Dean Tate Scholar Chantal Van Landeghem

Georgia swimmer Chantal Van Landeghem was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and was named the organization's 2016 Dean William Tate Scholar:

The Dean William Tate Scholar is an award given annually to an outstanding inductee of Phi Beta Kappa, having earned a perfect 4.0 in his or her field of study. Van Landeghem, a senior studying psychology, is Georgia's first-ever student-athlete to receive the award.

"Today means so much," Van Landeghem said. "I've always taken my academics very seriously and they've been a top priority for me. To be recognized for that today and to be able to congratulate all the inductees was a huge honor. Today definitely ranks very high (in all my accomplishments)."

In her remarks to newly inducted members, Van Landeghem reflected on her swimming career and the successes and failures she has faced throughout her lifetime. She challenged fellow inductees to pursue what they are passionate about and use grit and determination to reach their goals.

All three student-athletes inducted into Phi Beta Kappa are Franklin College students:

Other student-athletes inducted into Phi Beta Kappa were fellow swimmer Patrick Humphreys and equine Liza Finsness.

Humphreys is a junior from Athens studying biochemistry, molecular biology and Spanish. He was chosen for the SEC Academic Honor Roll during his freshman and sophomore years and serves as one of the swimming and diving representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

 

Finsness, a senior from Wellington, Florida, is studying biology. She was named the 2015-16 SEC Rider of the year on Equitation on the Flat and was named First-Team NCEA Academic All-American.

Student-athletes are truly remarkable people, maintaining what amounts to a full-time occupation while being students and, well, just look at those majors. That is commitment - to the university, to themselves, to their families, to confidence in their future. Wonderful people, of whom we are very proud. Congratulations on all you have achieved.