Having earned membership two years ago, twenty-one members of the Class of 2020 were formally initiated in Phi Beta Kappa during a ceremony on May 14, 2022.

Twenty-one members of the Class of 2020 have been elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa, joining 23 classmates who were elected previously. The initiation ceremony in Convocation Hall followed the University Baccalaureate service.

Election to Phi Beta Kappa is perhaps the most prized honor a college student can receive. Students who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence become eligible for election after completing at least six consecutive semesters. Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary; the Sewanee Chapter, Beta of Tennessee, was established in 1926.

Congratulations to Sewanee’s newest members:

  • Emily Badgett (American Studies—honors) (Religious Studies) summa cum laude, Concord, North Carolina
  • Michael Barry (Economics) summa cum laude, Charleston, South Carolina
  • Emily Cashman (Art History) summa cum laude, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Victoria Collins (Neuroscience—honors) (Psychology—honors) summa cum laude, Gainesville, Florida
  • Sarah Cordell (Psychology—honors) summa cum laude, Arab, Alabama
  • Jonathan Crumly Jr. (Economics) (English) summa cum laude, Marietta, Georgia
  • Tanya Galan (International and Global Studies) summa cum laude, Memphis, Tennessee
  • Syble Gitchell (Art History) (Religious Studies) summa cum laude, Charlottesville, Virginia
  • Charles Grimes (English) summa cum laude, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Claire Hayne (International and Global Studies) summa cum laude, San Antonio, Texas
  • Christina Higgs (English) summa cum laude, Sonora, California
  • Madeleine Hitel (Music) (Religious Studies) summa cum laude, Riverside, Connecticut
  • Sydney Leibfritz (English—honors) (Politics) summa cum laude, La Vergne, Tennessee
  • Charles Mathews (History—honors) summa cum laude, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Kate Moffett (International and Global Studies) summa cum laude, Savannah, Georgia
  • Quinn Needham (English) (Women’s and Gender Studies—honors) summa cum laude, Nolensville, Tennessee
  • Mary Sackett (Psychology—honors) summa cum laude, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Abigail Shipps (English) summa cum laude, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Campbell Stuart (Anthropology—honors) summa cum laude, Austin, Texas
  • Bryan Walker (Mathematics) (Physics—honors) summa cum laude, Winchester, Tennessee
  • Briana Wheeler (English—honors) summa cum laude, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Each year the Sewanee chapter elects a total of approximately 10 percent of the senior class to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Two percent of the class generally is elected at the beginning of the first semester, on the basis of six semesters' work; additional members are elected at the beginning of the second semester and during Commencement Weekend.