Source: Stephen Kiefer, 785-532-2642, swkiefer@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.k-state.edu/pbk
Note to editor: Aleks Spangler is a graduate of Shawnee Mission North High School, Mission. Melissa Calvert and Jayme Vehlewald are graduates of Olathe East High School, and Abigail Winkley Kolich is a graduate of Olathe South High School. Beth Mendenhall is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park. Sydney Peck is a graduate of Maranatha Academy, Shawnee. Jamie Schendt is the son of David and Brenda Schendt, Wake Forest, N.C.
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-2535, bbohn@k-state.edu

Friday, June 3, 2011

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: PHI BETA KAPPA GAINS MORE THAN 50 NEW MEMBERS

MANHATTAN -- More than 50 students are new members of Kansas State University's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.

To be eligible for membership consideration, a student must be a junior or a senior with a grade point average of at least 3.7; students with GPAs of 3.6 to 3.7 may be considered if the level and depth of their course work indicates an unusually distinguished record. In addition, students also must be candidates for a bachelor's degree in K-State's College of Arts and Sciences or have at least 90 hours or three-fourths of their total course work from departments in the college. Students also must have taken a required number and level of courses in a foreign language, mathematics, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776. New members at K-State include:

Kyle Van Horn, senior in German and biology, Abilene; Bethany Spare, senior in history and political science, Ashland.

From Greater Kansas City: Caleb Greinke, senior in history, Kansas City, Mo.; Lauren Anderson, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in kinesiology, and Erin Toughey, senior in accounting and Spanish, both from Lenexa; Jason Schulte, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in marketing and Spanish, Mission Hills; Melissa Calvert, senior in journalism and digital media, Beth Mendenhall, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in political science and philosophy, Sydney Peck, senior in political science, and Aleks Spangler, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in geography, all from Olathe; Erin Closterman, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in economics, Chelsea Irvine, senior in industrial engineering, Abigail Kolich, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in advertising, Jamie Schendt, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in history, Jayme Vehlewald, senior in anthropology and German, and Emily Waldo, senior in Spanish, psychology and pre-occupational therapy, all from Overland Park; and Sam Diederich, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in English literature, Roeland Park; and Bryanna Pockrandt, senior in geography, and Christopher Swain, senior in history, both from Shawnee.

Kaylea Pallister, senior in English literature, Hays; Carrie Cook, senior in English and fashion design, Herington; Brennen Richman, senior in biology and premedicine, and Taylor Veh, senior in microbiology, both from Hutchinson; Whitley Jackson, senior in biology, Spanish and gerontology, Lawrence; Kimberly Carlson, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in English literature, Lindsborg; Emma Verschelden Denner, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in early childhood education and French, and Ellen Welti, senior in history and biology, both from Manhattan.

Cassaundra Ost, senior in social work, Mankato; Jammie Layman, senior in philosophy, Marysville; Amanda Keim, senior in print journalism, McPherson; Ashley Denney, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in English, Newton; Ian Howard, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in history, Pratt; Brittney Blattner, senior in life sciences, Rozel; Laura Thacker, senior in English and women's studies, Russell.

From Salina: Nathan McGraw, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in biochemistry and Spanish; Kristi Mendenhall, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in Spanish and family studies and human services; Erin Strathe, senior in Spanish; and Daniel Todd, senior in Spanish, criminology and Latin American studies.

Christopher Littrell, senior in political science, Topeka; Megan Hadorn, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in English and anthropology, Wellington.

From Wichita: Sarah Hodges, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in communication sciences and disorders; Kelsey Hopson, senior in English; Holly Miller, senior in secondary education and Hispanic literature; and Erin Waymire, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in anthropology.

From out of state:

Brittany Stevens, senior in journalism and mass communications, Parker, Colo.; Dominic Krezowski, senior in history and women's studies, St. Paul, Minn.; Zoe Ahlstrom, senior in political science, Sedalia, Mo.; Jenna Gentzler, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in psychology, Blair, Neb.

From Texas: Megan Bozarth, senior in social science, Austin; Amy Benson, senior in history and political science, Cypress; George Ammerman, senior in journalism and digital media, Flower Mound; Crystal Aranda, May 2011 bachelor's graduate in in history, Pleasanton; and Jessica Reyes, senior in English and history, San Antonio.