GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference is proud to announce that three Knox College student-athletes were among 39 student-athletes inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society following the 2025-26 academic year.

Austin Cernich, Ryudo Kawanami, and Zoe Pav were the Knox College student-athletes to earn induction. The College held a special Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony for all inductees during Commencement Weekend in June. 

The Phi Beta Kappa induction was the 109th annual induction ceremony at Knox. Associate Professor of Political Science and President of the Knox Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Katie Stewart, and Associate Professor of Classics, Mitchell Parks, led the initiation. As Chapter Historian, Parks delivered the Historian's Presentation.

Knox's first Phi Beta Kappa induction was in 1917. Out of more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., fewer than 300 have chapters. As part of the ceremony, the newly inducted members signed a small, leather-bound book.

Founded on December 5, 1776, at the College of William & Mary, Phi Beta Kappa recognizes elite undergraduate achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. Knox College's Phi Beta Kappa chapter was the first at a four-year liberal arts college in the state and is the fourth-oldest in Illinois.

Since 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has championed education in the arts and sciences, fostered freedom of thought, and recognized academic excellence.

Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious academic honor society in the United States, is guided by its values of honor, advocate, connect, engage, and recognize.

Beloit College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University and Ripon College each have a campus Phi Beta Kappa chapter. 

2026 Phi Beta Kappa

(Name, Sport(s) Yr.)

Austin Cernich Men's Track and Field Senior

Ryudo Kawanami Men's Soccer Senior

Zoe Pav Volleyball Senior