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DAVIS, Calif. – Senior Taylor Cuenin and junior Jackie Graves are the newest members of UC Davis' Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation's oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organization. Cuenin is a neurobiology, physiology and behavior major and member of the lacrosse program; Graves is majoring in political science and competes for UC Davis' indoor and beach volleyball teams.
 
Only 10 percent of the nation's universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and only 10 percent of the arts and sciences students from these elite institutions are invited to join the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
 
Criteria for membership includes a 3.7 grade point average for seniors and 3.8 for juniors, knowledge of a foreign language at an intermediate level — equivalent to one year at the college level, a minimum of 135 Letters and Sciences units earned for seniors and 90 for juniors, 75 units completed for letter-grade credit at UC Davis, the fifth-ranked public school in the nation, completion of college preparatory level math and 12 letter-grade units in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.
 
Completion of all criteria does not guarantee automatic membership since a Committee on Members in Course, a group composed of Phi Beta Kappa members, reviews transcripts and presents recommendations to respective chapters.
 
This rigorous and selective process is why Phi Beta Kappa membership is a coveted honor that recognizes exceptional academic success in the arts and sciences.
 
The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia; UC Davis' chapter was chartered in 1968.
 
 
AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation.
 
Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis.
 
Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
 
The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.