By Michelle Hines, University Relations
UNCG's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, the Epsilon chapter, inducted 26 new members April 20.
The students were selected because of their academic achievements in the liberal arts and sciences at UNCG. Dr. Peggy O’Brien, an educational programming innovator with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, spoke following the induction ceremony.
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most honored of all college honorary societies. It was established in 1776 at the College of William and Mary and 270 chapters currently exist nationally. The Epsilon chapter is one of only six institutional chapters in North Carolina. UNC-CH, N.C. State University, Wake Forest University, Davidson College and Duke University also have Phi Beta Kappa chapters.
Phi Beta Kappa members nationwide include six of the current U.S. Supreme Court justices, former presidents Bill Clinton and George Herbert Walker Bush and numerous artistic, intellectual and political leaders. Over 15,000 new members, usually students in their senior year of undergraduate work, are elected each year, and less than one percent of all college graduates qualify to be members.
Hannah A. Burdette received the 2006 Elma Josephine Hege Award. The honor was established through a bequest to UNCG’s Epsilon chapter Phi Beta Kappa from Professor Hege, who was a member of history faculty from 1941-71. Income from the fund is awarded annually to a student member of Phi Beta Kappa at UNCG. The awards may be applied toward study in the liberal arts, for professional preparation in medicine, law or other fields, or for specific study projects such as foreign study or travel.
The students and their academic majors are as follows:
• Davie County – William Alexander Evans, biology major, son of James and Melinda Evans of 288 Holly Lane, Mocksville.
• Davidson County – Bradley Steven Sweatman, history and geography major, son of Elizabeth Smith of 328 Chestnut Lane., Winston-Salem, and Robert Sweatman of 2541 Fanning Oaks Drive, Winston-Salem.
• Forsyth County – Benjamin Hunter Anderson, political science major, son of John and Nancy Anderson of 944 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem; Anita Ann Henderson, geography major, of 2680 Amesbury Road, Winston-Salem, daughter of Gene and Judy Sain of 2995 Trinity Church Road, Vale; Rebecca Andrew Clodfelter, psychology major, daughter of Kimberly Greene of 615 Lake Way, Kernersville; and Rebekah Faith Lee, English major, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Lee of 8808 Belhaven Court, Clemmons.
• Guilford County – Benjamin Alan Carper, mathematics major, son of John and Barbara Carper of 1411 Fernwood Drive, High Point; and Robin Jo Knapp, psychology major, of 601 Granite St., Greensboro, daughter of James and Linda Knapp of 24 Knapp Road, Nineveh, N.Y.
• Johnston County – Brandon Keith Woodard, biology major, son of Terry and Tammy Woodard of 504 Howell Road, Princeton.
• Mecklenburg County – Megan Walker Latta, history and religious studies major, daughter of R. Daniel and Zaneta Latta of 9610 Thorn Blade Drive, Charlotte.
• New Hanover County – Jonathan Kuuskoski, music major, son of Johannes Kuuskowski and Nancy Soward of 2305 Market St., Wilmington.
• Randolph County – Katherine Estrella Campbell, political science major, of 7602 Browerdale Road, Siler City; and Carolyn K. Sanzenbacher, philosophy major, of Asheboro.
• Rockingham County – Graeme Charles Wright, anthropology major, of 382 Mayfield Road, Ruffin, son of Lyn Soeder of 3458 R.R. Grade Road., Todd, and Donald Wright of 231 Shady Grove Road, Providence.
• Scotland County – Heather Noel Purvis, English education major, daughter of Hoyle Purvis of 22601 Aberdeen Road, Laurinburg, and Jan-Marie Fesmire Matthews of 9761 Pine St., Laurel Hill.
• Stokes County – April Elizabeth Reece, English major, daughter of Beth Donnelly of 409 W. Dalton St., King, and Leroy Reece of 2225 Buck Shoals Road, Hamptonville.
• Wake County – Megan Elizabeth Eatman, English and Spanish major, daughter of Mary Dowdall of 3407 Sir Colleton Court., Raleigh, and Jerome Eatman of 3625 Laurel Hills Road, Raleigh; Steven Thomas Fuller, English major, son of Tammy and George H. Fuller Jr. of 13741 Campkanata Road, Wake Forest; Matthew Alan Jeffreys, political science and philosophy major, son of Grady and Debbie Jeffreys of 3725 Dusty Lane, Raleigh; and Amie Leigh Martin, philosophy major, daughter of Jeffrey Martin of 235-301 New Bern Place, Raleigh.
• Yadkin County – John Walker Duty, English major, son of Donald and Lynn Duty of 4408 B.E. Reavis Road, Hamptonville; Jennifer Ashley Groce, Spanish major, daughter of Joel and Priscilla Groce of 2109 Jake’s Trail, Hamptonville; and Margaret Elizabeth Hutchens, sociology major, daughter of Francis and Sara Hutchens of 2442 Nebo Road, Boonville.
Out of State Inductees
• Tennessee – Hannah Aileen Burdette, Spanish major, daughter of Rick and Karen Burdette of 669 Julia Drive, Cookeville.
•Virginia – Lori Beth Collins, history major, daughter of Keith and Sarah Collins of 760 Bennett Circle, Keeling.
• Sweden – Sophie Irene Rychlik, geography major, daughter of Igor and Jeannine Rychlik of Lund.
