Inductees were Gabriella Fisher ’17 of Champaign, Ill., Emily Heiser ’17 of Fairbury, Ill., Esther Johnson ’17 of Wheaton, Ill., Katherine Linder ’17 of Jacksonville, Ill., Enkhchimeg Tsendnyam ’17 of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Gian Villagomez ’17 of Joliet, Ill., and Erin Washington ’17 of Jacksonville, Ill..

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary college society, was founded in 1776 by five students at the College of William and Mary. The society embraces the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression. Invitation to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is a reflection of the highest scholastic achievement from among the leading candidates for college degrees in the liberal arts and sciences.

Illinois College is one of only 11 colleges in the state to offer membership to this distinguished society. Then President Charles Rammelkamp worked to gained recognition for the special qualities of an Illinois College education by establishing a chapter at IC in 1931.