QSS major earns Phi Beta Kappa sophomore prize

Thirty top-ranking students from the Class of 2025 were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest honor society, during the Alpha of New Hampshire chapter's 237th annual meeting.

At its meeting. the chapter also awarded the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Prize to 28 members of the Class of 2026. This honor is given to students with the highest grade-point averages after five terms of classes. While these students are not members of Phi Beta Kappa, the award signals that they are on track for induction in the future.

Among this year's recipients of the Sophomore Prize was Benjamin Shaman '26, who is majoring in Quantitative Social Science (QSS).  Ben Shaman is from West Chester, PA, and this quarter is taking classes in AI and Machine Learning (QSS 45), Foundations of Applied Computer Science (COSC 70), and Food & Art: A Global History (ARTH 38.04).

Two years ago, Ben applied early decision to Dartmouth, and he reports that he did this because of the unparalleled access to nature Dartmouth provides as well as the accessibility and flexibility of undergraduate research opportunities. On campus, Ben is the Treasurer of the Ledyard Canoe Club, a member of Assistant Professor of Quantitative Social Science Herbert Chang's computational social science lab, and a frequent visitor and employee of the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge.  In his spare time, Ben runs his own pop-up restaurant serving creative, seasonal meals to students and community members.