On Thursday, April 18, 2019, Vidal Arroyo ’19, Jenny Gritton ’19 and Crosby Tinucci ’20 were among the 22 students inducted into Chapman’s newest honors society Phi Beta Kappa, Psi of California. Read more about the induction ceremony here.

Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest, most prestigious honors society in the nation. Established in 1776, only 10 percent of the U.S. colleges and universities have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. To be selected as a member, a student must be an undergraduate in the top 10 percent of their graduating class and have an outstanding record of performance in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as substantial work in areas outside their major.

These students are granted lifelong membership, connecting them with a large network encompassing U.S. Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, Nobel Laureates, notable scientists, researchers, business and civic leaders, artists, performers, and athletes.

Congratulations to the following students on receiving this prestigious membership! Schmid College looks forward to seeing what they will accomplish in the future.

 

Vidal Arroyo ’19

Vidal is a biochemistry and molecular biology major with a minor in computational science. He is Chapman University’s first Rhodes Scholar and will be attending Oxford next year to pursue a Master’s by Research in Statistics. As a summer intern at the Baylor College of Medicine, he has researched the link between cancer and obesity as well as outcome disparities among survivors of childhood cancer. As the founder and president of Chapman STEMtors, he has worked to expose at-risk youth to careers in science. Vidal also is an active member of the Schmid College Leadership Council (SSLC) and a Student Scholar Ambassador for the Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

“I am very grateful to be inducted into Chapman’s inaugural PBK class not only because it is an incredible honor, but also because of PBK’s tradition of encouraging an education that approaches our society’s toughest issues through a multi-disciplinary lens. As a budding physician-scientist, I am always excited by the exciting advances made in science and engineering; however, I also believe that foreknowledge of other disciplines like philosophy, theology, and the humanities at large is necessary if we hope to employ these new advances for the common good of humanity. Being a PBK member has only solidified my desire to bring these disciplines together.” – Vidal Arroyo

Jenny Gritton ’19

jenny gritton at induction ceremony

Jenny Gritton with Dr. Bostean at Phi Beta Kappa Induction Ceremony

Jenny is an environmental science & policy major, graduating with a minor in psychology and university honors. She is a four-year Presidential Scholar, a three-year Chapman Ambassador, a two-year member of the Schmid Student Leadership Council, and a proud one-year Zumba instructor here at Chapman. She was the recipient of the Orange County Association of Environmental Professionals undergraduate scholarship in 2017, and in the summer of 2018 she became a certified Green Star Accredited Professional (the New Zealand equivalent being LEED GA certified) while interning for the New Zealand Green Building Council. She has been an Orientation Leader twice, and for the past two years has served as the peer advisor for environmental science & policy. She is currently under consideration for Schmid departmental honors, thanks to nearly two years of individual student/faculty research with Dr. Bostean using GIS to examine sociodemographic disparities in access to sustainable transport in Orange County.

“Being inducted in Phi Beta Kappa is one of the greatest honors I’ve received, not only because the society is so academically prestigious but also because it highlights the interdisciplinary nature of my education. I am a strong believer that a well-rounded education, freedom of thought, and a love of learning are all essential in becoming an effective moral global citizen, and am happy to be in a society that shares those beliefs. Grateful and excited to be part of such an extraordinary group of people!” – Jenny Gritton

Crosby Tinucci ’20

Crosby is a biological sciences major with a minor in Spanish. In his first two years at Chapman, he was on the swim team, was the recipient of the Outstanding First Year Award and the Outstanding Sophomore Award. He is currently President of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, a member of Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish Honors Society), and is a biological sciences peer advisor. Working in the Wetland Biogeochemistry Lab, he is investigating carbon cycling in Northern Minnesota Peatlands. He has presented his research at several regional conferences and last summer presented at the Society of Wetland Scientist’s annual international meeting in Denver, CO.

“I feel very honored to be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa; moreover, I am grateful for the support from my Chapman professors, my friends, and my family who always remind me to work hard, to try my best, and to trust God with the rest.” – Crosby Tinucci

 

Click here to learn more about the Psi Chapter of California Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society at Chapman University.

 

Cover Photo: Vidal Arroyo ’19 being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa with Lynn Pasquerella, President of The Phi Beta Kappa Society and Frederick M. Lawrence, Secretary of The Phi Beta Kappa Society.