Congratulations to our Graduation Photo Contest Winners

Phi Kappa Phi is excited to announce the winners of the Fall 2020 Graduation Photo Contest. The top 10 photos received more than 800 votes in total!

Congratulations to Rachel Grant, from Louisiana State University, who was selected as the first-place winner. As the first-place recipient, Grant received a $100 Amazon gift card. Naiara da Rocha, from Florida International University, was awarded second place and a $50 Amazon gift card. Third went to Jefanda Price, from Georgia Southern University, who received a $25 Amazon gift card.

Watch for the winning entries, along with other submissions, to appear in various Phi Kappa Phi marketing and promotional materials. And stay tuned for details about the Spring Graduation Photo Contest, which will open in May.

To see all photos entered into the contest, visit our Flickr page.

ΦKΦ Member Spotlight

Hailing from Watkinsville, Georgia, Chip Chambers was initiated in April 2017 at the University of Georgia. In 2019, he received a bachelor’s degree in biology and economics with a minor in health policy and management, and he is currently enrolled in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Chip has been recognized for his academic accomplishments and service to his community with multiple awards, including the Deer Run Fellowship, Tucker Dorsey Memorial Award, University of Georgia Mid-Term Foundation Fellowship, and the Marcus L. Urann Fellowship.

Chip has a passion for volunteer work and credits his volunteer experiences with changing his view of our health care system. He previously served as the night clinic manager at Mercy Health Center, a faith-based health clinic that provides comprehensive health care to uninsured patients, and currently volunteers with Esperanza Health Center, a similar clinic located in Philadelphia.

When asked to share a short bio, Chip replied that he loves Phi Kappa Phi, puns, people, podcasts, the pigskin, propitiation, process improvement, peaches, Planet Earth (the TV series and the place), and his grandma’s jalapeño cornbread muffins.

Let’s get to know Chip!

1. What are your three favorite podcasts?
   1) "Ask Pastor John" is a podcast in which one of my favorite theologians, John Piper, answers crucial questions about faith in under 15 minutes. 2) "The Drive" is produced by Dr. Peter Attia, in which he delves into the complex physiological underpinnings of nutrition, exercise and wellness. 3) "Planet Money" is an entertaining and engaging introduction to pop economics


2. What’s your favorite holiday?
   As a UGA football fan, I can only answer “Saturdays in Athens.” These are the days we have home football games each fall.


3. What’s the last thing you read?
   I’m currently reading 3 books. The first is The Second Mountain by David Brooks. The second is What is Reformed Theology? by the late R.C. Sproul, a wonderful primer on a systematic view of doctrine known as “reformed theology.” Lastly, I am reading Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development, a seminal work that seeks to lay out both academic and practical frameworks for what effective holistic charity work does, avoiding the common pitfalls of savior complexes, dependency and the like.


4. Who do you admire most in the world?
   I most admire my mom. She homeschooled me and my three sisters and is the shining example of both work ethic and compassion. She is both brilliant and thoughtful, and there is definitely a difference between the two.


5. What’s the best vacation you have ever taken?
   Two summers ago, I rented a van with eight of my best friends and we toured about a dozen national parks. I love spending time outdoors and the sites were absolutely stunning. I think that as people we experience deep joy when we can stand before something majestic and just feel wonderfully small. I think we were made to feel that way.


6. Do you have a favorite type of exercise?
   I enjoy anything with people. While I sometimes run or exercise on my own, my discipline isn’t quite strong enough to really get me going most of the time! Once people are gathered though, it’s not hard to convince me to play some basketball, Frisbee, soccer, Spikeball, etc.


7. What's your favorite board game?
   I absolutely love board games of many types. A few of my favorites include Codenames, Fish Bowl and Mastermind (an old family favorite). I’ve also been playing Pandemic since before it became unfortunately ironic.


8. A genie gives you three wishes—what are they?
   1) Lead an integrated health care system with emphases on patient-centered, evidence-based, value-driven, whole-person care for everyone. (Is that enough buzzwords?) 2) Be a kind, curious person who thinks of others more than himself and glorifies his God. 3) Watch UGA’s football team win a national championship.


9. What's your go-to midnight snack?
   I consider myself a semi-professional snacker, so I am ready for this one. In my healthier moments, I love blueberries, blackberries and bananas. But normally I’m turning to ice cream, sour gummy worms, and chips and salsa. One of my roommates and I have started a tradition of eating popsicles and watching TV the night before a medical school exam, so you could say med school is really making us role models of healthy behavior.


