On June 13, 2024, the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine PBK) celebrated 50 years of championing education in the arts and sciences, fostering freedom of thought, and recognizing academic excellence. Since securing a charter from the National Phi Beta Kappa Society—the oldest and most prestigious academic honor society in the United States—in 1974, UC Irvine PBK has remained a proud advocate for student excellence across campus.
To honor 50 years of milestones and positive impact, UC Irvine PBK hosted a day of events that brought together PBK alumni, special guests, and the wider UC Irvine community. The festivities kicked off with the PBK Bridge Dedication Ceremony, where Michael Dennin (Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy) unveiled the new PBK Bridge (formerly the Humanities Bridge). At the ceremony, Vice Provost Dennin revealed the bridge’s new inscription of PBK’s motto, “Love of Learning is the Guide of Life,” and, together with Chapter President Susan King, Professor of Chemistry, cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the official opening of the bridge.
“I’m honored that I was able to participate in such an exciting event,” said Vice Provost Dennin. “For 50 years, our PBK chapter has been a point of pride for campus, and I’m happy I could honor all the great work they have done to recognize and empower our students.”
After the Bridge Dedication, UC Irvine PBK hosted its annual Induction Ceremony to welcome the 2024 class of new PBK inductees, made up of the top 4% of graduating seniors and the top 1% of juniors. This year’s class included 248 seniors and 76 juniors, who were all recognized during an award presentation conducted by founding UC Irvine PBK 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. The Induction Ceremony also featured a keynote address delivered by UC Irvine Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern, where he congratulated the inductees:
“In addition to scholarly achievement, each of these students has demonstrated intellectual integrity, tolerance for other’s views, and a broad range of academic interests. On behalf of the entire UC Irvine community, I would like to extend my congratulations to the inductees, their families, friends, and supporters.”
UC Irvine PBK’s 50th anniversary celebration concluded with the Alumni Dinner, which welcomed new inductees, PBK alumni, faculty, and campus leadership to reflect on PBK’s history at UC Irvine. Special guest Michael Hingson also gave an inspiring keynote where he addressed the misconception that disabilities are liabilities and reframed them as differences that society deems less-than. In his speech, he also recounted his heroic escape from the World Trade Center on 9/11, where he and his guide dog Roselle successfully led a group of survivors from the 78th floor of Tower 1 to safety.
Following Hingson’s speech, dinner was served as attendees had the opportunity to mingle, connect, and reflect on UC Irvine PBK’s impact. “The Alumni Dinner was the perfect way to end our 50th anniversary celebration,” said Rose Jones, UC Irvine PBK Director. “Having the UC Irvine community come together to mark this incredible milestone and celebrate our 50-year history was such an honor, and I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible. As we move forward, we’re excited to continue recognizing the academic excellence of UC Irvine’s students and creating opportunities for them to shine.”
For More Information
Missed out on UC Irvine PBK’s 50th Anniversary? Check out event recordings of the Bridge Dedication Ceremony, Induction Ceremony, and Alumni Dinner. You can also explore photos from the Induction Ceremony.
To learn more about UC Irvine PBK and its mission to support academic excellence, visit their website. If you are interested in supporting UC Irvine PBK and high-achieving Anteaters across campus, then please consider giving a gift. Just $150 can cover the cost of inducting a new UC Irvine student into the most prestigious academic honor society in the country.