Eight WC Student-Athletes Initiated into Phi Beta Kappa

CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Eight Washington College varsity student-athletes were initiated into the Phi Beta Kappa Society – the nation’s oldest and most widely-known Academic Honor Society – on February 25 in Hynson Lounge on the campus of the College.

The eight WC varsity student-athletes initiated were: lacrosse player Lauren Brenner (Glen Mills, Pa./Episcopal Academy), soccer player Sean Garin (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson), field hockey player Sophie Grabiec (Newport, Pa./Newport), basketball player Samantha Howell (Chevy Chase, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase), swimmer Ana Reynoso-Zimmerer (San Diego, Calif./High Tech), rower Olivia Robb (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), lacrosse player Aubrey Robinson (Landenberg, Pa./Kennett) and field hockey player Jessie Willey (Salisbury, Md./Parkside).

Brenner, a four-year member of the lacrosse team, led the squad in assists and points this season. She was Academic All-Centennial in 2019 as she was named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll and All-Centennial Conference. She is a two-time Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll qualifier and a member of the 2019 IWLCA All-Academic Team. She is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Biochemistry.

Garin, a four-year member of the soccer team, served as a two-time team captain. He was named his squad’s Most Valuable Player in 2018 and is a three-time qualifier for the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll. He was named to the 2019 Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team and to the 2019 Athey Cup All-Tournament Team. He is double-majoring in Biology and Chemistry.

Grabiec, a four-year member of the field hockey team, served as a captain as a senior. She is a four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad and a three-time Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll qualifier. She was named Most Improved Player in 2016. She is majoring in English.

Howell, a four-year member of the basketball team, played the most games in her career as a senior this past season. She is a three-time Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll qualifier. She is majoring in Physics.

Reynoso-Zimmerer, a four-year member of swim team, competed in the backstroke and freestyle events for the squad. She was named to her third consecutive Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll earlier this year. She is double-majoring in Sociology and Hispanic Studies.

Robb, a four-year member of the rowing team, served as a two-time captain. She has been a part of three Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference Championships and competed in three NCAA Division III Championships. She is a two-time All-American and Academic All-MARC. She was named All-MARC Varsity and Team Most Valuable Player as a junior and CRCA National Scholar-Athlete as a sophomore. She was also named to the 2017 All-MARC Novice Team. She is double-majoring in Psychology and Sociology.

Robinson, a four-year member of the lacrosse team, served as a team captain this season. She was Academic All-Centennial in 2019 as she was named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll and All-Centennial Conference. She was an All-Metro Region second team pick in 2019. She is a two-time Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll qualifier and a member of the 2019 IWLCA All-Academic Team. She is majoring in Economics.

Willey, a four-year member of the field hockey team, served as a captain in her senior season. She started a career-high in games, scored her first career goal and notched her first defensive saves as a senior. She is a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction, a four-time member of the NFHCA National Academic Squad and a three-time Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll qualifier. She was the female recipient of the Elizabeth “Bo” Blanchard Memorial Sportsmanship Award as a junior. She is majoring in Biology.

This year’s eight new initiated student-athletes will bring the total number of Washington College varsity student-athletes initiated into Phi Beta Kappa to 79 since the first initiation class in 2007.

About 10% of the nation’s colleges and universities have chapters of Phi Beta Kappa. At those schools, roughly 10% of seniors are initiated, meaning only roughly 1% of the nation’s collegiate seniors are initiated each year.