WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Oct. 19, 2009 -- Williams College has announced the 25 members of the class of 2010 elected into the national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa signifies top academic success and achievement at colleges and universities across the countries.

Students are selected for Phi Beta Kappa at the end of their junior years, based on their cumulative grade point averages. The top five percent of the class is granted election. The following students, (listed in name, major(s), hometown format) make up the elected seniors:

Chloe Blackshear, comparative literature, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Ireane Cao, art, Springfield, Va.

Christopher Chudzicki, physics and math, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Carolyn Clark, English, St. Louis. Mo.

Yang Du, economics and physics, Hubei Province, China

Kristine Ericson, history and art, Hanover, N.H.

Ruth Ezra, art, Ithaca, N.Y.

Julianne Feder, religion, New York, N.Y.

Cristina Florea, anthropology and history, Bucharest, Romania

Andrew Forrest, political economy, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Matthew Furlong, philosophy and sociology, Amesbury, Mass.

Sophie Glickstein, history, Edina, Minn.

Benjamin Iliff,  biology and psychology, Arnold, Md.

Steven Jackson, physics and math, Victor, N.Y.

Jamie Lahvic, biology, Richmond, Va.

Kefei Lei, computer science, Shenyang, China

Yibai Li, economics and Asian studies, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Joseph Lorenz, religion, Takoma Park, Md.

Zachary Miller,  economics and history, Bridgeton, N.J.

David Moore,  computer science and math, Knoxville, Tenn.

Ralph Morrison, math, Danville, Ky.

Kathleen Palmer,  chemistry, Westport, Conn.

Lauren Sinnenberg, biology, Westfield, N.J.

Stephen Vrla, history, Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Leiyu Xie, math and economics, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

At the end of the academic year, the seniors in the top 12.5 percent of the class, excluding those already members of Phi Beta Kappa, are eligible for election as well.

END

Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college’s 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student’s financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted.

To visit the college on the Internet: www.williams.edu/ Williams College can also be found on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/williamscollege and Twitter: http://twitter.com/williamscollege

News: Laura Corona