Phi Beta Kappa
Alpha of California Chapter
University of California, Berkeley

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Phi Beta Kappa Members

The top ten percent of graduating seniors,selected by fixed criteria, are elected to the nation's oldest scholastic honorary society because of their academic excellence and the inclusion in the course of their studies of a significant segment of work in the humanities. The students come from all disciplines, including philosophy and art as well as biology and engineering. According to the by-laws of the national organization of Phi Beta Kappa, in addition to seniors, the local chapter may select up to twenty juniors for early initiation because of the outstanding scholastic record.

Initiates receive an honorary 1-year membership in the Northern California Association of Phi Beta Kappa, an alumni association with a newsletter, activities, and a Young Phi Betes group.

Spring Initiation, 2006

The speaker for the Initiation was Prof. Daniel F. Melia who entertained us with video clips and wisdom from TV’s quiz game “Jeopardy”.

Spring Initiation, 2005

The speaker for the initiation was Chanellor Robert J. Birgeneau who offered Congratulatory Remarks to the initiates.

Spring Initiation, 2004

The speaker for the initiation was Christina Maslach, U.C Berkeley Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Education, who talked about “’The Berkeley Way’ in Undergraduate Education” 

Spring Initiation, 2003

The speaker for initiation was University Librarian, Thomas C. Leonard who spoke on "The Disappearance of Information."

Spring Initiation, 2002

The speaker for initiation was Prof. Ron Loewinsohn, Director of the American Studies Program at UC Berkeley. His address, "Does This Count for the Grade?", challenged the initiates to pursue excellence for their own internal goals.

Spring Initiation, 2001

The speaker for initiation was former Chancellor I. Michael Heyman. His talk, "The Role of Museums as Education Institutions: Is the Smithsonian Another UC?" compared some of his administrative challenges in Washington with the environment on campus.

Spring Initiation, 2000

The speaker for initiation was Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl. Eighteen junior, over two hundred senior, and nine doctoral candidates were initiated.

Spring Initation, 1999

The stirring address was given by Prof. Ralph J. Hexter, Dean of Humanities, College of Letters and Science.

Spring Initiation, 1998

The address, "Is Excellence Dangerous?", was given by Prof. Randolph Starn, Director of the Doreen Townsend Center. Prof. Starn is a member of the Department of History and has written a number of books on the cultural history of medieval and Renaissance Italy. Over three hundred graduating seniors and sixteen juniors were initiated.

Initiates in the News

Vikram Rao, a 1998 initiate of Phi Beta Kappa, was the 1999 recipient of the university's most prestigious award, the University Medal. Rao graduated with a degree in molecular and cell biology with a perfect 4.0 GPA, never having received a grade below an A. He was a recipient of Alumni Leadership and Chancellor's scholarships. The aspiring neurologist is continuing his education at the University of California at San Francisco where he is enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).

 In 1997 Carl Ryanen-Grant, a 1996 Junior initiate of Phi Beta Kappa, received the University Medal. A history major. His senior thesis was on the response of the African-American community to activities of the Ku Klux Klan in Los Angeles. On Feb. 28, 2000, Mr. Ryanen-Grant died from cancer that had been diagnosed in 1996.