon faculty since 1983 and as provost since 2009, winning multiple awards for teaching and research. He was initiated by chapter president and Associate Dean Susan Parker.

“Provost Franz is an extraordinary teacher who makes physics comes alive, and he has been a tireless advocate for the liberal arts at RMC and beyond,” says Sutton. “We are delighted to have had this opportunity.”

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.”