A new cohort is turning academic curiosity into public purpose with support from The Phi Beta Kappa Society. This spring, the Society named 20 students as its Class of 2026 Key into Public Service Scholars, selected from nearly 800 applicants nationwide. Representing 18 states and a wide range of disciplines, these undergraduates plan to put their arts and sciences education to work in service of the broader good.
As rising juniors and seniors, the Service Scholars span disciplines from biochemistry and mathematics to history, political science, and global affairs, with career goals ranging from state solicitor general to economic policy advisor and global health leader. Each scholar will receive a $7,600 award in honor of the Society’s founding year and participate in a Washington, D.C. educational conference focused on leadership, mentorship, and pathways to active citizenship.
Notably, nine chapter institutions are represented by a Service Scholar for the first time. The Society congratulates the following exceptional students, their families, and chapter institutions:
Saami Baig, Rice University
Veronica Bofah, University of Notre Dame
Sophia Cheng, Northwestern University
Josh Crowley, Pomona College
Shay Doshi, Claremont McKenna College
Bella Faria, Arizona State University
Lillian Gessner, Duke University
Isaiah Johnson, Oberlin College
Ben Jones, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Fiona Lu, University of California, Los Angeles
Aisha Bello Makama, State University of New York at Buffalo
Angeline Morgado, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Trey Murnane, The Catholic University of America
Fareed Salmon, Yale University
Trenton Schroering, University of Kentucky
Benjamin Smith, University of Alabama
Aneesh Swaminathan, Johns Hopkins University
Parmesh Thakoordial, State University of New York at Albany
Finley Warren, Spelman College
Anne Wilber, Grinnell College
As these students step into roles that shape policy and communities, they carry forward a 250-year legacy grounded in curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning. At a moment when support for the arts and sciences is under pressure at the campus, state, and federal levels, their stories make clear what is at stake and why sustaining the arts and sciences matters to everyone.
To learn more about the scholarship and explore the biographies of this year’s scholars, visit pbk.org/KeyintoPublicService. You can also join the Society in advocating for policies that protect and invest in higher education, helping ensure future generations can follow the path of our Service Scholars at toolkit.pbk.org/resources.
By Anne Tria Wise, Senior Director, Policy & Advocacy, and Delainey Boyd-Whaley, Deputy Director, Policy & Advocacy