Knox College Celebrates Academic Achievement with Honor Society Inductions

During Knox College’s Commencement 2025 weekend, 53 students were inducted into various honor societies. Of those, 30 were honored with a special ceremony for joining Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society.

“I feel like I’m right where I should be. I feel like my time at Knox has been great and I’m ready to move on to whatever is next,” Jean Lux Patton, a classical languages major who not only joined Phi Beta Kappa, but was also inducted into Eta Sigma Phi. “This honestly came as a surprise to me. I’m honored and appreciate that Knox is involved in this.”

The Phi Beta Kappa induction on June 7 was the 108th annual induction ceremony at Knox with Associate Professor of Political Science and President of the Knox Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Katie Stewart and Associate Professor of Classics Mitchell Parks leading the initiation.

“Election to Phi Beta Kappa honors a high level of achievement attained by our initiates in pursuit of a liberal education,” Stewart said.

Provost and Dean of the College, Michael Schneider also spoke, speaking of the history of Phi Beta Kappa, and Associate Professor of Physics Nathalie C. Haurberg was chosen as this year’s alumni nominee for Phi Beta Kappa.

Out of more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., fewer than 300 have chapters. Knox's first Phi Beta Kappa induction was in 1917. As part of the ceremony, the newly inducted members signed a small, leather-bound book.

Knox College’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter was the first at a four-year liberal arts college in the state and is the fourth-oldest in Illinois.

Published on June 17, 2025