ΦΚΦ Member Spotlight

Initiated at the University of the Philippines in June 2018 while working on a master’s degree in public administration, Maria Pilar Lorenzo is now a Ph.D. candidate at Ghent University's Centre for Higher Education Governance. She also holds a master's degree in international politics and an advanced master's degree in cultures and development studies from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Originally from Quezon City, Philippines, Maria has a strong sense of community and has been volunteering since an early age. From visits to orphanages and homes for the elderly to university cleanups, she maintains a busy community service schedule. “All in all, I am grateful for these experiences because they have taught me a lot that I think I will not learn elsewhere,” said Maria.

Maria is a full-time doctoral researcher at Ghent University and is fascinated with examining issues relating to higher education regionalization, governance and social inequities. She has been recognized by the Young Southeast Asia Leader's Initiative (YSEALI) as one of the 2021 Women Leaders in Southeast Asia for her work in the field of education.

Let’s get to know Maria!

What does Phi Kappa Phi membership mean to you?
Being part of the honor society is, to a certain extent, a validation of one’s achievements, which may have required lots of sacrifices and hard work on the part of the student. In my case, I joined Phi Kappa Phi during my graduate studies for my first master’s degree. My transition to graduate school happened after some years spent in non-governmental organizational work, and I must say the shift from development work to academic life was not that easy.

Who inspires you?
On top of my list of sources of inspiration are my parents. As I pick up more years, I have realized more and more that my parents are quite special. There are many inspiring people out there, but to me, I have not met any other people like my parents.

What is your favorite type of coffee/tea?
My favorite is bubble milk tea!

What was your favorite subject in school?
When I was in grade school, I remember I liked astronomy. I was fascinated by knowing things beyond planet Earth. Later in life, I particularly enjoyed my philosophy classes.

What is your favorite movie?
I really do not have a favorite movie but enjoyed Babeth’s Feast. Having an interest and a fascination toward arts, I think that movie is a treat and a tribute to all artists. Something is appealing in the way the movie demonstrates how great the passion of an artist could be. As a character in the movie says, “Give me a chance to do my very best.” I think that is powerful.

What is the most exciting part of your job?
The most exciting part of being a researcher is when a research question pops into my mind and eventually finding out that it has not yet been covered in the literature. I find it exhilarating to, at least, try contributing to the advancement of scholarship and science.

What is something you find challenging about your work?
As a researcher, the whole process of research can be quite daunting because we really do not know how the project will unfold. We may try to plan well, but to a certain extent, we do not know how the project will turn out. I guess that is what makes doing research exciting.

What is your most-used productivity hack?
I try starting a task as early as I can, and I do not check my phone nor surf the net unnecessarily when I am at the peak of my working hours.

What motivates you at work?
Doing something grander than myself is a crucial motivating factor for me. I try to do my research to the best of my ability because I want to contribute to a greater understanding of social issues, such as higher education regionalization. I am hopeful that relevant stakeholders in a position to introduce policies and initiate institutional changes will pick up the research I generate.

What is your least favorite chore around the house?
The funny thing is that I used to be a certified cook, but I do not enjoy cooking. I would rather read.

To learn more about Maria and connect, visit her 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.

New Member Benefit: Citizens Bank

The Society is excited to announce our partnership with Citizens to support students funding their college dreams. Members and their families could get up to a $1,000 principal credit reduction on an educational finance loan or up to $500 for an in school loan. In addition, members could reduce their interest rate up to 0.50% with Loyalty and Automatic Payment Discounts and save with no application, origination, disbursement or prepayment fees. See your rate and potential savings in under 2 minutes, with no impact to your credit score.

Undergraduates – As the primary borrower, students can start building a credit history, usually with a qualified cosigner.

Graduates – Time to get your MBA? Headed to law school? Take advantage of interest rates as low as 1.89% APR.

Parents – Access a better alternative to the Federal PLUS Loan and help minimize your student's debt. Plus, no application fees!

Whether you are researching new student loans or considering refinancing existing loans, turn to one of the oldest financial institutions in the U.S. for help. To learn more and access these new exclusive student lending offers, visit www.CitizensBank.com/PhiKappaPhi.

Questions? Email Jamie Chapman, membership director, at jchapman@phikappaphi.org.

