Phi Beta Kappa Initiates New Members During 2026 Convocation Ceremony The Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Washington and Lee University welcomed 53 students into the prestigious honor society.

By Emily Innes Stanley
April 8, 2026

The Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Washington and Lee University welcomed 53 members of the junior and senior classes into the prestigious honor society at the Phi Beta Kappa/Society of the Cincinnati Convocation held Thursday, March 26 in the Houston H. Harte Center Gallery in Leyburn Library. The honorees were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa based on their exceptional academic achievements in the arts and sciences.

Dan Kramer, director of the International Studies Office at the University of Virginia, delivered the convocation address. At UVA, Kramer oversees the Lorna Sundberg International Center, the Center for American English Language & Culture, the International Students & Scholars Program and the Education Abroad team. In his address, titled “The Future of Diplomacy,” Kramer discussed how history appears to be repeating itself and why that may not necessarily be a bad thing, examining how the work of non-governmental organizations created in the wake of World War I may provide insights and models for the current climate of increasing isolationism and for the future of democracy.

This year’s student initiates to Phi Beta Kappa are:

Class of 2026

• Lydia Mae Bowersox
• William F. Bray
• Owen M. Burns
• Marsha Chung
• Addie-Grace DuBose Cook
• Jackson T. Hall
• Rebecca A. Hoffman
• Daniel Emmanuel Jakubowski-Lewis
• Wonjun Jo
• Kate Keeley
• Madison Kessack
• Connor E. Lafo
• Claire C. Manning
• Ciel R. Morrill
• Patrick Murphy
• Nikola V. Petrov
• Keaton Rush
• Roman Schlichter
• Kendall R. Schlueter
• Emma J. Scott
• Kriya N. Shah
• Lucy P. Storey
• Tuan T. Vu
• Luke Wroten
• Cindy Xie
• Yiqing “Jessie” Zhang
• Bill Zheng

Class of 2027

• Adhip Adhikari
• Ethan Babb
• Hailey Elizabeth Copland
• Gracie Daters
• Sydney Fleming
• Saad Ahmed Khan Ghori
• Carter K. Gleason
• Aiden N. Gray
• Lydia Harvey
• Sofia M. Iuteri
• Aiden Kelsey
• Lucas D. Kim
• Cameron Paige Knott
• James F. Kull Jr.
• Kelsie J. Meeker
• Samuel Mitten
• Mackenzie R. Morante
• Mary Elizabeth Musteric
• Van Nguyen
• Timi Patterson
• Danielle S. Pick
• Sanjheev Rao
• Emily R. Scaff
• Siya
• Kidus A. Tegene
• Abigail Watson

Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary. Its motto is “Love of learning is the guide of life.” The Gamma of Virginia Chapter was chartered at W&L in 1911.