By Jacqueline Hlavenka
Across the country, many college freshmen struggle surviving university life away from home, while some, like the members of Phi Beta Kappa, are tackling subjects like inorganic chemistry and cranking out 4.0 GPAs with ease.
Exhibiting academic excellence both inside and outside the classroom, four students from the class of 2009 were presented with the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Freshman Book Award at the University Club on Nov. 8.
The ceremony, sponsored by the University Club, inducted sophomores Ariel Lorraine Camp, Kristin Maccarrone, Toni-Marie Milito and Joseph Paul Pawlowski into the society, based on academic record, character and the vigor of their course loads.
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most prestigious honor society in America today. The students selected were chosen based on their overall academic performance in subjects varying from biology, drama, mathematics and communication.
“Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is one of the highest academic honors that can be bestowed upon an American undergraduate student,” said Kenneth Henwood, Associate Dean and Academic Director of Saturday College.
“Only a few hundred colleges and universities in the United States have been awarded chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, so it is also an honor for the University to have one,” he added.
Being at the University for 37 years, the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Herman A. Berliner, opened the Phi Beta Kappa ceremony acknowledging that the honorees were the true special “guests” of the afternoon, not the speakers.
“The University is moving forward as a more competitive environment. Because of you, the family tradition is being carried along very well,” said Berliner.
The inductees were welcomed to accept their award with a guest from the University, including professors from the biology and mathematics departments. Along with a certificate, each honoree received a $100 gift card courtesy of the University Bookstore.
The students selected for Phi Beta Kappa were informed over the summer by a letter commemorating their “overall academic excellence” on campus. While most of the inductees held a 4.0 GPA during their freshman year, the award goes beyond grades itself.
“In the future, I’ll be taking more bio classes. I am hoping for more hands-on experiences and field-work. Most of all, I hope what I am learning holds meaning outside the classroom,” said Ariel Camp, a sophomore with a specialization in marine biology.
Another inductee, Toni-Marie Militio, has balanced her exceptional academic career in Phi Beta Kappa with a slew of extracurricular activities.
“I am a founding member of Phi Delta Epsilon, a bio and chemistry tutor, a senator in SGA, member of the Italian Club and a resident assistant in Dover, C-Square West,” said Milito.
Steve Russell, dean of Honors College, expressed his appreciation for each student’s academic achievement, but encouraged the honorees not to miss the “point” of an award.
“Awards are wonderful, but you might miss the point. The essence of this award is that you figured it out. You make up the community of lovers of all kinds of knowledge, affirmed with value,” said Russell.
Bringing a fresh enthusiasm for learning to campus, each sophomore of Phi Beta Kappa has placed a special emphasis on individual achievement and will remain lifelong learners inside and outside of the University, according to Henwood.
“Something sophomoric often can be seen as pretentious or banal. However, the word sophomore itself can be translated to ‘wise fool’. Today’s sophomores have a deeper meaning than the linguistic version. Recognize knowledge,” said Henwood.
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