Member Mentions – June 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:

Koushank Harinder Singh Ahuja (State University of New York at Oswego) was chosen as an Oswego Alumni Association's 2021 Outstanding Senior Award recipient. He also received the Dr. I. David Glick Scholarship for Excellence in Communication.

Afaaf Amatullah (Elmhurst University) received the Cureton Award for Service to the Global Community at Elmhurst. She was also named a semi-finalist in the Fulbright U.S. Student Scholar Program.

Lesia L. Crumpton-Young (Tennessee State University) has been named president of Texas Southern University. She joins TSU from her most her most recent post as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Isabella Grasso (Clarkson University) received the Frederica Clarkson Award based on her scholarship and promise of outstanding achievement. The award, along with the Levinus Clarkson Award, are traditionally given to the top two graduating students in the class.

Heather Hulburt Norris (Auburn University) has been named provost and executive vice chancellor at Appalachian State University. Norris joined the school as a faculty member in 2003 and most recently served as the dean of the Walker College of Business.

Judi See (Pennsylvania State University) was promoted to Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories. The position is reserved for 10% of the workforce who have demonstrated the highest level of professional expertise and impact the labs’ mission in unique and noteworthy ways.

Angie Smith (Augusta University) was named the Outstanding Master of Arts in Teaching Student in Middle Grades Education by the Augusta University College of Education. The Outstanding Student Awards are based on high academic achievement, career readiness and character.

Michaela Thompson (California State University-Fullerton) has earned the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's 2021 Outstanding Graduate Award for her enthusiasm, leadership skills and strong academics during her time at CSUF.

California State University-Stanislaus awarded the 2021 Metzger-Geiger Award to two Phi Kappa Phi members for graduating with cumulative 4.0 grade-point averages. They were Marcus Ruddicks, who was an economics major, and Riley Taylor, a liberal studies major with a concentration in Earth science.

Westmont College has named its Outstanding Graduates of 2021. These students honored during the Academic Awards Convocation included several Phi Kappa Phi members. They are Karis Cho, Kendra Dayton, Christine Dubell, Winston Gee, Logan Hodgson, Taylor Jennings, Sharon Ko, Laura Joy Phillips, Olivia Reichwald and Samantha Stroming.

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

Phi Kappa Phi Announces 2021 Literacy Grant Recipients

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi today announced its 2021 Literacy Grant recipients. The grants of up to $2,500 were awarded to 12 Phi Kappa Phi members across the nation.

The Literacy Grant Program, established in 2003, is part of the Society’s robust awards program, which gives more than $1 million each year to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development and member and chapter awards. Drawing from a multidisciplinary society of students and scholars from large and small institutions, the grants help fund projects ranging from traditional reading initiatives to those fostering learning in cultural, digital, health, historical literacy and beyond.

The 2021 recipients and their respective projects are:

• Terry S. Atkinson, Community Literacy Engagement: Imagination Library in a High Poverty North Carolina County
• Sandra Campbell, Middle Tennessee State University Little Free Libraries
• Dave Frantzreb, The Love of Reading
• Shelby L. Garner, Innovation in Digital Learning through an E-Café to Improve Health Literacy among Nursing Students in India
• Mollie Hartup, Honors Helping Future Scholars
• Kelli Hunsucker, Promoting Literacy in Kindergarten Children through Ocean Themed Books and Virtual Story Times
• Dilpreet Kaeley, Rx for Inclusive and Early Literacy
• Will Porter, Music Workshops in Juvenile Detention Centers in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ethiopia
• Aaron Ragsdale, Rabbit Readers
• Muthukrishnan Sathyamoorthy, Born-to-Read Project for East Texas
• Judy Stiles, Joplin Neighborhood Adult Literacy Action Read Student Success Program
• Melissa Williams, The Art of Empowerment: Building Social-Emotional Learning Through Art

“Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to support these worthwhile and wide-ranging literacy programs. We applaud the efforts of our Phi Kappa Phi members who identify needs in their communities and seek to help in a variety of ways through these projects,” said acting Society Executive Director, Traci Navarre.

The winning literacy projects were selected for a grant based on a number of criteria including the project’s scope, student and community involvement, impact, duration and ability to achieve success.

To learn more about this year’s recipients and projects, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/literacy.

