WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., June 26, 2007 - Fifty-three members of the Williams College Class of 2007, who demonstrated intellectual initiative and completed extensive research for senior thesis, won membership in Sigma Xi, the international scientific honor society, at the college's June Commencement.

Sigma XI was founded in 1886 as a research society for science and engineering. Its aims are to improve the interaction between science, technology, and society and to celebrate scientific research among the various disciplines.

The 53 Williams seniors join the nearly 75,000 Sigma Xi members in over 500 chapters affiliated with colleges, universities, industrial research centers, and government laboratories.

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

Astronomy

Megan A. Bruck, Tempe, Ariz.

Biology

Elizabeth G. Atkinson, Washington, D.C.

Ian A. Buchanan, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Alden F. Conner, Atherton, Calif.

Merritt P. Edllind, Wyndmoor, Penn.

Julie-Erika M. Haydu, Guilford, Conn.

Sara E. Jablonski, Orchard Park, N.Y.

Tomoki Kurihara, Tokyo, Japan

Margaret W. Lowenstein, Vestal, N.Y.

Jared R. Mayers, Bellevue, Wash.

Auyon Mukhaji, Prairie Village, Kan.

Anne O'Sullivan, Greenwich, Conn.

Elizabeth G. Preston, Syracuse, N.Y.

Devin S. Yagel, Midlothian, Va.

Chemistry

Aashish N. Adhikari, Kathmandu, Nepal

Jessica M. Chung, Honolulu, Hawaii

Williams H. Parsons, Signal Mountain, Tenn.

Andrew P. Platt,, Lake Oswego, Ore.

Daniel L. M. Suess, Spokane, Wash.

Computer Science

Alexandra E. Constantin, Ploiesti, Romania

Michael J. Gnozzio, Flanders, N.J.

Paul N. Stansifer, Melbourne Beach, Fla.

Geosciences

Rebecca L. Lawrence, Wausau, Wis.

Elizabeth L. Pierce, Wilmington, Del.

Kate C. Scheider, Skaneateles, N.Y.

Ashley A. Sewell, St. Louis, Mo.

Samuel E. Tuttle, Concord, N.H.

Mathematics

Katherine A. Baldiga, Hopkinton, Mass.

Colin D. Carroll, West Hartford, Conn.

Shea D. Chen, Taipei, Taiwan

Diana J. Davis, Englewood, Fla.

Jennifer E. James, Hancock, Mass.

Thomas E. Kindred, Columbus, Ohio

Ross D. Kravitz, Philadelphia, Pa.

Kathryn A. Lindsey, Amherst, Mass.

Myron Minn-Thu-Aye, Tai Po, Hong Kong

Conor B. Quinn, Memphis, Tenn.

Brian Z. Simanek, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Physics

Brian J. Munroe, Carlsbad, Calif.

Toby E. Schneider, Woodbridge, Conn.

Arjun Sharma, Kathmandu, Nepal

Owen C. Simpson, Haverford, Penn.

Jared H. Strait, Williamstown, Mass.

Daniel M. Sussman, Houlton, Maine

Psychology

Priyanka Bangard, Kolkata, India

Courtney A. Bearns, Warrenton, Va.

Sarah E. Chuzi, McLean, Va.

Hannah E. Foote, Hartland, Vt.

Emily D. Gladden, Princeton, N.J.

Joanna Korman, Moreland Hills, Ohio

Magali H. Rowan, Newton, Mass.

Gregory B. Walker, Vancouver, Canada

Lauren L. Williamson, Yorktown, Va.

END

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