Leonardtown, MD- Emilie Garrabrant, a senior at St. Mary’s Ryken High School and member of the Class of 2025, has been awarded the prestigious Book Award by the Phi Beta Kappa Zeta Chapter at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The honor recognizes a graduating senior from each of St. Mary’s County’s four high schools who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
During the 27th annual ceremony on November 12 at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Emilie was presented with three books: Silk Ribbon Embroidery Chinese Style by Yuan Weilin, Puppet Flower, A Novel of 1867 Formosa by Yao-Chang Chen, and Co-Intelligence, Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick. The books were selected to reflect her academic and personal interests.
A standout in the Global and International Studies Scholars Program, Emilie has excelled in economics, world history, and philosophy. Her numerous awards include the Zonta Young Woman in Public Affairs Award, the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, the Princeton Prize in Race Relations Certificate, a Congressional Award Medal, and the Scholastic Arts and Writing Gold Key.
Her academic achievements extend beyond St. Mary’s Ryken. Emilie is fluent in English, Mandarin, Indonesian, and Spanish, and her linguistic skills have earned her multiple accolades. She was named a China Scholar through the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education, resulting in a peer-reviewed publication. Additionally, she participated in a Mandarin study abroad program in Taiwan through the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth. Emilie also studied Bahasan Indonesian through a program hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Emilie has made significant contributions to her community. She founded the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site program in St. Mary’s County to assist low-to-moderate-income taxpayers with filing their tax returns. She also plays an active role in the DC-Maryland-Virginia Chapter of Encode Justice, where she works to advise academics and industry professionals on ethical and safety issues related to artificial intelligence.
In addition to her academic and civic achievements, Emilie served as a team fundraising co-chair for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, helping raise $88,533 with her teammates.
The Phi Beta Kappa Zeta Chapter at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, which has recognized academic excellence since its establishment in 1997, highlighted the achievements of Emilie and three other high school seniors at its annual book awards ceremony. Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, is dedicated to fostering and celebrating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.
For more information on Phi Beta Kappa and the Zeta Chapter at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, visit St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