10. What was the first thing you wanted to be when you grew up?
    My mother tells the story of walking into my bedroom one night when I was about five years old to find me sobbing in bed. Upon asking what was wrong, I confessed through tears “Mom, I don’t know how I’m going to decide whether to go to the NBA or NFL.” I still haven’t been able to make that decision.

To learn more about Chip and connect, visit his profile within our online member community, here.

Is there someone you would like to see in the spotlight? Send your nomination to engagement@phikappaphi.org and be sure to include basic information for the nomination.

Award Application Tips: Six Steps to Success

At Phi Kappa Phi, award season is here, and we want to help you put your best foot forward as you submit an application to our awards program. Whether you're applying for a $500 Love of Learning Award or for one of our Fellowships worth up to $35,000, we can help you prepare an application that rises above the rest. Find the award that's right for you, then use these steps to lead you to success!

Establish Eligibility – Check the award's criteria to make sure you are eligible and be sure your membership is active and up to date. Click here to log in and verify your membership hasn't expired.

Review Resources – Each award page includes a link to additional resources. Look over the FAQs and supporting documents available there to make sure you're starting off on the right track.

Peruse the Past – The award resource pages above also list past award recipients. Check out their information to read individual bios, project summaries and even view winning applications.

Shop Local – Take advantage of your local resources … is there a national scholarship office on your campus? Local chapter officers can help advise you on your submission!

Share Your Story – Your history is what makes you uniquely you and helps you stand out in a crowd. Talk about your passions and goals. Describe what you've accomplished already, as well as what you hope to achieve in the future. Tell your story to make a compelling connection.

Wow with Writers – Carefully choose professors and mentors who know you well to write your letters of recommendation if one is required for your application. Make sure you explain exactly what you are applying for and provide them with any information they will need. And reach out early – give them plenty of time to submit the letter before it's too late.

Don't Miss Deadlines – Different awards have different deadlines, so check closely to make sure you don't miss yours. For our Fellowships, each chapter has their own local deadline for compiling student submissions before submitting one to the national competition. Click here to find contact information for your chapter and send an email to determine their specific timeline details.

Click here to learn more about all of our awards or visit our online application portal to get started today.

Questions? Contact Kelli Partin, awards manager, at kpartin@phikappaphi.org or 800-804-9880, ext. 221.

Member Mentions – February 2021

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi's international community is a unique blend of students, academicians, and corporate and civic leaders from all fields of endeavor. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and rewards academic success. That recognition doesn’t end after initiation. From their time in school to their professional career, Society members’ hard work continues to pay off and be acknowledged.

Phi Kappa Phi would like to congratulate these members on their recent achievements:

Kathleen Allison (Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania) has been recognized by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing for her outstanding leadership and service to the board of commissioners. Allison is a health science professor at LHU and has served the commission since 2017.

Will Baxter (Frostburg State University) won an international design competition and was offered a two-year deal with the Australia-based design company, Illustration Room. The company produces artwork for businesses, websites, apps, publications and more. Baxter, a senior fine arts student at FSU, will graduate in May.

Karen Konarski-Hart (Arkansas State University) has earned the highest honor presented by the American Chiropractic Association during their 2021 Annual Awards – Chiropractor of the Year. The award recognizes exceptional service, achievement and leadership within the profession. Konarski-Hart has served in ACA leadership for more than 20 years.

Dennis Livesay (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) has been named dean of Michigan Technological University’s College of Computing. He previously served as dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State University.

David McBeth (University of Tennessee at Martin) was asked to serve as the annual Phi Kappa Phi Muriel Tomlinson Memorial Lecture keynote speaker at UT Martin. As a professor of art, McBeth's presentation focused on how homemade objects can impact society in a positive way.

Do you have an accomplishment you’d like to share? Email your member news to news@phikappaphi.org to be considered for inclusion.

GEICO Member Discount

Who doesn’t love saving money? If you are an active Phi Kapp Phi member, you could qualify for a special member discount on GEICO auto insurance.

Why choose GEICO? In business for more than 75 years, GEICO gives you the benefit of great rates on high-quality auto coverage. In addition to a special member discount, you will receive competitive rates tailored to fit your needs, 24-hour service online or by phone, efficient and fair claim handling, and access to the award-winning GEICO Mobile app. With the mobile app, you can relax knowing you have instant access to ID cards, bill pay, roadside assistance and much more!

See how much you could save today by getting a free quote at www.GEICO.com/PhiKappaPhi!

Already a GEICO customer? Simply call 800-368-2734 to find out if you qualify for the member discount, and be sure to mention your membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Please note, some discounts and coverages are not available in all states, and the discount amount varies in some states. If you have questions regarding your eligibility, the discount amount or your auto coverage, please contact GEICO at 800-368-2734.

