Twenty-five Kalamazoo College seniors were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa on June 10, 2026, joining the nation’s oldest academic honor society and earning one of the highest distinctions available to undergraduate students.
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa recognizes outstanding achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Its membership includes 17 U.S. presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court justices and more than 150 Nobel laureates. In addition to honoring academic excellence, the society provides opportunities for professional development, lifelong learning and engagement with a distinguished network of scholars. Its mission is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, recognize academic excellence, and foster freedom of thought and expression. The Delta of Michigan chapter was established at Kalamazoo College in 1958.
Election to Phi Beta Kappa reflects exceptional accomplishment across the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Known for its highly selective process, the society typically invites students whose academic records place them among the top 10% of their graduating class.
As they venture forth to pursue careers, advanced study and other opportunities, these students join a tradition that spans nearly 250 years and celebrates a lifelong commitment to intellectual curiosity, scholarship and learning.
Please join us in congratulating the following students, listed by name, hometown and course of study:
- Baylor Baldwin of Traverse City, Michigan; biochemistry major
- Yvette Boyse-Peacor of Ann Arbor, Michigan; biology major, English minor, environmental studies concentration
- Avery Brockington of Riverview, Michigan; computer science major, studio arts minor
- Joe Caton of Three Rivers, Michigan; computer science major
- Trustin Christopher of Farmington Hills, Michigan; chemistry major, mathematics minor
- Noah Chun of Grand Rapids, Michigan; philosophy and German majors; political science minor
- Lillian Deer of Bothell, Washington; biology major, French minor
- Devi DeYoung of Portage, Michigan; biochemistry major, biological physics concentration
- Michaela Dillbeck of Grand Rapids, Michigan; biology major, Spanish minor
- Jordan Doyle of Troy, Michigan; computer science and quantitative economics majors, mathematics minor
- Blake Filkins of Plainwell, Michigan; psychology major, Spanish minor
- Sophie Hartl of Ada, Michigan; economics and anthropology and sociology majors, community and global health concentration
- Alek Hultberg of Kalamazoo, Michigan; physics major
- Jessica Kaplan of Royal Oak, Michigan; mathematics and German majors
- Claire Kischer of Highland Park, Illinois; economics and Spanish majors
- William Aidan Martel of Cumberland, Maine; biochemistry major
- Bernice Mike of Cluj-Napoca, Romania; psychology and theatre arts majors
- Mary Ellen Muenzenmaier of Leslie, Michigan; psychology and German majors, film and media studies concentration
- Robert Newland of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; business and English majors, anthropology and sociology minor
- Mia Pellegrini of Portage, Michigan; psychology and Spanish majors
- Nathaniel Rulich of Brookfield, Illinois; history major, philosophy minor
- Anoushka Soares of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biochemistry major, community and global health concentration
- Ella Spooner of Holland, Michigan; biochemistry and Spanish majors
- Zoe Wilson of Troy, Michigan; psychology and critical ethnic studies majors, environmental studies concentration
- Kenzi Zimmerman-Frost of Portage, Michigan; biology major
