A group of College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University students are the latest to receive an elite academic honor.

A total of 44 students from CSB and SJU make up the 2024 list of inductees to Phi Beta Kappa. This is the 15th cohort of students who have been inducted into the chapter, which now counts over 800 members.

Those selected are Phi Beta Kappa members for life and receive a certificate to honor their achievement.

A ceremony to honor the 44 inductees is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24. CSB and SJU President Brian Bruess will provide opening remarks. Corrie Grosse, associate professor of environmental studies, will give an address titled, “Building the World We Need: Diversity, Hope, and Pleasure.”

Students are chosen based on their grade-point average (3.85 for juniors, 3.65 for seniors) and must be a liberal arts and/or sciences major. The selection committee also looked at the breadth and depth of the student’s program and other achievements, such as a thesis or other research; interest in other cultures or languages; extracurricular activities; and academic performance.

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic society, having been founded in 1776 by several students from the College of William and Mary during the American Revolution. It was originally intended to promote freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression.

There are now 293 chapters at select American colleges and universities, with more than 500,000 members who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. According to the organization’s website, 10 percent of U.S. colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters. Over 20,000 juniors and seniors are inducted every year.

Past members have included 17 U.S. Presidents, 42 Supreme Court justices and over 150 Nobel Laureates.

Here is a list of the 2024 inductees into the Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s:

Seniors

Ian Aadland (mathematics, Brainerd, Minnesota)              

Sydney Aandal (peace studies, St. Michael, Minnesota)  

Thomas Allen (biochemistry and pre-medicine, Lake Elmo, Minnesota)

Sophia Anderson (biochemistry, Blaine, Minnesota)         

Maria Beck (biochemistry and French, Palmer, Alaska)

Logan Biren (ancient Mediterranean studies and classics, New Prague, Minnesota)

Frank Doyle (exercise and health science, Montgomery, Minnesota)         

Tiana Ellis (Hispanic studies and individualized, Cottage Grove, Minnesota)

Lauren Funke (environmental studies, Lino Lakes, Minnesota)     

Jacob Gathje (mathematics and English, Omaha, Nebraska)

Equoia Gibson (chemistry, Eleuthera, The Bahamas)         

Jacob Goranson (physics, Harris, Minnesota)       

Carter Grove (computer science, St. Joseph, Minnesota)

Elizabeth Hamak (communication and theology, Sartell, Minnesota)

Thomas Hobday (environmental studies and peace studies, St. Paul, Minnesota)

Sara Hoppe (English and German, Freeport, Minnesota)

Ryan Imm (psychology, St. Paul, Minnesota)        

Amelia Kahlhamer (English and sociology, Avon, Minnesota)

Claire Kouri (classics and history, Yankton, South Dakota)

Emma Lundgren (biology and pre-medicine, Sartell, Minnesota)

Erin Martin (Hispanic studies, Des Moines, Iowa)

Evan Mattson (political science, Aurora, Minnesota)        

Jackson May (economics and history, Monticello, Minnesota)

Sara Mayeux (biology and French, Prairieville, Louisiana)

Grace Potter (computer science, Champlin, Minnesota)  

Carter Potthoff (biology and Hispanic studies, Sartell, Minnesota)

Mikayla Santiago (psychology, Mission, Texas)    

Victoria Schwieters (biology and pre-veterinary, Zimmerman, Minnesota)

Talane Sealey (economics, Nassau, The Bahamas)             

Caitlin Shaw (biology and pre-medicine, Breezy Point, Minnesota)

Scott Spangler (environmental studies, Littleton, Colorado)           

Savannah Supan (nutrition and pre-physician’s assistant, Rice, Minnesota)

Ryan Thissen (biochemistry and pre-medicine, Rosemount, Minnesota)

Connor Veldman (biology and pre-medicine, Hollandale, Minnesota)

Genevieve Woods (biochemistry and pre-dentistry, Mora, Minnesota)

Juniors

Ethan Engh (mathematics and theology, White Bear Lake, Minnesota)

Stanislaw Jank (political science and English, Lebork, Poland)

Thomas Libbey (history, Minnetonka, Minnesota)             

Luis Martinez Mejia (psychology and Hispanic studies, Clearwater, Minnesota)

Thomas Meier (English and history, Holdingford, Minnesota)

Ken Mersch (history, Woodbury, Minnesota)       

Emily Mundt (history, Eden Prairie, Minnesota)  

Jacob Odenthal (computer science, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota)       

Clara Winter (biology, St. Paul, Minnesota)