New Phi Beta Kappa Members Inducted

On December 5, 1776, a group of young men studying at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, met to create a secret society, at once intellectual and social in purpose. Thus was formed the Phi Beta Kappa Society. On May 6, 2011, 13 students majoring in the College joined its elite ranks.

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest and most distinguished academic honor society for the liberal arts. Those invited to join Pacific's Chi Chapter of California are typically within the top 5 percent of their class.

Dr. Carrie Schroeder with Sociology major Leora White, who was selected as the Outstanding Senior in Cultural Sociology

Well-Attended Ceremony 

Drs. Jeffrey Becker (Political Science) and Jennifer Helgren (History) in regalia

Chapter President Dr. Carrie Schroeder (Religious & Classical Studies) led the induction ceremony, which took place in Raymond Great Hall. Chapter officers Dr. Lisa Wrischnik (Biology), Dr. Chris Goff (Mathematics), Dr. Bill Swagerty (History, John Muir Center), and Dr. Dari Sylvester (Political Science) helped with the ceremony.

University President Dr. Pamela Eibeck attended the event along with her husband Bill Jeffery, a Phi Beta Kappa member. Provost Maria Pallavacini joined the breakfast, and a number of Phi Beta Kappa members from the Stockton community attended the ceremony along with Pacific's Phi Beta Kappa faculty members.

Dr. Red Horse Inspires the Initiates

Dr. John G. Red Horse was the alumni initiate inducted along with the graduating seniors. When he graduated from Pacific in 1962, Dr. Red Horse was a member of four other honor societies and a leading member of the award-winning forensics team. He has had a distinguished academic career and received many honors for championing the causes of American Indian communities.

"Dr. Red Horse is a beloved member of the Pacific family," said Dr. Schroeder.  "When word got out that we had invited him here for this weekend, my phone started ringing off the hook." 

Dr. Red Horse gave a moving speech about "Nazhkeawaasin:  An Unlikely Scholar," which turned out to be him; that is his spirit name. 

He told the story about how he came to be a student at Pacific and was encouraged by a professor to join the debate team. He recounted the time the team traveled to Texas and was forced to eat in the kitchen of a restaurant because their team was racially integrated and the restaurant was not. 

"He gave such a powerful speech that both inspired and challenged us all," said Dr. Schroeder. "I was really moved and amazed by him."

Accomplished Students Are Source of Pride to Parents and Pacific

Dr. Carrie Schroeder with Joe Styers, one of two Pacific students who won Fulbright Scholarships this year.  

Many of the students were accompanied by family members who were smiling with pride.

As each student was inducted, he or she received the special Phi Beta Kappa key that bears the Greek letters FBK (Phi Beta Kappa)-the initials of the words philosophia biou kubernetes, meaning "Love of learning is the guide of life." Their membership was then solidified through the secret handshake.

COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC STUDENTS
INDUCTED INTO PHI BETA KAPPA

May 6, 2011

Phi Beta Kappa membership was awarded to 13 students majoring in the College:

• David P. Allen, International Relations & Global Studies and Asian Language & Studies majors with a concentration in Japanese

• Ashley Beth Elefant, English and Spanish Language & Literature majors

• Noah Fang, Medicinal Chemistry major, Biological Sciences minor

• Jessica Lynn Garland, International Relations & Global Studies and Spanish Language & Literature majors

• Lindsay Kipnis, Theatre Arts and French majors

• Stephanie Kong, Psychology major, Anthropology minor

• Kristin T.S. Oshiro, Biological Sciences major, Chemistry minor

• Nicholas Perkins, Cross-disciplinary Classics major, Economics minor

• Annalisa Marilyn Purnell, Economics major, Spanish minor

• Dora Alice Purcell Scott, Music Performance (Viola) and Spanish Pedagogy majors

• Rachel Marie Smith, Speech & Language Pathology and French Language & Literature majors

• Erik J. West, Development & Cultural Change and Asian Languages & Studies majors with concentration in Chinese

• Leora Kristine Pollock, Sociology major, Ethnic Studies minor

In addition, four students who were invited into Phi Beta Kappa last year attended the induction ceremony: Joseph Styers, Krystal Leonard, Kelly Volkar and Laura Easton.