Nov. 29, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina senior Heather Kendell, a member of UNC's national championship field hockey team, has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. A midfielder from Chapel Hill, Kendell was among 123 Carolina students honored in a ceremony on Nov. 19, a day after she helped the Tar Heels to a 3-0 win over Penn State in the NCAA title game.

An exercise and sport science major, Kendell played in 22 games during the 2007 season, starting six. She scored three goals and had five assists. During her career, she has earned spots on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Field Hockey Team and the NFHCA National Academic Squad. She also has been named to the Dean's List and the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

Phi Beta Kappa membership is open to undergraduates in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences and professional degree programs who meet stringent eligibility requirements. A student who has completed 75 hours of course work and has a grade-point average of 3.85 (on a 4-point scale) or better is eligible for membership. Also eligible is any student who has competed 105 hours of course work and has a 3.75 grade-point average. Less than one percent of all college students qualify to be members.

Past and present Phi Beta Kappa members from across the country have included six American presidents, 12 U.S. Supreme Court justices and numerous artistic, intellectual and political leaders. There are 270 Phi Beta Kappa chapters nationwide. UNC's chapter, Alpha of North Carolina, was founded in 1904 and is the oldest of six chapters in the state.