WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., June 23, 2009 -- Sixty-three members of the Williams College Class of 2009 were awarded associate membership in Sigma Xi, the international scientific honor society, upon graduation in June.

Each of these students exhibited outstanding talent and intellectual initiative in scientific research during their college careers, particularly during the completion of extensive research for a senior thesis.

These students join nearly 60,000 Sigma Xi members at colleges and universities, industrial research centers, and government laboratories in more than 100 countries. Founded in 1886, this multidisciplinary research society aims to honor scientific achievement, promote the health of the scientific enterprise, and foster an appreciation within society at large for the role research has played in human progress.

The Williams College chapter of Sigma Xi was established in 1969 and sponsors two lectures by a faculty member from the college's Science Center each year in addition to other events.

This year's Sigma Xi inductees and their majors and hometowns are:

Domenico Aiello, Mathematics and Statistics, Garnerville, NY

David R. Aitoro, Physics, Weston, CT  

Ruth F. Aronoff, Geosciences, St. James, NY

Brenna E. Baccaro, Biology, Dalton, MA  

Sean K. Barker, Computer Science, Sunderland, MA

Emily L. Behrman, Biology, Merion Station, PA
 
Kristin E. Bergethon, Chemistry, Dover, MA  

Jacob V. Blessing, Biology, Pleasant Ridge, MI  

Josiah Boivin, Biology, East Lansing, MI  

Lindsay L. Bouton, Biology, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

Carl F. Brasz, Physics, Fayetteville, NY  

Eirik M. Buraas, Geosciences, 2090 Hurdal, Norway

Huajie Cao, Physics, Holmdel, NJ  

James R. Dunshee, Psychology, Hinesburg, VT

Timothy J. Durham, Biology, Guilford, CT

Stefan A. Elrington, Physics, Queens Village, NY  

Lauren E. Finn, Biology, Brookfield, CT  

Michael S. Gerbush, Computer Science, Glen Head, NY

Emily N. Gray, Biology, Bronx, NY  

Mary E. Haas, Biology, Fairbanks, AK

Alexandra L. Hoff, Psychology, Montain Lakes, NJ  

Catherine R. Hoover, Biology, Hudson, OH  

Marius Catalin Iordan, Computer Science, Bucharest, Romania

Nina Y. Ivanova, Biology, South San Francisco, CA

Ryan J. Jacoby, Psychology, Wellesley, MA  

Katherine A. Jordan, Psychology, Pisgah Forest, NC  

Caronline G. Kan, Biology, Byron, MN  

Henry E. Kernan, Geosciences, Worcester, NY

Tengjian Khoo, Physics, Penang, Malaysia

Daniel O. King, Physics, S. Berwick, ME

Karin C. Knudson, Mathematics and Statistics, Concord, MA

Madelyn H. Labella, Psychology, Franklin, MA

Jordan P. Landers, Geosciences, Pacific Palisades, CA  

Iris Lee, Chemistry, Madison, WI  

Patty Liao, Physics, Great Falls, VA

Elizabeth R. Links, Biology, Baltimore, MD  

Sylvia J. Lou, Chemistry, Niskayuna, NY

James W. Lowe Jr III, Chemistry, Gallup, NM

Ya-Wen Lu, Chemistry, Samut Prakarn, Thailand

Clare F. Malone, Biology, Glen Ellyn, IL

Willa A. S. Marquis, Psychology, River Ridge, LA

Andre P. Martinez, Chemistry, Greenwich, CT

Ashley R. Martinez, Psychology, Las Vegas, NV

William E. McClain, Chemistry, Ridgeland, MS

Nagarajan Nandagopal, Physics, Mountain View, CA

Edward S. Newkirk, Mathematics and Statistics, Charlottesville, VA

Elizabeth C. Pasipanodya, Psychology, Williamstown, MA

Danielle R. Perszyk, Biology, Muskego, WI

Lauren E. Philbrook, Psychology, Hopkington, MA

Natee Pitiwan, Mathematics and Statistics, Torrance, CA

Hannah L. Ratcliffe, Biology, Austin, TX

Adrianna K. San Roman, Chemistry, Belle Terre, NY

Rahul A. Shah, Mathematics and Statistics, Santa Barbara, CA

Leah E. Shoer, Chemistry, Lancaster, MA

Quinlan L. Sievers, Biology, Baltimore, MD

Catherine O. E. Small, Biology, Jersey City, NJ

Charles L. Soucy, Biology, Rockwood, ME

Benjamin J. Swimm, Biology, Madison, WI

Bret R. Thacher, Mathematics and Statistics, Studio City, CA

Jessica A. Walthew, Biology, Ardmore, PA

Yvette L. Wang, Biology, Saratoga, CA

Caleb D. Weatherly, Chemistry, Cincinnati, OH

Danielle B. Zentner, Geosciences, N. Huntingdon, PA


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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted.
To visit the college on the Internet:www.williams.edu