Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society Started at W&L
Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta), a national biological honor society for students, particularly undergraduates, and new to Washington and Lee, inducted 36 members on Nov. 15 at Washington and Lee University.
The new members include 12 formal members, 14 associate (junior) members, four officers, and six honorary members. Dr. Virginia Martin, a southeast district director of TriBeta, initiated the new members.
Hikaru Kinouchi ’11 from Asahikawa Hokkaido, Japan, was the inspiration behind beginning TriBeta at W&L. Having been a member and officer of a TriBeta chapter while a student at Emory and Henry College, he was surprised to see that there wasn’t one when he came to W&L. So he set out to start one.
TriBeta is dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of the biological sciences, student research and to reward academic achievement. Since its founding in 1922 at Oklahoma City University, the idea of an honor and professional society for biology students spread rapidly and by 1925, the society became a national organization. More than 200,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 520 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
TriBeta will begin bringing speakers to campus in early December when Dr. Dong Feng Chen, Harvard Medical School, will lecture on retinal cell regeneration.
Newly initiated members are:
Officers (all formal members): Samia S. Alam ’12 from Woodside, N.Y.; Elsa A. Friis ’11 from Brookeville, Md.; Christopher A. Ivey ’11 from Fairbanks, Alaska; and Robert R. Warneford-Thomson ’12 from Richmond, Va.
Formal members: Sharon R. Chu ’10 from Cerritos, Calif.; Maria Victoria Garcia ’11 from Coral Springs, Fla.; Taylor L. Garrett ’11 from Birmingham, Ala.; Susan L. Giampalmo ’12 from Glenwood, Md.; Maya Iyengar ’11 from Midlothian, Va.; Brent A. Meekins ’11 from New Bern, N.C.; Stephanie Mauro Mendez ’10 from Mexico City, Mexico; Mercy W. Kibe ’11 from Bartlett, Tenn.; Jessica Ann Morris ’12 from Lexington, Ky.; Michael K. Rao ’10 from Ocala, Fla.; Alexander T. Sturges ’12 from Charlotte, N.C.; and Xinnan Wang ’12 from Rockville, Md.
Associate members: Lucas B. Andersen ’12 from Rock Hill, S.C.; Megan E. Bock ’13 from Holmdel, N.J.; Ryan P. Danaher ’13 from Kingwood, Texas; Heather N. Deisher ’12 from Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Luke R. Gergoudis ’12 from Richmond, Va.; Graham W. Heberlig ’13 from Spearfish, S.D.; Ryan L. Henner ’12 from Avondale Estates, Ga.; John T. Jacobs ’12 from Concord, N.C.; Reilly L. Kidwell ’13 from Ottsville, Pa.; Antoinette M. Kitch ’12 from Poway, Calif.; Jina Park ’13 from Marietta, Ga.; Wilson Phu ’11 from Salem, Mass.; Olivia M. Riffle ’12 from Hudson, Ohio; and Susan D. Taylor ’11 from Atlanta, Ga.
Honorary memberships for their support and assistance in starting a chapter of TriBeta at W&L went to Dr. Tyler Lorig, Dean Janet Ikeda, Dr. Helen I’Anson, President Ken Ruscio, Provost June Aprille and Dean Hank Dobin.
