On Thursday, June 13, 2024, the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Mu of California Chapter at UC Irvine will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a day of events for PBK community members both on and off campus. As a way to honor UCI’s PBK milestones and its positive impact on UCI, PBK Day 2024 will offer several opportunities for PBK alumni to join in on the festivities. Read on to learn more about PBK Day 2024 and other upcoming events.
PBK Day 2024 Schedule of Events
1:00 pm-1:15 pm: PBK Dedication Ceremony
Location: UCI Humanities Bridge
About: Join Michael Dennin, UCI Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Professor of Physics, as he unveils the inscription of PBK’s motto, “Love of Learning is the Guide to Life,” on the UCI Humanities Bridge.
2:00 pm-3:30 pm: PBK Induction Ceremony and Reception
Location: UCI Student Center, Pacific Ballroom C & D
About: Congratulate the 2024 class of new PBK inductees, featuring the top 5% of graduating seniors and the top 1% of juniors Join us as we recognize these exceptional students with a special ceremony featuring a keynote address delivered by UCI Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern and an award presentation by UC Irvine founding PBK charter members and honorary PBK member Michael Hingson, Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind, 9/11 survivor, and New York Times best-selling author. Following the induction ceremony, there will be a catered reception for honorees, their guests, and other attendees.
3:30 pm-4:30 pm: Campus Tours for PBK Alumni
Location: The flagpoles near Aldrich Hall
About: As a special thank you to UCI PBK’s esteemed alumni, we will be hosting campus tours for all alumni who attended the Induction Ceremony or who will be attending the Anniversary Dinner to follow. We invite PBK alumni to relive their college days and see how UC Irvine’s campus has transformed over the years. RSVP for your campus tour.
5:00 pm-6:30 pm: 50th Anniversary Alumni Dinner
Location: UCI Student Center, Doheny Beach A, B, C, & D
About: Members of the UC Irvine PBK alumni community are invited to celebrate 50 years of PBK at UC Irvine at this commemorative dinner event. Dinner attendees will enjoy a buffet-style meal, a look back over the history of PBK at UCI, and an inspiring keynote speech delivered by honorary member Michael Hingson. If you would like to attend, please indicate your interest.
Additional Events for the PBK Community
In addition to the PBK Day 2024 events, PBK alumni are invited to attend the PBK Visiting Scholar events on April 16 and 17, 2024. The 2023-2024 PBK Visiting Scholar is Natalia Molina, Distinguished Professor and Dean’s Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. Professor Molina specializes in History, Latinx Studies, Immigration, Gender, Foodways, and Public Health. Named the 2020 MacArthur Fellow, Professor Molina’s most recent book, A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community, chronicles the lives of immigrant workers, including Molina’s grandmother, who nurtured and fed their communities at restaurants that served as urban anchors.
Over the course of two days, Professor Molina will host four Visiting Scholar events for the UCI community, the following two of which are open to alumni:
April 16, 2024 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm: Public Talk: “Tell Your Story”
Location: Humanities Gateway 1030
About: In this public talk, Professor Molina will share the strategies she and other historians have used to tell the stories of the underdocumented. Prior to the talk, attendees will enjoy a reception with beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Following the talk, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase Professor Molina’s book and get their copies signed. RSVP for Tell Your Story.
April 17, 2024 from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm: Education Kitchen with Chef Jessica Van Roo
Location: Nutrition Education Kitchen and the Palmer Room, Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
About: Led by Chef Jessica Van Roo, PBK student volunteers will help prepare dishes inspired by Professor Molina’s book A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant Nourished a Community. Attendees will get the chance to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine steeped in culture and history.
Want to learn more about past PBK events, including the Fall 2023 Book Awards? Then visit the UCI PBK website for additional information.