KU News Service

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society has initiated 76 new members.

Jeffrey Moran, president of KU’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter and professor of history, presided at the spring ceremony, immediately before KU Commencement. Laura Mielke, vice president of the chapter and professor of English, welcomed and congratulated the new initiates as they received their Phi Beta Kappa certificates.

Ann Cudd, former distinguished professor of philosophy and vice provost and dean for undergraduate studies, was inducted as an honorary member of the chapter. She gave an address titled “The Liberal Arts and Sciences in Contemporary Society.”

Emma Halling, senior in American studies and women, gender and sexuality studies, who was inducted last year as a junior, gave the student response address.

Election to Phi Beta Kappa recognizes a student¹s high academic achievement while pursuing a broad and substantive liberal arts curriculum, including language study. To be eligible for consideration for membership, most students must have senior status and a minimum grade-point average of 3.65 on a 4.0 scale. Students elected as juniors must have a 3.8 grade-point average.

Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest national academic honorary society, was founded Dec. 5, 1776, at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. KU’s Alpha chapter, founded in 1890, was the first chapter west of the Mississippi and is one of 280 Phi Beta Kappa chapters nationwide. About 10 percent of institutions of higher learning in the United States have Phi Beta Kappa chapters. Secretary-Treasurer of the KU Chapter is Anne Wallen of the University Honors Program, and Historian is David Slusky of economics.

The names and hometowns of area honorees are listed below by county:
Norton
Matthew Miller, Norton
Osborne
Jessica Gregory, Osborne
Trego
Deven Schoenthaler, WaKeeney