The University of Rochester chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honorary society, along with the deans of the College of Arts, Science, and Engineering, have selected 16 sophomores to receive the prestigious Iota Book Award in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments during the 2006-07 year.
The award honors students whose scholarly achievement, humanistic values, co-curricular activity, and leadership potential distinguished them during their freshman year. Recipients were nominated by University professors, administrators, and staff members, and chosen from a class of 1,100 students.
The recipients are: Lindsay Bronnenkant, Jeffrey Cohen, Kimberly Etingoff, Ellen Frohning, Tara Gelb, Suzanne Giunta, John Golden, Dennis Huo, Aleksy Mankowski, Zach Noyes, James Regan, Benjamin Sabari, Melissa Squires, Tyle Stelzig, Martin Wegman, and Peipei Zhou.
"This is an extraordinary group of students," said Gerald Gamm, president of the Iota Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and chair of the Department of Political Science at the University. "The students on this list are highly accomplished in a range of fields."
Each student will have the opportunity to select one of several books, including classic works in American literature and science, contemporary publications that have won awards from Phi Beta Kappa, and reference materials.
Dean of the College Richard Feldman will address the honorees at a formal ceremony hosted by the Iota Chapter and the College at 7 p.m. on Nov. 26 in Rush Rhees Library on the University's River Campus.