Muhlenberg Inducts 2021 Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society Members
This year’s inductees to Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious honor society for undergraduates in the liberal arts and sciences, were celebrated in a virtual event on Saturday, October 15.By: Bill Keller Monday, October 18, 2021 00:00 PM
Muhlenberg College has been a member institution of Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) since 1967. The national honor society, a distinguished fellowship of scholars devoted to liberal education and intellectual pursuits, was established at the College of William and Mary in 1776.
Strict eligibility guidelines, including completion of specific course requirements and placement in the top 15 percent of the graduating class, mean that inductees are among the highest-achieving students at Muhlenberg.
"Founded at a slave-owning college Phi Beta Kappa's roots are steeped in systemic injustice and racism," said Sprayberry, who noted that it took 100 years before the society admitted its first Black member and did not admit its first Black woman until 1899. "Phi Beta Kappa still struggles to diversify its ranks. In acknowledgment of that, the national society included a special initiative to advance diversity and inclusion in its most recent strategic plan released in 2018. The Phi chapter of Muhlenberg is actively working to further this important initiative."
“When we broaden our perspectives, when we acknowledge that our ways of knowing hold truth—but they do not exclude other ways of knowing—when we make room for diverse perspectives, for diverse ideas and thoughts to come into our understanding of the world, the world becomes a safer and better place for the people around us and hopefully, eventually, for the planet and everyone else residing here with us,” said Sprayberry in her closing remarks. “And that to me, is what is most important about you coming into the society. What I see as most important about Phi Beta Kappa is a dedication to knowledge exploration—and most importantly curiosity and open-mindedness—so as you move forward away from Muhlenberg and away from us, please hold that curiosity, that diversity of thought and that spark with you.”
| 2021 Phi Beta Kappa Inductees |
|---|
| Michael Albdewi |
| Marielle Avola |
| Sabrina Barhoum |
| Betty Ben Dor |
| Hannah Betz |
| Jaelyn Blonder |
| Anne Cannon |
| Ryan Carey |
| Michaela Colahan |
| Deena Danishefsky |
| Natalie David |
| Jackson Davis |
| Caroline Eby |
| Sophia Echevarria |
| Alexandra Franchino |
| Ana Gonzales Vargas |
| Alex Helpin |
| Kyra Hickey |
| Austin Hoffman |
| Rose Joffe |
| Paige Jones |
| Viet Le |
| Peterson Lenard |
| Pauline LeMaster |
| Emerson Marles |
| Jonathan Maron |
| Jacob Metcalfe |
| Nicole Morris |
| Alana Noehrenberg |
| Gianna Perri |
| Tram Pham |
| Robyn Phan |
| Olivia Ramsey |
| Juliana Reiner |
| Miranda Robinson |
| Sam Rothstein |
| Alyson Rutherford |
| Carly Shaffer |
| Jeremy Silverstein |
| Madison Taradash |
| Yael Turk |
| Maria Vazquez |
| Sarah Vetesi |
| Siyu Wang |
About Muhlenberg College
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, private liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. With an enrollment of nearly 2,000 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences; selected preprofessional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and master’s degrees. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles west of New York City, Muhlenberg is a member of the Centennial Conference, competing in 23 varsity sports. Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
