Press Release

May 9, 2022 | By Cole Hatcher

Ohio Wesleyan this spring inducted 38 Bishops into Phi Beta Kappa – the nation’s oldest academic honor society. Only 10 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities have chapters of the prestigious honor society. (Photo by Mark Schmitter ’12)

2022 Phi Beta Kappa Induction

Ohio Wesleyan Inducts 38 Students into the Nation’s Oldest Academic Honor Society

DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University inducted 38 new members this spring into its Eta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa National Academic Honor Society. The new inductees join a historic organization that counts 17 U.S. presidents, 42 Supreme Court justices, and more than 150 Nobel laureates among its members.

Ohio Wesleyan’s 2022 Phi Beta Kappa members include the following fall 2021 and spring 2022 graduates:

  • Chase Agin of Blacklick, Ohio
  • Emmanuella Akomeah-Sirleaf of Aurora, Colorado
  • Lydia Arnold of Tiffin, Ohio
  • Dmitri Ashakih of Norwalk, Ohio
  • Max Beard of Palo Alto, California
  • Katie Bischoff of Marysville, Ohio
  • Sydney Blain of Ashville, Ohio
  • Lily Callander of Blacklick, Ohio
  • Hanna Cao of Changsha, Hunan, China
  • Acadia Caryl of Highland Heights, Ohio
  • Grant Cayton of McDermott, Ohio
  • Joe Connor of Barrie, Ontario, Canada
  • Meg Edwards of Columbus, Ohio
  • Ross Eggleston of Lancaster, Ohio
  • Cassandra Farber of Arlington Heights, Illinois
  • Anna Fender of Sullivan, Illinois
  • Anna Franko of Avon Lake, Ohio
  • Davis Graham of Canton, Ohio
  • Kaden Hubly of Kankakee, Illinois
  • Bella Johnson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Ashleigh Leonard of Lewis Center, Ohio
  • Hien Mai of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • Elisabeth Mann of Fishers, Indiana
  • Alex Mason of Savannah, Georgia
  • Taylor McGee of Delaware, Ohio
  • Libby Norlander of Carlsbad, California
  • Jillian O'Hara of East Liverpool, Ohio
  • Chase Reinert of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
  • Emily Romstadt of Perrysburg, Ohio
  • Nadav Shaibe of Palo Alto, California
  • Megan Sheradin of North Canton, Ohio
  • Julia Shorey of Cleveland, Ohio
  • Leigh Stavar of Cleveland, Ohio
  • Mary Thach of Columbus, Ohio
  • Samantha Villasenor of Lake Villa, Illinois
  • Adrienne Wentling of Westlake, Ohio
  • Bryce Wittman of Franklin, Tennessee
  • Muzaffar Yezdan of Karachi, Pakistan

Nationwide, only 10 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and each of these 290 chapters selects only 10 percent of their graduates annually to join through a highly selective, merit-based invitation process.

Based in Washington, D.C., Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776, and its name originated from the motto “Love of learning is the guide of life.” Ohio Wesleyan’s Eta Chapter was founded in 1907.

The honor society’s mission is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, recognize academic excellence, and foster freedom of thought and expression. Learn more about Phi Beta Kappa at www.pbk.org.

Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Honors Program at owu.edu/honors and its Phi Beta Kappa chapter at owu.edu/pbk.


Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature program, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “Best Colleges” lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.