Share Your "I Made It!" Moment

Do you remember a magical moment when you realized you'd finally made it? Maybe that moment hasn't happened yet but you can imagine what it will be like. In our exclusive, member-only community Link, Danielle Enriquez, a senior at University of Texas at El Paso, asked other members, "What was your 'I made it moment' or how do you envision it will be?" Several members were eager to join the conversation and add their own.

Tamara Costello (Middle Tennessee State University) – I started my academic journey many years ago and had to stop due to some life circumstances including becoming a mom. Determined not to let any obstacle be an excuse, I now have a son in college. He and I go to the same school, and I am finally completing my first degree at age 49. That will be my first real "I made it." Once my master's is completed, that will be my final "I made it moment!"

Flora Jones (The University of Mississippi) – Getting my master's is definitely my "I made it" moment. I graduated high school and went directly into college. I think I completed one semester and got sick during my second one and had to sit out. Almost 10 years later and a child, I returned to school and graduated with my first degree in 2002. I was blessed to finish my [second bachelor's] degree in 2017 alongside one of my daughters by marriage. I will graduate with my master's in the spring of 2021.

Cassiopeia Fletcher (Brigham Young University) – Mine has to be when I got the email from my publisher with the link to my Amazon page with my first book listed – book summary, professional cover, and all. I can't imagine a more "I Made it Moment" than that.

We'd love to hear your memorable moments. Join the conversation in Link. The community is available to active members only, and you will be required to log in with your Phi Kappa Phi credentials. For login assistance, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Not active? Click here to renew your membership and gain access to this exclusive benefit.

Support Phi Kappa Phi by Shopping Amazon

Did you know that you can support Phi Kappa Phi without giving any money? That is right! Your Amazon purchases could generate donations to the Society automatically and at no cost to you.

AmazonSmile is an Amazon program that automatically donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to the charity of your choice. It does not change the price you pay; it simply donates to us.

Which products are eligible for charitable donations?
Tens of millions of products sold through Amazon are eligible for donations. When shopping Amazon, look for eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.

Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.

How do I shop to support Phi Kappa Phi?
Whether you prefer to shop on the Amazon mobile app or a desktop, Amazon makes it simple to support the Society each time you make a purchase.

Shop the Amazon Mobile App
First, in Chrome, Firefox or Safari, click here to make sure you have selected The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi as the charity you wish to support. Then follow the steps below to start supporting us on your mobile app:

1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device and log in.
2. Tap Settings in the main menu.
3. Tap AmazonSmile and follow the on-screen instructions to start giving each time you shop.

Shop Amazon on Your Desktop
Click here to log in to your Amazon account and start shopping. You will see Supporting: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi in the top left corner, and every eligible purchase will generate a donation.

Ensure your purchases always support the Society by installing the Smilematic browser extension. Smilematic was developed to help shoppers who might forget to access Amazon through our AmazonSmile link. It can be installed on Chrome, Firefox and Safari and will automatically route all Amazon shopping experiences through AmazonSmile.

Can I receive a tax deduction for amounts donated from my purchases on AmazonSmile?
Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.

The AmazonSmile Foundation has already donated $237 million to more than one million charitable organizations, so what are you waiting for? Set up AmazonSmile on your desktop or mobile device today and start donating, at no cost to you!

Questions? Email Jamie Chapman, membership director.

Don't Miss Out! Enter Our Friendship Contest and Win

The deadline to enter Phi Kappa Phi's Friendship Contest is drawing near, we don't want you to miss your chance to win a gift card to our online store.

Although the pandemic has changed the way we hang out with our friends, it has not changed the importance of friendship. In the Forum’s upcoming summer issue we will be exploring the theme of friendship. Enter the contest by submitting pictures of you and your best friends weathering the recent months of the pandemic.

Post your photos on this Link thread by Feb. 28 for a chance to be entered to win. Whether it's a clever photo of you visiting at a social distance or maybe you and roommates within your “bubble,” we want to see them!

We’ll share some of them on our social media platforms and plan to publish a few in Forum, too. We hope to start a good conversation about the value of friendship, even – and perhaps especially – in tough times.

Our in-house team of judges will give the member who submits the best picture a $75 gift card to the Phi Kappa Phi Online Store.

In submitting a photo, you agree to let us publish it. Smile! We look forward to hearing from you.

Member Benefit: GRE Prep with The Princeton Review

Are you preparing to take the GRE? If so, our partner, The Princeton Review, is here to help with a variety of resources and tools to make you feel more confident on test day!

