WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., June 24, 2008 -- Forty-five members of the Williams College Class of 2008 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 45 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. (See www.williams.edu/go/sciencecenter/sigma xi/index.html.)

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

Astronomy
Anne E. Jaskot, Burke, Va.
Adam J. McKay, Adams, Mass.

Biology
Emily J. Brown, Lake Placid, N.Y.
Shannon Y. Chiu, Woodbridge, Conn.
Mildred Duvet,  Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jason C. Fan, Falmouth, Maine
Emily E. Greenberger, Sewickley, Pa.
Didem Ilter, Boston, Mass.
Arianne S. Morrison, Teaneck, N.J.
Sarah G. Nowakowski, Mequon, Wis.
Ana E. Pacheco-Navarro, El Paso, Texas
Meghan E. Ramsey,  Groveland, Mass.
David S. Rogawski, Pasadena, Md.
Jonathan A. Stone,  Mequon, Wis.
Sesh A. Sundararaman, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kimberly T. Taylor, Portsmouth, R.I.
Rose E. Thaisrivongs, Ellisville, Mo.
Charles T. Upton, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Tina Wai-Ting Wong, Rochester, Minn.
Daniel J. Wong, Portland, Ore.
Jarrad L. Wood, West Hills, Calif.

Chemistry
Rachel M. Allen, Cataumet, Mass.
Sarah J. Fink, Commack, N.Y.
Katherine M. Peterson, Loveland, Colo.

Computer Science
Benjamin P. Wood, Bethlehem, Conn.

Geosciences
Adam M. Banasiak, Amherst, N.Y.
Ansel J. Bubel, Middletown, N.J.
Kathryn M. Stack, Cheshire, Conn.
Anna A. Weber, Hummelstown, Pa.

Mathematics and Statistics
Michael W. Daub, Claremont, Calif.
Anna E. Ferguson,  Morristown, N.J.
Son L. Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam
Haydee M. Lindo, St. James, Jamaica
Matthew D. Simonson, Washington, D.C.
Wasin Vipismakul, Washington, D.C.
Paul A. Woodard, Buffalo, N.Y.
Sunmi Yang, Madison, Wis.

Physics
Paul W. Hess,     Simsbury, Conn.
Shelby B. Kimmel, Newton, Mass.
Kristen E. Lemons, South Natick, Mass.
Zachary T. Thomas,  Pelham, N.Y.

Psychology
Danielle A. Callaway,    Birmingham, Mich.
Katrina J. Ferrara, Skillman, N.J.
Anna C. Merritt, Williamsburg, Mass.
Erika K. Williams, Fairport, N.Y.


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

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