Twenty-nine students were recently inducted into Psi Chi, a National Honor Society in Psychology, and were honored at an induction ceremony on Wednesday, Apr. 10 on the Eels House porch.
Founded in 1929 at Yale University, the society aims to promote excellence in psychology and science. It is the largest student psychological organization, consisting of 750,000 student members. Psi Chi is affiliated with the American Psychological Association and publishes research journals.
In order to be a member, students must major or minor in psychology and earn a cumulative GPA in the top 35 percent of their graduating class. The Psi Chi chapter at Hamilton College was established in 1977 and since then dozens of students each year have been inducted.
The induction ceremony brought inductees together for dinner and to officially sign on as new members of Psi Chi. Once inducted, members can attend banquet dinners and conferences with other schools across the country, providing networking opportunities amongst students, professors, and professionals.
Members of the society organize fundraisers that support psychology research. Inducted students can also attend psychology conventions and participate in numerous research opportunities. Annual events for the society include the Walk for Autism; this year, Psi Chi partnered with the Greek organizations Phi Beta Chi and Delta Chi to raise money for a wheelchair swing for Upstate Cerebral Palsy.
A charity concert featuring campus bands Otis Shanty, Event Staff, and Juice, was held on Apr. 1 in the Annex. Through this, as well as many individual donations, the three organizations were able to raise enough money to install a wheelchair swing, which will be built within the upcoming weeks.
“I have personally spearheaded the wheelchair fundraiser for Upstate Cerebral Palsy and have done psychology research at Hamilton, but not through Psi Chi,” said Gianna Davino ’20, the co-president of Psi Chi. “Through the concert and individual donations, $2,872 was raised by Psi Chi, Phi Beta Chi, and Delta Chi in less than two weeks.”
The society inducted the following students this semester:
Carlie Abraham, Natalie Basta ’19, Lillian Behm ’20, Aurora Cai ’21, Katherine Cronin ’21, Monica Dave ’20, Allison Donlan ’19, Gillian Driscoll ’21, Caroline Fjermedal ’20, Leigh Gelotte ’19, Grace Heller ’19, Ian Hohm ’20, Amanda Johnson ’21, Emmaline Keene ’20, Lantz Kilburn ’20, Virginia Loke ’19, Elle McCusker ’21, Meghan Pawlik ’20, Julian Perricone ’20, Erin Rosen ’21, Max Scheidl ’21, Ruthie Schmidt ’20, Alexandra Stetter ’20, Sarah Swinson ’20, Aoife Thomas ’20, Anna Tinker ’21, Amalia Tobias ’21, Julia Tsvyakh ’19, and Sarah Young ’20.