Up for Discussion: Community

As we prepare the winter edition of the Phi Kappa Phi Forum, we're asking members to once again contribute their ideas to the theme. We enjoy reading your responses and choosing a sample to share in the print edition of the magazine.

For 2021, the first three editions of Forum centered on the themes of solitude, friendship and family. The winter edition will wrap up the series for the year with a focus on community, and we welcome your feedback. Share your response to our question by replying to this discussion in our online member community Link.

Every community, both large and small, benefits from those willing to give their time to lift it up. Like Phi Kappa Phi, they depend on the ongoing work of volunteers. What's the most memorable volunteer experience you've had, and why?

Responses of no more than three or four sentences are recommended, and we look forward to reading your contributions.

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.

Get Savings on Tech with ΦKΦ Partners

Don't miss out on any of the savings available to active members. Not only can you cash in with discounts from more than 25 corporate partners, you also have access to exclusive offers from our Phi Kappa Phi technology partners on computers, wireless services and more!

Products and Accessories

Dell offers the latest technology including laptops, desktops, gaming, accessories and more. Members can shop the Dell Member Purchase Program to find savings up to 35% on hundreds of items. Visit www.Dell.com/PhiKappaPhi and discounts will be automatically applied to the purchase price. Plus, students can receive up to $200 off select PCs!

HP features a broad line of consumer and commercial products, from notebooks and desktops to printers, accessories and more. Save up to 35% plus take advantage of free shipping! Visit www.HPDirect.com/Member/Phi_Kappa_Phi to get started. Please note, members must register for a new HP account at by clicking the blue Register button before shopping.

Lenovo offers the legendary commercial and consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations and mobile devices, including tablets and smart phones. Society members can save up to 20% year-round and access exclusive monthly offers up to 45%. To shop online, visit www.Lenovo.com/PhiKappaPhi, and click here to access exclusive monthly offers.

Computer Backup

Carbonite ensures your irreplaceable computer files – such as term papers, business documents, photos and more – are securely and automatically saved to the cloud. Plus, you can access them from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Visit www.Carbonite.com and enter promo code PHIKPOFFER10 to receive a 10% discount on any business or personal plan subscription, with additional discounts available for multi-year purchases. Members can also try Carbonite free for 15 days!

Wireless Phone Service

AT&T offers 15% off your monthly wireless phone plan for both existing and new Phi Kappa Phi customers. Please note, retail stores will not honor this discount and you must apply it to your AT&T account by taking the steps listed at this link.

Member benefits are available to active members only and your member login will be required to access many of the discounts listed. Not active? Click here to renew your membership today. For assistance with your login, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman, membership director.

Phi Kappa Phi Wins Three AM&P EXCEL Awards

Phi Kappa Phi recently won three national awards for its marketing and publishing efforts at the 41st Annual AM&P Network EXCEL Awards. The awards recognize excellence and leadership in nonprofit association media, publishing, marketing and communications.

The Society garnered a gold award in the Promotional Content – Annual Report category for its 2019 Annual Report. The report, titled “Realizing a Dream,” featured a stunning design with photos and infographics, stories of Phi Kappa Phi award winners and members, chapter happenings and much more. To read the report, click here.

Also, in the Promotional Content division, the Society’s annual awards mailer, titled “Reaching New Heights,” won a bronze award in the Direct Mail – Single Piece category. The awards mailer is distributed to upwards of 1,200 stakeholders and used throughout the year to promote the Society’s robust awards program which distributes more than $1 million annually.

With a tradition of winning EXCEL Awards for its quarterly magazine, the Phi Kappa Phi Forum, this year was no different taking home a bronze award in the Magazine – Editorial/Opinion category for “Second Thoughts on Second Thoughts,” an essay written by Derek Furr in the Fall 2020 edition about teaching during the pandemic. To read the full article, click here.

The competition, which is open to nonprofit and for-profit associations, annually draws hundreds of contestants from around the nation. This year 240 awards were presented across 82 categories. Learn more about AM&P and the EXCEL Awards at http://www.siia.net/excel.

Hot Topics for Digital Entertainment This Summer

Are you heading out on a road trip and need the perfect new podcast to help pass the time? Maybe you're ready to dive into a bucket of popcorn at your neighborhood theater and enjoy a movie on the big screen. Society members are sharing their favorite podcasts, movies and shows in our exclusive Link community as we head into summer, and we invite you to join the conversation to share your own or grab some new ideas.

