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Phi Beta Kappa Society

Phi Beta Kappa Society champions academic excellence and the liberal arts, fostering a love of learning and freedom of thought. Founded in 1776, it recognizes scholars and promotes the power of knowledge to inspire meaningful action in society.

On December 5, 1776, a group of students at the College of William &amp; Mary founded Phi Beta Kappa on a simple but enduring conviction:&nbsp;love of learning is the guide of life. Exactly 250 years later, The Phi Beta Kappa Society invites you to commemorate this extraordinary milestone at a special anniversary gala in Washington, D.C. Join us for a dynamic evening bringing together Phi Beta Kappa members, distinguished guests, supporters, and leaders from higher education, philanthropy, the arts and sciences, and civic life. Together, we will celebrate the Society&#39;s remarkable legacy and reflect on the enduring power of knowledge to inspire meaningful action. Hosted at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, the celebration will feature a gala dinner and special program, including remarks from Phi Beta Kappa Secretary and CEO Frederick M. Lawrence. Guests will also enjoy readings and reflections from distinguished poets, including former U.S. Poets Laureate Rita Dove and Tracy K. Smith, and 2021 National Youth Poet Laureate Alexandra Huynh. For two and a half centuries, Phi Beta Kappa has recognized academic excellence, championed the arts and sciences, and fostered freedom of thought. This historic occasion offers an opportunity not only to honor the generations of scholars, thinkers, and leaders who have shaped the Society&#39;s history, but also to look ahead to the next 250 years. We hope you will join us for this once-in-a-generation celebration as we honor our past, celebrate our present, and look toward a future where knowledge continues to inspire action.

Phi Beta Kappa Society

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250th Anniversary Gala

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