Scranton

New honor society for biology students established at Scranton

Penn State Scranton's newest academic honor society, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, held its inaugural induction for the campus' Rho Beta Rho chapter earlier this month and inducted 13 members, some of whom are shown here with the campus' biology faculty members. Credit: Amy Gruzesky / Penn State. Creative Commons

DUNMORE, Pa. – Thirteen biology students and one biology program alumnus were recently inducted into Penn State Scranton’s newest national honor society, Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta), Rho Beta Rho Chapter.

Associate professors of biology Dale Holen, Meg Hatch and Megan Van Etten, who also serves as the biology program coordinator, helped get the new biological honor society established at the campus, with Holen serving as the adviser for the group.

Associate Professor of Physics Asif ud-Doula gave a special scientific presentation to the inductees and the friends, family, faculty and staff present.

Dave Royer, a northeast district director for TriBeta and professor of biology at Lincoln University, officiated at the ceremony. He addressed the new inductees, explaining the society’s purpose and its dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and scientific research.

The society’s objectives are to promote undergraduate research in the biological sicences; promote the dissemination of biological knowledge; and promote scholarship in the biological sciences.

Royer then lead the inductees in reciting the official TriBeta pledge, before presenting each student with their official membership certificates. He also presented Holen with a Beta Beta Beta, Rho Beta Rho chapter plaque listing the society’s inaugural 2024 inductees.

The 2024 TriBeta, Rho Beta Rho Chapter members are:

  • Alahanna Balbach
  • Catherine Barbosa
  • Andrew Bauer
  • Morgana Costanzo
  • Amanda Delhagen
  • Abigail Gaebel
  • Michael Gray
  • Deasia Hoop
  • Qussai Odeh* (alumni member)
  • Andrew Oudshoorn
  • Puja Patel
  • Victoria Petrosky
  • Brandon Shotto
  • Cameran Zynel

To qualify for membership, students must:  be an undergraduate in a biological science degree program; have completed at least one term of the second year of a four-year curriculum; have completed at least three semester courses in biological science, of which at least one is not an introductory course with an average grade of B or its equivalent in those biology courses; have a B average in all courses; and be in good academic standing.

See photos from the TriBeta induction ceremony at Penn State Scranton's Flickr site.

Beta Beta Beta is a national honor society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. 

Since its founding in 1922, more than 300,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 650 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Last Updated May 28, 2024