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UMW Recognizes Spring 2026 Phi Beta Kappa Scholars

Each spring, dozens of University of Mary Washington students join the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society – Phi Beta Kappa – with a Sunday afternoon induction ceremony and the applause of faculty, staff, campus community members and their families.

The 55th ceremony at Mary Washington recognized 47 juniors and seniors who joined the Kappa of Virginia Chapter.

All graduating members-in-course (those about to be inducted) are invited to apply for the Roy H. Smith Phi Beta Kappa Award, which honors a student who exemplifies the characteristics most valued by Phi Beta Kappa, including intellectual integrity, tolerance for other views, a broad range of academic interests, and civic responsibility. Julia Franck, a junior majoring in international affairs and minoring in both economics and security and conflict studies, received this year’s award.

In addition, psychology emeritus faculty member and Kappa chapter charter member Roy Smith provided the ceremony keynote, which focused on the importance of perseverance and critical thinking in the world of AI. He was welcomed and introduced by current chapter president Hilary Stebbins ’01, associate professor of psychological science, who as a student, took Smith’s classes. English emerita faculty member and fellow charter member Connie Smith joined the ceremony.

Congratulations to the newest members of Phi Beta Kappa at UMW.

Farhan Alemi
Jordyn Anderson
Rodas Asfaw
Charles Barbaro
Caroline Bayne
Evelyne Breed
Ashlyn Diederich
Kyra Donlon
Lukas Fick
Lillianne Fish
Jessica Foundos
Julia Franck
Ned Gable
Celia Golden
Bethanie Hackett
Alyssa Heron
Ewan Highsmith
Lily Hoffman
Katelyn Hua
Lily Hussman
Nico Indovina
Hannah Jadgchew
Calleigh Keeley
Sadie Kerby
Emma Kingkeo
Ethan Kirsch
Marissa Langer
Adam McAninley
Hope McCallister
Madison McCarty
Riley Merritt
Lucca Muta
Loren Osborne
Laura Rider
Jillian Rosenquist
Asunta Ross
Katie Royle
Maura Schroeder
Alexandra Schwartz
Natalie Shelton
Victoria Smith
Kendall Swaim
Sarah Tyree-Herrmann
Mariele Wassom
Owen Wheeler
Adrienne Womack
Laurie Zdenek

Fore more information about the Kappa Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, see the Academic Catalog.