In its tenth year of honoring Washington College seniors who represent the ideals of a liberal arts education, the Phi Beta Kappa Theta of Maryland Chapter inducted the 2016 Phi Beta Kappa Class. The 29 seniors, whose academic breadth covers majors from political science and art to mathematics and biology, were honored at a ceremony and banquet on Feb. 24.

Sean R. Meehan, associate professor of English and president of the Theta of Maryland Chapter, joined Emily Chamlee-Wright, College provost and dean, in welcoming the new class.

“Your induction to Phi Beta Kappa is a clear sign that you have seized every opportunity that has been put before you to cultivate a mind that is fit for free inquiry,” Chamlee-Wright told the inductees. “You have not simply let your education be a phase that you passed through. Rather, your induction into PBK is symbolic of the fact that you are a fundamentally changed person, more hungry today to learn than when you started.”

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the country. Washington College’s chapter, Theta of Maryland, was established in 2007 and is one of only 283 across the country. More than 240 WC students, representing the highest in the College’s academic distinction, have been inducted into membership.

At today’s ceremony, Meehan, Lauren Littlefield ’91, associate professor of psychology and vice president of the Theta chapter, and Elizabeth Foley O’Connor, assistant professor of English and Theta chapter treasurer, initiated the new members: Steven Charles Aucott (computer science); Shana A. Brouder (modern languages, international studies, and German studies); Rachel Elise Brown (anthropology, Hispanic studies); Maria Frances Comé (English, art); Rebecca Ann DeSantis (international studies); Ian Kenneth Egland (computer science); Nicholas R. Glazewski (economics); Kelsey Anne Groomes (sociology); Allison Kathleen Halt (psychology); Megan M. Harrison (English); Sean Thomas Haynie (chemistry); Bailey Anne Howard (biology); Bradley Thomas Janocha (international studies); Amber Lauren Johnson (psychology); Hjördis Severina Lorenz (psychology); Sarah Josephine Mann (English); Danielle Louise Murray (biology, psychology); David Myers (biology); Mahiro Nakamaru (political science); Maisie Jann Newman (mathematics and chemistry); Kelly Anne Cassie Okerblom (mathematics); Heather Ann Plocinik (biology, chemistry); Madeline Marie Poethke (biology); Mercedes Noelle Robertson (sociology); Sydney Sherwood Sikon (business); Alexandria Alaine Smythe (English); Maxwell Raymond Van Hoven (biology); Shenny Wang (biology); Emma Way (political science, English, anthropology).