Phi Beta Kappa: Initiation Ceremony

Today at 5:30pm in Sharp Chapel, a student of mine was induced into Phi Beta Kappa; she would like to recognize me as a faculty mentor.  Not until the President of the Beta of Oklahoma Chapter invited me to attend the initiation ceremony, I was ignorant of the oldest honor society for the liberal arts and sciences.  The event was packed with eye-opening moments: from wearing a weighty yet serene regalia for the first time in my life to getting organized to march in with the newly-elected students as well as the resident members, from the quietly exhilarating brass quintet music to the cool, contemplative chapel atmosphere, from the potent opening remarks by the university president to the delightfully challenging address by the honorary member elected, from the solemn initiation of members-in-course to the mutually grateful recognition of faculty mentors.  

Both photos were taken by Lydie, a colleague of mine who also handsomely lent me her own regalia.  I felt like flying back to the year of 2008 and celebrating my summa cum laude PhD in Germany.