The Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Oklahoma State University initiated 31 new student members and alumnus Christopher Lehman during its seventh annual induction ceremony recently in the Student Union Ballroom. The honor society's Gamma of Oklahoma chapter was founded in 2013.
OSU chapter members vote on whether to offer membership to each student who fulfills the rigorous criteria for induction. That includes at least 90 hours of liberal arts courses with a minimum GPA of 3.7 while majoring in the liberal arts or sciences. Honorees must also have at least 15 hours in a foreign language and demonstrated proficiency in mathematics. A faculty committee also reviews potential inductees’ transcripts for both breadth and depth of study.
“Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society, founded in 1776,” said Perry Gethner, president of the chapter. “It is linked to the values of free speech and critical inquiry that are vital to our country’s mission. It is also the nation’s most exclusive honor society. Only about 10 percent of colleges and universities have a chapter, and getting one established is an enormously complicated and arduous process.”
Lehman’s speech to the student honorees covered why he believes a liberal arts education matters for today’s graduates. He is a professor of ethnic studies at Minnesota's St. Cloud State University who has been a visiting fellow at Harvard. He is also the author of five academic books. In 1995, he earned a history degree at OSU and became the first African-American graduate of the Honors College.
The new members of Phi Beta Kappa are listed below, along with their majors and hometowns.
Charles William Cirocco; psychology; Tulsa, Oklahoma
Kelsi Trentlyn Clawson; psychology; Muldrow, Oklahoma
Rebecca L. Dempewolf; architectural engineering/structures and Spanish; Ardmore, Oklahoma
Teresa A. Denker; economics and mathematics; Garland, Texas
Victoria B. Denny; English; Chattanooga, Oklahoma
Mallory P. Dixon; biological science/pre-health care; Tulsa, Oklahoma
Kaylen A. Gurwell; physiology/pre-medical sciences and biology/pre-medical sciences; Lenexa, Kansas
Nikole Dawn Heon; mathematics; Oak Point, Texas
Samantha Helena Homann; English and German; Trophy Club, Texas
Griffin Kennedy Hughes; biological science/pre-health care and Spanish; Broken Arrow, Texas
Lauren A. Jones; animal science/animal biotechnology and microbiology/cell and molecular biology; Cleburne, Texas
Ferris Weam Kalidy; microbiology/cell and molecular biology; Edmond, Oklahoma
Chase D. LaSpisa; political science; Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Ashton L. Mason; physiology/pre-medical sciences; Edmond, Oklahoma
Maddie McClain; psychology; Corpus Christi, Texas
Caitlyn Bree McDowell; strategic communication and Spanish; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Alejandra Medellin; biochemistry; Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tanna C. Newberg; art/art history; Edmond, Oklahoma
Sarah M. Oliver; biochemistry; Ardmore, Oklahoma
Jacob Scott Osborne; biochemistry; Prosper, Texas
Emry K. Peterson; art/graphic design; Bixby, Oklahoma
Jacie Shaye Roberts; philosophy and French; Seminole, Oklahoma
Kiaralexis Rogers; political science; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Stephanie Rojo; economics/general and strategic communication; Edmond, Oklahoma
Joshua D. Ross; mathematics; Pryor, Oklahoma
Ashlyn N. Ruley; English; Tulsa, Oklahoma
Emma Catherine Schlebach; music education/instrumental vocal certification; Fort Worth, Texas
Sarah Gamal Ahmed Soliman; biology/pre-medical sciences and microbiology/cell and molecular biology; Newcastle, Oklahoma
Dyonna M. Starr Ramos; English; Stillwater, Oklahoma
Addison Gwen Van Zandbergen; global studies and Spanish; Durant, Oklahoma
Katherine R. Victor; political science and French; Tulsa, Oklahoma