Phi Beta Kappa Inducts 21 New Members

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2011) – The University of Kentucky chapter of Phi Beta Kappa held its annual induction ceremony this week, inducting 21 students into the nation's oldest and most widely known academic honor society.

"We are proud of the 'best and brightest' among our liberal arts students on campus," said Ernie Yanarella, president of the UK chapter and professor of political science. "Becoming a part of Phi Beta Kappa inducts them into an organization that that will continue to expand their intellectual horizons over their entire lifetime."

Phi Beta Kappa elects over 15,000 new members a year from 270 chapters across the United States. There are also more than 50 associations that foster friendship and learning in their members' communities and provide a means for members to continue their active affiliation with the society after graduation.

The 2011 inductees are: Benjamin Barnes, Kathleen Barrette, Jennifer Brooks, Deborah Canham, Allison Doering, Mitchell Elliott, Thomas Greenlee, Jennifer Grzech, Claire Heitzman, Caroline Howle, Bailey Johnson, Rachel Keller, Cameron Koehler, Allison McVey, Jeremy Phillips, Kristina Satek, Richard Sellnow, John Smolka, Benjamin Talley, Ashby Turner and Jonathan Walter.

Phi Beta Kappa is a a program within the UK Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, which is an intentional collaboration among prestigious undergraduate programs at the university, also including the Discovery Seminar Program, Education Abroad, Office of Undergraduate Research, the Honors Program, Intercollegiate Debate, Living-Learning Communities, Phi Kappa Phi and the Office of External Scholarships.

"Being the alpha chapter—that is, the first chapter in Kentucky—is a wonderful honor and a tribute to the flagship of the public university system in the state," said Yanarella. "It identifies this land-grant university with the highest intellectual standards and the long-standing tradition of liberal arts in American higher education.  No less important, it demonstrates again the commitment of the Chellgren Center and its benefactor, Paul Chellgren, to undergraduate excellence and the pursuit of the best of American cultural values."

The Chellgren Center was created in August 2005 with an initial gift of $1.5 million from alumnus Paul Chellgren and his family, with an additional gift of $250,000 in September 2006.  His total commitment of $2.25 million was matched by the state’s Endowment Match Program, creating a $4.5 million endowment for center.

As a UK undergraduate, Chellgren was an Honors Program student and star intercollegiate debater. After earning his MBA from Harvard and a D.D.E. from Oxford University, he began a successful career that culminated with his retirement as chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc. He is currently an operating partner with SPG Partners LLC, a New York City private equity firm. He was inducted into UK’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2000 and the Gatton College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame in 1995, and served on the UK Board of Trustees for 11 years. His commitment to improving and enriching undergraduate education at UK continues to impact thousands of UK students, faculty and staff.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Wells, (859) 257-1754; Jenny.Wells@uky.edu