The Alpha of Arkansas Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa held its annual initiation ceremony on May 11, 2023, in Giffels Auditorium in Old Main.

The chapter inducted new members, including three juniors and more than 50 graduating seniors. Each new initiate signed the book that has been used for the last 91 years to record names of Phi Beta Kappa members at the U of A and promised to have paramount regard for moral character and scholarly attainment in the election of future members. They all received a certificate and a light blue cord to wear at Commencement.

Chapter historian professor Trish Starks related the history of the society, which was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776 and is oldest and most distinguished honorary society in the country. Leaders of the American Revolution and delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 were among its early members. Two of the founders became U.S. senators, and two became members of the Supreme Court. Six members of the current U.S. Supreme Court are members of Phi Beta Kappa. Seventeen American presidents have been members of Phi Beta Kappa.

Janine Parry, University Professor of political science, addressed the new initiates and their families as keynote speaker. Her heartfelt words of congratulation and encouragement inspired the nearly 200 people in attendance.

The chapter recognized two graduating seniors as Phi Beta Kappa Distinguished Scholars, both of whom exhibit the love of learning and outstanding achievement that characterizes chapter members: Julianna Kantner and Joshua Jacobs, who each received the 20th edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable to commemorate the award.

At the end of the program, chapter president Dr. Daniel Levine instructed the new members in the Phi Beta Kappa secret handshake and its history and traditions.

The ceremony was followed by a reception for members, new initiates and their families.

Below is a list of this year's initiates. For more information on Alpha of Arkansas, please visit our chapter website.

Juniors

• Sophie McAdara
• Benjamin Pierce
• Amber Rosamond

Seniors

• Christopher Adair
• Yodalys Aguilar-Quiros
• Amber Alzufari
• Ashley Ault
• Miller Bacon
• Kyle Burks
• Rachel Chrisman
• Leah Christenson
• Abriana Ciabattari
• Katelyn Clark
• Cesca Craig
• Taylen Day
• Ashlyn DesCarpentrie
• Abigail Doran
• Kaitlyn Dunlap
• Brooklin Edwards
• Luke Elliott
• Lydia Fink
• Caroline Ford
• Elizabeth Ford
• Lillian Franklin
• Mary Grace Fuhrman
• Emily Furlow
• Gabrielle Gies
• Paul Gramling
• Spencer Hazeslip
• Samantha Hernandez
• Evan Hinchliffe
• Laney Hoggatt
• Hannah Holaday
• Thomas Hollis
• Christine Honn
• Sidney Hudelson
• Joshua Jacobs
• Ridhikaanth Kalaiselvan
• Julianna Kantner
• Alexandria Lim
• Lauren Loften
• Xinyi Mao
• Margaret Martin
• Luke McClanahan
• Grier McClard
• Kaitlyn Murray
• Haley O'Dwyer
• Alexa Payne
• Allison Primm
• Nathan Rives
• Quinette Rogers
• Joseph Roll
• Julianna Rose
• Anna Rumpz
• Eli Schwartz-Yermack
• Kenneth Seiter
• Margaret Smith
• Kayla Wilcox
• Caroline Wilson
• Grace Wood
• Madeline Wood
• Laura Workman
• Bryant Xie
• Grayson Young
• Laura Young

For information about Phi Beta Kappa's Arkansas Alpha Chapter, contact Daniel Levine at dlevine@uark.edu. For information about Phi Beta Kappa nationally, visit www.pbk.org.