The University of Vermont has admitted a new group of students to the university's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The students will formally join Phi Beta Kappa at an induction ceremony at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, in Royall Tyler Theatre.
“The May 2017 inductees are an incredibly talented and diverse group,” said Deborah Guber, associate professor of political science and president of the UVM chapter, of the 47 students admitted. “They major in everything from geography to neuroscience to environmental studies. They are bright and inquisitive in their academic pursuits, but they are also committed to their communities and are engaged in the kind of thoughtful activities that make the University of Vermont, and the world, a better place.”
Students newly admitted to UVM’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, with their hometowns and majors or double-majors, are:
- Halle Apelgren, Pittsburgh: Anthropology and Psychological Science
- Anne Arcoleo, Newport, Vermont: Philosophy
- Kiersten Barr, Elizaville, New York: Mathematics and Secondary Education
- Sarah Bellavance, Fort Wayne, Indiana: Linguistics
- Jack Braunstein Cherry Hill, New Jersey: Geography and Natural Resource Planning
- Gina Cassara, West Bolton, Vermont: Environmental Studies
- Hunter Colvin, North Hero, Vermont: History
- Emilee Conroe, Ballston Spa, New York: Anthropology and English
- Libby Collier, Seattle: English and Sociology
- Avrie Cowles, Niskayuna, New York: Psychological Science and Sociology
- Emma Cronin Chatham, New Jersey: Environmental Science
- Seamus Cuddy, Attleboro Massachusetts: Political Science
- Hillary Danis, Essex Junction, Vermont: Chemistry
- Victoria Diederich, Stony Point, New York: Neuroscience
- Ashlynn Doyon, Walden, Vermont: Political Science
- Laura Felone, Brownsville, Vermont: Political Science
- Erica Gilgore, Doylestown, Pennsylvania: Environmental Studies
- Haley Grigel, Thetford, Vermont: Environmental Science
- Alyssa Handelman, Montclair, New Jersey: Nutrition & Food Sciences
- Emma Horowitz-McCadden, Marshfield, Vermont: Neuroscience
- Madison Haas, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: Economics
- Rozy Isquith, Thetford, Vermont: Theatre
- Katie Herron, East Hampstead, New Hampshire: Communication Sciences & Disorders
- Sarah Jauris, Nashua, New Hampshire: History and Studio Art
- Will Julian, Chagrin Falls, Ohio: Biochemistry and Russian
- Ryan Kabilian, Weymouth, Massachusetts: Latin American & Caribbean Studies
- Allison Keen, Ringwood, New Jersey: Neuroscience
- Ruby LaBrusciano-Carris, Marshfield, Vermont: Political Science
- Brenna Lewis-Slammon, Keene, New Hampshire: English and Psychological Science
- Elise Mitchell, Newbury, Massachusetts: Biology
- Katherine Mitchell, Lexington, Massachusetts: Environmental Studies and Psychological Science
- Juliette Miller, Hudson, New Hampshire: Economics and Spanish
- Ivy Mills, Wakefield, Rhode Island: French and Psychological Science
- Mary Petronio, Cranston, Rhode Island: Global Studies and Spanish
- Colin Price, Ballston Spa, New York: Psychological Science
- Acadia Moeyersoms, Concord, Massachusetts: Biochemistry
- Helena Murray, West Hartford, Connecticut: Forestry
- Sophie Scharlin-Pettee, Newton, Massachusetts: English and Political Science
- William Spencer, Williston, Vermont: Film & Television Studies
- Tori Staley, State College, Pennsylvania: Political Science
- Jonathan Slimovitch, Williston, Vermont: Microbiology
- Nicholas Sullivan, Darien, Connecticut: Economics
- Michelle Thompson, Westford, Massachusetts: Economics and Psychological Science
- Clare Tolan, Bath, Maine: Mathematics and Political Science
- Isaiah Ungerleider, Brattleboro, Vermont: Psychological Science and Sociology
- Patrick Wiencek, Ashland, Massachusetts: Biochemistry
- Austin Wilkes, Basking Ridge, New Jersey: Environmental Science
Only about 10 percent of U.S. colleges and universities have academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences that are rigorous enough to house a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
UVM’s chapter, one of the nation’s oldest, was founded to 1848. It was the first chapter in the country to extend membership to women, in 1875, and the first to admit an African-American, in 1877.