UNL Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Initiates 43 New Members

The Alpha of Nebraska chapter of Phi Beta Kappa initiated 43 new members April 28 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Richard Hoffmann, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was initiated at the ceremony as an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa.

"As dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for more than three years, Richard Hoffmann has been an articulate, forceful and effective advocate for the importance of the liberal arts as the curricular core of the college, and more broadly, the centrality of the College of Arts and Sciences to the mission of the university," said Robert Gorman, president of the Alpha of Nebraska chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and lecturer in classics and religious studies at UNL.

Phi Beta Kappa is one of the nation's oldest academic honorary societies. New members must have fulfilled or be in the process of completing the requirements in the liberal arts for a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. Membership selection is based on grade point average and additional requirements by the university.

Membership in the Alpha of Nebraska chapter is limited to the top 5 to 10 percent of students who have completed at least 64 hours at UNL. Memberships are awarded in the fall and spring semesters.

Following is a list of students who were inducted. All are scheduled to receive degrees at UNL's May 8 commencement exercises, unless otherwise noted. Along with each student's name and hometown are the academic majors and minors and parents' names.

NEBRASKA

Beatrice: Jarod Richard Johnson, anthropology and psychology majors, sociology and mathematics minors, son of Gene R. and Jacquetta J. Johnson.

Bellevue: Amy Gant, history major, English and mathematics minors, daughter of Henry and Kristie Gant.

Broken Bow: Andrew Vaughan, biochemistry major, chemistry and religious studies minors, son of Jerry and Mary Vaughan.

Columbus: Rebecca Ann Ronkar, psychology major, music minor, daughter of Jerome and Elizabeth Ronkar.

Davenport: Reese Pearson, history major, political science, psychology and Latin minors, son of Randall and Pam Pearson.

Friend: Maureen Oldham Gallagher, English and German majors, art history minor, daughter of Joe Gallagher and Suzanne Oldham of Lincoln.

Hastings: Thomas Oldham, English and history majors, theatre minor, son of Robert and Sharon Oldham.

Juniata: Jeffrey Scott Ahlman, history major, philosophy and political science minors, son of Roger and Julie Ahlman, husband of Kathryn Haslenkamp Ahlman.

Lincoln: Stephanie Lynn Fisher, biological sciences major, daughter of Steven Fisher and the late Laurie Fisher; Christopher John Frey, exercise science major, son of John O. and Marta Jo Frey; Margaret Suzanne Hoppe, senior, biochemistry major, English minor, daughter of W. Fred Hoppe and Barbara Hoppe; Aaron C. Hurlbut, biochemistry and business administration majors, mathematics and chemistry minors, son of Greggory S. and Sheri L. Hurlbut; George Nightingale, psychology major, philosophy minor, son of Kile Nightingale and Christina Nightingale of Apple Valley, Calif., husband of Maria Cicleide Nightingale; Olukemi Iyabode Olubodun, actuarial science and mathematics majors, daughter of Olugbemi William and Oluyemisi Idowu Olubodun; Aaron Pierce, biochemistry major, mathematics and chemistry minors, son of Larry and Linda Pierce of Surprise, Ariz., husband of Crystal Widhalm; Katharine C. Potter, biological sciences major, daughter of Thomas Rinkevich and Virginia Uzendoski, wife of Justin Potter; Elizabeth A. Rieke, biological sciences major, mathematics and studio art minors, daughter of Reuben and Loretta Rieke; Namita Sakhuja, biological sciences major, daughter of Suresh Kumar of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Rajni Sakhuja of Lincoln; Laura Lynn Suhr, psychology major, history minor, daughter of Theodore and Deanna Suhr; Danielle Yung, history major, geography and psychology minors, daughter of Byron R. and Jacque J. Yung.

Nebraska City: Steven George Wirth, biochemistry major, mathematics and chemistry minors, son of Gerald and Susan Wirth.

Omaha: Jocelyn Kaye Bailey, biological sciences major, daughter of Steven T. and Diane M. Bailey; Elizabeth Anne Beer, mathematics, history, classics, and Medieval and Renaissance studies majors, computer science and religious studies minors, daughter of Robert and Dorothy Beer; Daniel Patrick Benesh, biological sciences major, philosophy and entomology minors, son of Edward and Maureen Benesh; Elizabeth Jennie Green, mathematics and meteorology/climatology majors, daughter of Donald and Nancy Green of Lincoln; Lindsey Haller, communications studies/pre-law major, political science minor, daughter of Philip and Carol Haller; Elizabeth A. Lenihan, biochemistry major, mathematics, chemistry and psychology minors, daughter of John E. and Kay A. Lenihan; Alison M. Mashek, English and psychology majors, political science and sociology minors, daughter of Edward and Terri Mashek; Vincent Jacob Prescher, chemistry and classics majors, mathematics and religious studies minors, son of Scott W. and Cindy S. Prescher; Dustin Steven Sorenson, biological sciences major, biochemistry, chemistry and psychology minors, son of Mark Sorenson of Omaha and Susan Tong-Danilson of Jefferson, S.D.

O'Neill: Neah Galloway, Spanish major, education and English minors, daughter of Neal and Beverly Galloway of Redbird.

Papillion: David Arden Rupiper, biological sciences major, son of Robert O'Neal and Karla Rupiper.

Primrose: Jennifer Walrath, political science major, English studies minor, daughter of Dan and Patsy Walrath.

Scottsbluff: Spencer Pahlke, economics and psychology majors, communications studies and English minors, son of Bob and Penny Pahlke.

Sidney: John Elliott Schiel, chemistry major, son of Robert and Alice Schiel.

West Point: Megan Timmerman, communication studies major (public relations emphasis), marketing minor, daughter of Leroy and Mary Timmerman.

ELSEWHERE

Columbia, Mo.: Clarissa Steele, Spanish, psychology and management majors, daughter of Karen Steele and the late Jewell Steele.

Des Moines, Iowa: Kristi Elizabeth White, psychology major, communication studies minor, daughter of Claude and Jane Rickerd of Bloomington, Minn., wife of Matthew White.

De Soto, Texas: Ashley Spencer, psychology major, mathematics minor, daughter of Carl and Carol Spencer.

Oxford, Pa.: Timothy Niessen, mathematics, biochemistry and biological sciences majors, economics and chemistry minors, son of Thomas J. and Helene J. Niessen.

Sioux Falls, S.D.: Ashley Wenger, psychology major, English minor, daughter of Robert and Laurie Wenger of Brandon, S.D.

Wichita, Kan.: Mark Stigge, mathematics major, son of Jerald and Mary Stigge.

CONTACT: Kathleen Johnson, Assoc. Professor, University Libraries, (402) 472-2553