President Roloff pictured with Molly Rosenfield ’21 (left) and Entisar Bedasso ’21 (right), two students selected for Phi Beta Kappa initiation in December 2021.
On Tuesday, November 30, President ReBecca Koenig Roloff ’76, Dean Tarshia Stanley, PhD, and Endowed Professor in the Sciences Kristine West, PhD, visited classes to surprise inductees into the St. °µÍø½ûÇø Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Four students were selected out of the slate of December graduates:
- Ava Griswold ’21, double major in history and French with a minor in women’s studies
- Entisar Bedasso ’21, double major in psychology and biology with a minor in longevity and aging
- Molly Rosenfield ’21, psychology major with a minor in women’s studies
- Destiny Hall ’21, major in critical studies of race and ethnicity with a minor in Spanish.
These students were selected because they have demonstrated high levels of curiosity and dedication to scientific inquiry and creativity. Students are chosen based on the breadth and depth of their coursework in the liberal arts and sciences along with their GPA. They have also demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language and college-level mathematics and/or logical reasoning.
Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society. Since its founding in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and championed freedom of thought. Since the Society's founding, 17 U.S. presidents, 39 U.S. Supreme Court justices, and more than 130 Nobel Laureates have been inducted as members, along with countless authors, diplomats, athletes, researchers, actors, and business leaders.
In 1937, St. Kate's became the first Catholic college in the nation to have their request for a PBK chapter granted. PBK is one of our most important examples of how mission-driven and forward-thinking St. Kate's has been historically. President Roloff, Dean Stanley, and Professor West are thrilled to welcome these students into this prestigious society and enjoyed celebrating with their classmates during the surprise visits. The four students will be formally initiated in May at a ceremony coinciding with spring graduation.
Students who have questions about Phi Beta Kappa should email Kristine West at klwest@stkate.edu.