Find a new favorite from fellow members who swapped recommendations of their favorite podcasts, movies and shows.

Podcasts

• Dirty John – This true crime podcast based on the life of John Michael Meehan is quite the hit among members garnering more recommendations than any other mentioned.
• Ed Mylett Show – Adiela Suarez Ramos, from our Florida International University chapter, named this as a favorite personal development podcast. It highlights guests at the top of their game in all industries for motivation and inspiration.
• Radiolab – This program produced at WNYC in New York City and broadcast on public radio takes a deep dive into tough topics such as science and ethics. Its award-winning style and sound have made it a favorite with hundreds of archived episodes available to enjoy.

Movies

• Horror – Do you like being scared? You're in good company. The Conjuring series got the biggest shout out among Society horror fans. (New this summer: A Quiet Place II)
• Musicals – From Grease to Moulin Rouge, musicals remain at the top of the list for many folks. What gets you singing in your seat? (New this summer: In the Heights)
• Superhero – Are you on team Marvel or DC? Marvel movies both old and new came out on top among members who love a great superhero story. (New this summer: Black Widow)

Shows

• The Big Bang Theory – Our favorite physicists spent 12 years working their way into viewers' hearts and still draw people back to watch again and again. Briana Wiebe, from San Jose State University, considers it one of her favorites.
• WandaVision – The Marvel Universe scores big again with this miniseries which follows two of their characters as they try to maneuver suburban life and conceal their true nature.
• Schitt's Creek – Multiple recommendations came in to check out the wealthy Rose family and their misadventures after losing their fortune. You'll fall in love with them as they fall in love with the tiny town of Schitt's Creek.

What are your favorites? We want to hear from you! 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.

Love of Learning Award Deadline is June 30

Do you need funding to attend a conference, support dissertation research or pay for textbooks? Let Phi Kappa Phi help with a Love of Learning Award!

Two hundred awards, at $500 each, are available to active Phi Kappa Phi members to help fund post-baccalaureate studies and/or career development including graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, travel related to teaching/studies and more.

The deadline to submit an application is June 30. Applications are open to all active (dues current) Phi Kappa Phi members who:

• Have completed their baccalaureate studies by June 30
• Have not received a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, Dissertation Fellowship or Award of Excellence grant
• Are not a sitting Society board member, divisional vice president, member of the Love of Learning Award committee or Society employee.

For more information, check out the FAQs and Love of Learning fact sheet. Ready to apply? Click here!

If you have additional questions, contact Kelli Partin, awards manager, at kpartin@phikappaphi.org.

Don't Miss Out! Enter the Grad Photo Contest Today

The deadline to enter our Graduation Photo Contest is rapidly approaching. Get yours entered before June 30 for a chance to win a Dell laptop or an Amazon gift card and to be featured in Society materials.

Whether you wore Phi Kappa Phi graduation regalia at your commencement ceremony or donned them for a fabulous photoshoot, send us your best shots today! Please limit your submission to no more than five photos. High resolution images (JPEG or PNG) are preferred.

The first-place winner will receive a Dell Inspiron 15 3000 laptop, second place will receive a $100 Amazon gift card, and third place will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

Click here for more details including official rules and submissions from previous graduation photo contests.

Questions? Contact Alyssa Papa at apapa@phikappaphi.org.

Forum Features: Friendship

The latest edition of the Phi Kappa Phi Forum will be arriving in your mailbox soon. The summer edition's theme of "Friendship" continues our 2021 series, which began with solitude and will continue later this year with family and community. The featured stories, regular columnists, and even our custom crossword puzzles will all dive deeper into those ideas.

The feature articles in the summer edition discuss:

A Remarkable Capstone – Mary Todd reflects on her recent retirement as executive director of Phi Kappa Phi, which included healthy growth for the Society.

Friendship in Five Acts – Friendship comes in many forms, acclaimed essayist and novelist Stephanie Powell Watts tells readers. What ultimately endures is the feeling of connection.

A Bond Cut Short – Across a racial divide, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were growing a friendship, scholar James Tackach writes. An assassin dealt it a dastardly blow.

