Phi Beta Kappa inducts nine undergraduates from UNC public health school

The students, all from North Carolina, include:

• Kateland Elizabeth Branch, a senior nutrition major, daughter of Robert and Ann Branch of Cary;
• Bita Jasmine Emrani, a senior health policy and management major, daughter of Jahangr Emrani and Ruhanyiz Razaaiyan of Greensboro;
• Patrick Nathaniel Healy, a senior biostatistics and biology major, son of Gerard and Susan Healy of Jacksonville;
• Julia Vivian Loewenthal, a junior nutrition major, daughter of Daniel and Helen Loewenthal of Charlotte;
• Jared Richard Lowe, a junior health policy and management major, son of Richard and Sandi Lowe of Mooresville;
• Andrew Parker Morgan, a May 2009 graduate with a degree in biostatistics and biology, son of Wayne and Patricia Morgan of Clemmons;
• Pranay Prabhakar, a senior health policy and management major, son of Subhash Prabhakar and Ranjana Subhash of Chapel Hill;
• Rachel Parker Stevens, a senior environmental health science major, daughter of Richard and Debbie Stevens of Boone; and
• Patty Tian Wang, a senior nutrition major, daughter of Richard and Susan Wang of Arden.

Bita Emrani

Katie Branch

Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest college honorary society, is open to undergraduates in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences and professional degree programs who meet stringent eligibility requirements.

A student who completes 75 hours of course work with a grade-point average of 3.85 (on a 4.0-point scale) or better is eligible for membership. Also eligible is any student who has competed 105 hours of course work and has a 3.75 grade-point average. Grades earned at other universities are not considered. Fewer than 1 percent of all college students qualify as members.

Jared Lowe

Julia Loewenthal

This fall’s Nov. 23 ceremony featured remarks by Dr. Oliver Smithies, Weatherspoon Eminent Distinguished Professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at UNC and co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. New members received certificates and Phi Beta Kappa keys, the organization’s symbol.

Past and present Phi Beta Kappa members from across the country have included 17 American presidents and numerous artistic, intellectual and political leaders.

Patty Wang

Parker Stevens

The organization has 280 chapters nationwide. UNC’s chapter, Alpha of North Carolina, was founded in 1904 and is the oldest of seven chapters in the state.

Each year, Phi Beta Kappa chapters and alumni associations across the country raise and distribute more than $1 million in awards, scholarships and prizes benefiting high school and college students.

Phi Beta Kappa officers at Carolina for 2009-2010 are students Michael Williford, president; Analise Jenkins, vice president; and Rebecca Merrick, recording secretary. Dr. Robert Lowman, associate vice chancellor for research, is chapter executive secretary and faculty adviser.

Of the 135 UNC inductees who allowed publicity about their induction, 94 are from North Carolina and 41 from out of state.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.