Phi Beta Kappa to Induct Twelve Chemistry Seniors
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society.
The Xi Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa voted to invite a distinguished cohort from the Class of 2024 to membership in the Society in recognition of their excellent academic records and commitment to the objectives of a liberal education. This achievement is bestowed upon fewer than 10% of the class. Twelve members of the esteemed group who have received this notable achievement are graduating Chemistry majors:
- Heng Jui Chang
Chemistry - Katherine Duan
Chemistry - Ana Florescu-Ciobotaru
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering - Isabela Fuentes
Chemistry - Mudita Goyal
Chemistry and Biological Engineering - Henry Hardart
Chemistry - Shicheng Hu
Chemistry - Christina Kim
Chemistry - Jessica Mann
Chemistry - Emma Martin
Chemistry - Achilleus Savvidis
Chemistry and Physics - Daniel Sharygin
Chemistry
Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) honors the nation’s most outstanding undergraduate students for excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Only 10% of higher education institutions have PBK chapters, and fewer than 10% of students at these institutions are selected for membership. The Department is incredibly proud of these inductees and all of their illustrious achievements.
MIT’s own chapter, Xi of Massachusetts, annually elects students in their senior year of undergraduate study. Students do not apply for membership. Election is conducted by a faculty committee, which reviews the academic records of seniors to find students with superlative records and clear evidence of breadth in the liberal arts.
The annual Phi Beta Kappa lecture and initiation ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 29 May, at 10:00 a.m. in 32-123, during MIT’s Commencement week. This year’s annual Phi Beta Kappa guest lecturer at that ceremony will be David McGee, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and Director of Terrascope, and MacVicar Faculty Fellow. Professor McGee’s work seeks to reconstruct the history of Earth’s climate to benchmark the models and theories used to project the future.
After the lecture, the Historian and Guide provide a brief introduction to the rights and responsibilities of Phi Beta Kappa members. The newest inductees are then individually recognized and asked to sign the official register of the Xi of Massachusetts chapter. They are also taught the Phi Beta Kappa secret handshake, but strict Society regulations prohibit us from revealing its characteristics here!