Unlikely Comrades – A wildlife tracker and a data scientist had obvious differences. But in their quest to save the Florida panther, Craig Pittman writes, the pair became close.

Picture This – We asked Society members to share photos of friendship during the pandemic. Their images reveal the resilience of human connection in challenging times.

As always, we welcome letters to the editor, member news, poetry submissions and story ideas for upcoming themes. Visit our Forum page to learn more.

2021 Goals Revisited – Time for a Midyear Checkup

With each new year comes new personal goals. As January gets rolling, so do many of our annual resolutions to improve our lives and the world around us. But what happens midyear? How are you doing with your goals for 2021?

Did you add to your plans or dream up a new idea? Have some proven to be better set aside for now? How about marking them off the list – have some gotten a big check mark of completion already? We want you to join the conversation in our exclusive members only Link community.

Mind – Are you working through your reading list? Nathalie Perez (Florida International University) plans to reach her goal of reading 12 books this year by completing one each month.

Body – Have you made time for regular exercise? Binoy George (The University of Texas at Arlington) hopes to be able to swim 200 yards without stopping.

Work – How are things going with your career plans for 2021? Jillian Waddell (East Carolina University) has set a goal of starting a new business before the end of the year.

Play – Have you blocked off some time for fun? S. Dawn Lesperance (Idaho State University) is ready for a vacation, even if it's just a little one.

Relationships – Are you connecting with friends and family as hoped? Shanandoah Sterling (Northern Arizona University) hopes to visit family that she missed seeing during the pandemic.

Tell us how it's going! Visit the community today. 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.

From the Executive Director: A Last Word

Dear Friends of Phi Kappa Phi,

As I write, I am winding down after nine years as executive director of Phi Kappa Phi. What a rewarding experience it has been to move from higher ed administration to leadership of an organization that supports higher education in such a significant way.

Along the way, I’ve met many of you, at conventions or workshops or on campus visits. Whether invited to speak at an initiation or on a site visit to a prospective chapter or installing a new chapter, the opportunity to gather with members who share the Society’s commitment to excellence is always a joy.

A special thanks to the hundreds of you who serve or have served as chapter officers. Our membership numbers are due to you, as it is you who encourage students and faculty colleagues to accept our invitation to membership. The Society will need you more than ever in the future.

Thanks, too, to those who have served on national committees. Each biennium we receive expressions of interest from more volunteers than there are committee slots available. Most are award selection committees — a member of one recently wrote to say how meaningful he found committee service: “the experience of this volunteer effort has been one of the most interesting and rewarding I have had.” Engaging members as volunteers is central to our success as an organization.

The members with whom I have worked most closely are, of course, those who serve on the board of directors. I have been gratified for their support of the multiple projects developed to effect the strategic initiatives we outlined together in my first biennium, and I have been fortunate to partner with a number of gifted board leaders to advance the Society’s mission of excellence.

The daily operations of the Society depend on the focused efforts of the staff at the national office. It has been a pleasure to serve alongside my staff colleagues. The assistance they provide to members and chapters is an incalculable asset to the organization’s standing.

All of us, together, are the community of scholars to which our mission statement refers. And all of us, together, are members of the most prestigious all-discipline collegiate honor society. Our active membership of over 100,000 includes women and men who span five generations, who live in every state and beyond our national borders, whose fields of study and life’s work reflect a rich diversity.

Amid that diversity, what our community shares is commitment to the principle on which Phi Kappa Phi was founded nearly 125 years ago — the love of learning. Here’s to keeping lit what Einstein called the “holy curiosity of inquiry.”

Thank you for being a friend.

Boost Your Travel Plans with ΦKΦ Partners

With the first days of summer right around the corner, it's time to start planning the trip you've been waiting for. When you're ready to head out, our partners are ready to help you make the best of your budget. Save money with exclusive discounts on hotels, car rentals, theme park, sports and theater tickets, and more!

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Travel Discount Program – Active members and their friends and family can access a worldwide inventory of hotels, rental cars and entertainment at discounted rates. Book before Sept. 30 and you will be entered into a drawing to win your booking for free! Click here to book today.

We encourage you to make the most of your membership by taking advantage of these great discounts. Please note, member benefits are available to active members only, and your login will be required to access many of the webpages listed above. Questions? Contact Jamie Chapman, membership director.