UK’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter inducts 55 new members
The University of Kentucky’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter inducted 52 new members into the prestigious academic honor society March 25 and three new members in December 2024. This year’s induction ceremony in the Lewis Honors College (LHC) Scholars Lounge featured a keynote address from Michelle Sizemore, Ph.D.
“I am encouraged by this new generation of scholars and the independent thinkers you’ve become at the University of Kentucky,” Sizemore told inductees. “Freedom of thought and expression for our time isn’t freedom from but freedom with. Independent thinking takes shape with exposure to a vast range of ideas, perspectives, sources, and influences. More than that, it’s a skill that’s cultivated and practiced.”
“In this, the 99th anniversary of the founding of the UK Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, its core value has never been more important or relevant: education that fosters scientific inquiry, liberty of conscience, critical thinking, and creative endeavor for all,” said Chapter President Pearl James. “We celebrate this value and the students who have worked so hard to pursue it. Our new members have achieved excellence not just in their majors but across disciplinary boundaries, and we recognize them for their wide-ranging intellectual curiosity. They have made the most of their opportunities to learn here at UK.”
Celebrating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and the most prestigious honor society and opens many doors throughout members’ careers. It contributes to opportunities for life-long learning and rounded lives outside of a career, which follows the society’s motto: “Love of Learning is the Guide to Life.” Phi Beta Kappa elects more than 15,000 new members a year from 290 chapters across the United States. There are also nearly 50 active alumni associations across the country that allow members to continue active affiliation with the society after graduation.
Lewis Honors College senior and new Phi Beta Kappa inductee Michael Rohs reflected on what the honor means to him.
“Seeing the distinguished members of Phi Beta Kappa, I felt truly honored to join such a remarkable society that champions academic freedom across both the arts and sciences,” Rohs said.
The UK Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa encourages any faculty, staff and graduate students who are Phi Beta Kappa members to get involved with the campus chapter. With an invigorated chapter on campus, the organization can develop campus-wide programming and take advantage of opportunities offered by the national office, such as its visiting scholars program. Anyone interested in engaging with the chapter or receiving chapter communications, please contact James at pearl.james@uky.edu. For more information on UK’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, visit https://honors.uky.edu/phi-beta-kappa.
The Spring 2025 inductees are (LHC denotes membership in Lewis Honors College):
College of Arts and Sciences
- Avery Bannister, LHC
- Cayla Anastasia Sami Barreiro, LHC
- Dalia Basinac, LHC
- Lillian Christen Bauer, LHC
- Henry Beck
- Rebecca Zimmerman Berner, LHC
- Zoe Grace Brewer
- Ella Jewel Brown-Terry, LHC
- Kaitlyn MacKenzie Burton
- Jack Steven Caudill
- Chetas Sanjay Chavda
- Toni Clevenger, LHC
- Murphy Couvillion, LHC
- Zoe Cowherd
- Kyle Dahlgren
- Edmund Samuel Dye
- Carter Nathaniel Eckhardt, LHC
- Belinda Garcia, LHC
- Jordan Alexandria Grady, LHC
- Alexandra Francis Grieshop, LHC
- Joshua Griesinger
- Kelsey Michelle Hammons
- Harrison Hill, LHC
- Sophie Hurt
- Charles Glen Logan, LHC
- Chloee McCartney
- Faith Mounts
- Megan Mutch
- Elizabeth Alana Nieto
- Emerson Downey Palazzo, LHC
- Nidhi Patel, LHC
- Samantha Pawlik
- Lauren Gayle Peck
- Katherine Rebecca Ritchie
- Michael W. Rohs, LHC
- Jayden Sheridan
- Brenna Staser, LHC
- Anna Kaye Stockstill
- Olivia Renee Thornsbury, LHC
- Virginia Trentmann
- Lauren Grace Tucker
- Laurel Olivia Vogt
- Jack Allen Watts
- Trevor Wells
- Devan Marie West
- Ariel Woo
College of Fine Arts
- Josh Matthew Cola
- Pascalle Wilson Le Roy
- Natalie Lewis
- Valerie Susan Wright
Martin School of Public Policy and Administration
- Jackson Wilson
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Cooper Rejman Samuelson, LHC
The Fall 2025 inductees are:
College of Arts and Sciences
- Anna Havens Rice
- Kaelan McVeigh Davis
College of Communication and Information
- Will Christofield
UK’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter is supported by the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, the Lewis Honors College and the Office of the President.