Kalamazoo College’s Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa welcomed 25 new members on June 11, 2025, recognizing their exceptional scholastic achievements across a wide range of disciplines. 

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, boasting 17 U.S. presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court justices, and more than 150 Nobel laureates among their ranks. Beyond recognition, Phi Beta Kappa offers members access to a diverse network of high achievers, opportunities for professional development, and resources for lifelong learning. The society’s mission is “to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, to recognize academic excellence, and to foster freedom of thought and expression.” The Delta of Michigan chapter was founded in 1958. 

Acceptance into Phi Beta Kappa is considered one of the highest academic honors a student can receive. The society is known for its rigorous selection process that evaluates students’ achievements across the arts, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. Phi Beta Kappa typically extends invitations to students in the top 10% of their class. 

As these talented seniors embark on the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys, their Phi Beta Kappa membership will serve as a symbol of their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.  

Please join us in congratulating the following students listed by name, hometown and courses of study:  

• Mairin Boshoven, of Portage, Michigan; biology and French major 
• Anna Buck, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; chemistry major, applied mathematics and biochemistry minor
• Yongwan Cho, of South Korea; computer science and math major 
• Erik Tyler Danielson, of Saint Leonard, Maryland; German and computer science major, applied mathematics minor 
• Laura DeVilbiss, of Byron, Minnesota; psychology and Spanish major 
• Dilynn Everitt, of Saint Louis, Michigan; business and psychology major 
• Madalyn Farrey, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; psychology major, Japanese and studio art minor
• Emma Frederiksen, of Chelsea, Michigan; biology major, German minor, environmental studies concentration 
• Megan Herbst, of Troy, Michigan; theatre arts and psychology major 
• Joseph Horsfield, of MacLean, Virginia; biochemistry and mathematics major, community and global health concentration 
• Gavin Houtkooper, of Battle Creek, Michigan; business and computer science major, Spanish minor 
• Vivian Kim, of Wilmette, Illinois; psychology and anthropology / sociology major
• Alexander Kish, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; physics and computer science major, applied mathematics minor 
• Cole Koryto, of Portage, Michigan; computer science and quantitative economics major, mathematics and music minor 
• Madeline Lovins, of Oxford, Michigan; psychology major, German minor
• Ariadne June Markou, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; anthropology and sociology major, philosophy minor 
• Alex Nam, of Houston, Texas; German, and international and area studies major 
• Lucas Priemer, of Berkley, Michigan; biology major, Spanish minor 
• Noah Pyle, of Ypsilanti, Michigan; biology major, mathematics minor, environmental studies concentration 
• Maxwell Rhames, of Adrian, Michigan; chemistry major 
• Vivian Schmidt, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; biology and psychology major, neuroscience concentration 
• Chau Ta, of Hanoi, Vietnam; computer science and mathematics major 
• Tristan Uphoff, of Roanoke, Virginia; mathematics major, physics and Japanese minor
• Hannah VanderLugt, of Kent City, Michigan; biochemistry major, math minor 
• Emerson Wesselhoff, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biology major, environmental studies concentration