On Wednesday, March 3, The Princeton Review will host a free GRE Strategy Webinar for Phi Kappa Phi members. During the one-hour webinar, a Princeton Review instructor will review test content, walk through sample questions and share score-raising strategies to use on test day. There will even be a Q&A session. Learn everything there is to know about the exam and ask all your questions, for free!

The webinar will begin at 7 p.m. CT and is available for anyone to attend, so feel free to share with your friends. Register to reserve your seat today!

If you can’t attend the live webinar, there are plenty of online resources available. Browse free GRE practice tests and events offered by The Princeton Review.

Looking for in-depth review courses, test prep materials or tutoring but don’t want to break the bank? Click here to review resources for the MCAT®, LSAT®, GMAT® and GRE® and save 15% on all classroom, online and self-paced test prep courses, just for being a Phi Kappa Phi member!

Since 2005, our members have trusted The Princeton Review to help them prepare for test day and achieve their academic goals and you can too!

Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman, membership director.

Vote Now! Graduation Photo Contest

Thank you to all who submitted photos to the 2020 Fall Graduation Photo Contest! We received more than 140 submissions of Phi Kappa Phi members proudly wearing Society recognition apparel on their big day.

The competition was top of the line, but after much deliberation the Phi Kappa Phi staff members narrowed the field to 10 outstanding entries. Now we need your help to pick the winners!

Click here to vote now! (Please note the system limits entries to one vote per device/IP address. If you are on a shared network—such as a university or office—it is best to vote via a mobile device or tablet not connected to Wi-Fi.)

Voting closes Monday, Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. The top three winning entries will receive an Amazon gift card and appear in various Society marketing and promotional materials. For the full list of contest rules, click here.

Member Benefit: Save 15% with AT&T

Make the most of your membership by taking advantage of this exclusive benefit. Enjoy a 15% discount on your qualified monthly wireless service, just for being a Phi Kappa Phi member. Sign up for new service or apply the discount to your existing AT&T account—all from the comfort of your own home.

If you’re an existing AT&T wireless customer, enrolling is as simple as 1, 2, 3:

1. Visit www.ATT.com/Wireless/PhiKappaPhi
2. Click Enroll Here located in the blue bar at the top of your screen.
3. Follow the prompts to enter your account information to apply the discount.

To start new service with AT&T, click here to choose your phone and follow the prompts through the checkout process to complete activation. When you place an online order, you’ll enjoy:

• Free shipping and returns
• Flexible return policy
• Free delivery and setup with AT&T Right To You^SM

AT&T Signature Program members can also access AT&T THANKS, an appreciation program for AT&T customers. Enjoy great deals on phones and accessories, gift cards, access to music and sports events, premier customer service and more. Learn more about AT&T THANKS today!

Note, AT&T Signature Program benefits are only available on qualified wireless accounts. Once you sign up online, your discount will automatically appear on your monthly wireless bill within 2 billing cycles.

Want to save more? Your active membership entitles you to more than 25 discounts from the Society’s corporate partners. Visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Discounts for a full listing. Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman, membership director.

Reaching New Heights with Our Top Advice for Fellowship Applicants

Applications for the 2021 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships are now open and will award a total of $615,000 to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study across all academic disciplines. Applicants are invited to apply through their local chapter for the chance at 58 awards including two at $35,000 each, six at $20,000 each and 50 of $8,500. Each active chapter may select one candidate to compete for the Society-wide awards.

To get you started in the right direction, we've created a helpful Applicant 101 guide to download as a valuable resource in the application process. It includes an explanation of the criteria for scoring, as well as bios of recent recipients and copies of their winning applications.

Level up your application with these pieces of advice from our 2020 fellows:

Check your reflection – "Look back on all that you've been able to accomplish through your hard work, professors who challenged you, and communities who supported you; then showcase it. Chances are, you've been able to do a lot, and that deserves to be celebrated!" Callie Whitesell, Berry College

Make it personal – "Make sure to tell a story in your application. Stories are always compelling." Areeb Siddiqui, University of Texas at Dallas

Be passionate – "Be sure you find and articulate your passion and reason for wanting to pursue your degree." Samantha Johnston, University of the Pacific

Consult the experts – "Seek out as much help with your application as possible. Build relationships with faculty members, since that will help you with research opportunities as well as make you a better student." Julian Rome, University of Memphis

Connect the dots – "What do you hope to accomplish, and what impact are you hoping to make within your community? Find ways to highlight how you've been successful and/or are working towards those goals now." Anna Fennell, University of South Florida

Click here for more information, resources and FAQs and start your application today.