The eighth annual Book Awards ceremony honored students (from left to right)Gregory VanMeter from Chopticon High; Rachel Alonso from Great Mills High; Brenda McEvoy from St. Mary’s Ryken; and Stephanie Galani from Leonardtown High. Pictured with the students is Dr. Roy Hopkins, professor of psychology at SMCM and president of the Zeta Chapter.

Four local high school seniors were recently recognized for their academic performance by the Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM). The 8th annual Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards ceremony honored students Gregory VanMeter from Chopticon High School, Rachel Alonso from Great Mills High School, Brenda McEvoy from St. Mary’s Ryken School, and Stephanie Galani from Leonardtown High School. 

The students were selected by their high school National Honor Society advisers and the SMCM honor society for meeting the criteria of PBK excellence.

Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776 by the College of William and Mary, is the nation’s oldest and most distinguished honor society for the liberal arts and sciences. Admission to the society is determined by a student’s academic excellence, breadth of study, and character. The St. Mary’s chapter was installed in 1998.