Phi Beta Kappa

Prestige. Honor. Intelligence. Scholarship. The members of Dickinson’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa strive for each of these qualities and more. “These students represent the top three percent of their class,” says Mara Donaldson, professor of religion and president of the Dickinson chapter.

PBK is a national academic honor society, and membership is the highest academic honor for a Dickinsonian. When the society was established on campus in 1887, Dickinson became Pennsylvania’s first chapter. PBK’s core ideology is to foster and promote the liberal arts and sciences. Members are elected based on a combination of academic achievement, broad cultural interests and good character. The golden key, which is the society’s distinctive emblem and is widely recognized as a symbol of achievement, is awarded to these students who continually engage the world in useful ways. “These scholars are among the most active students on campus,” Donaldson says. “They are great models of the ‘scholar citizen.’ [PBK students have] an attitude toward learning that is nourished here and continues throughout their lives.”

The 2005 Phi Beta Kappa scholars from the class of 2006 are, from left, front row: Jennifer Havens, Natalie Martin, Amy Wilson, Mary Alice Hartsock, Narelle Hillier and Margaret Murphy. Second row: Selina Carter, Jessica Landis, Laurel Peterson, Lucia Stancioff and Ruth Oldham. Third row: Faith Nussbaum and Michael Deceglie. Not pictured: Joanna Wallace.