Congratulations to our Graduation Photo Contest Winners

Phi Kappa Phi is excited to announce the winners of the Spring 2021 Graduation Photo Contest. The top 10 photos received almost 1,200 votes in total!

Congratulations to Zane Samarasinghe, from San Jose State University, who was selected as the first-place winner. As the first-place recipient, Samarasinghe received a Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Laptop. Terrence Dela Pena, from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, was awarded second place and a $100 Amazon gift card. Third went to Henry Thiry, from Western Michigan University, who received a $50 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 Fall Graduation Photo Contest, which will open in December.

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

ΦΚΦ Member Spotlight

Joshua Berry's journey began in Minnesota in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and landed him near the Jersey Shore. Along the way, he earned bachelor's degrees in philosophy and religion from Truman State University and computer information systems from Missouri Western State University. He is on track to finish a master's degree in history this coming spring at Fort Hays State University where he was initiated into the Society earlier this year.

Having been born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Joshua's childhood was spent swimming every summer and skating every winter in the abundant lakes of his home state – a water-filled experience that led to him becoming a lifeguard later in life. During his youth, his family moved to Illinois, Indiana and finally Missouri, where he finished high school and started college at Truman.

Joshua is the director of technical services at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey, just minutes from the Jersey Shore. He also preaches in his home church and volunteers with local churches and Christian ministries by leading worship services and study groups as well as providing mentorship to other men.

Let’s get to know Joshua!

Is there a book has influenced you most?
Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll was very influential in my life. I was raised in a Christian Evangelical home, and this book had a massive impact on my perspective, and it widened the horizons of my life. Other books by Charles Finney, David Rock, Howard Schultz and Phil Knight have been influential in my life as well.

What is your favorite smell?
There is an even tie with three smells: lilacs in the summer, evergreen trees in the deep of the forest and my grandmother’s house in Northern Minnesota.

During your childhood, what did you want to become once you grew up?
Maybe a fireman or an astronaut. I thought they were both pretty cool and amazing!

What are your favorite hobbies?
My hobbies include playing guitar, reading histories and biographies, putting together eclectic and diverse music playlists, playing disc golf with my wife and most recently sculling in Navesink River here in Red Bank, New Jersey.

What do you listen to on your commute to work?
I listen to audio books, Apple Music and Spotify playlists, the Bible app and influencing sermons of people that I follow.

When are you the happiest?
I’m happiest in a very loud and well-done worship/music/concert atmosphere, whenever and wherever that happens; watching a movie that is well-done, artistic, and deeply creative like Tenet, Inception, or Ford v Ferrari; or when I see people raised up into new leadership roles that empower them and light them up.

What do you know about your family’s origins?
My grandparents were a mix of German, on my dad’s side, and Norwegian, on my mom’s side, but they were born in the United States. My parents both had large families with six to seven brothers and sisters each and were all from Minnesota.

What was the last TV show you binge-watched?
Dr. Death on Peacock TV. It was a fascinating story of a real life, overly arrogant deviant hiding in plain sight.

How do you stay motivated?
I give plenty of room to the diversity of my interests and pursuits. I meditate and pray, and I slow down and relax whenever I need to so I can return to full speed again.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Never stop pursuing the things in your heart, and never, never, never quit.

To learn more about Joshua 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.

Member Mentions – July 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:

Denise Lester (San Jose State University) has been recognized by the New Jersey Library Association with an Innovative Program Award for heading up the Global E-Pals Club at the Westwood Free Public Library in Westwood, New Jersey. The program connected Westwood elementary students to international students, as well as offered guest speakers and local programs to highlight countries around the world.

Kavita Malstead (Berea College) was named as a National Scholar by the James Beard Foundation. The scholarships are awarded to 12 food-focused individuals across the country. Malstead is pursuing a master of gastronomy degree at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy.

David Miller (Northeastern University) has earned the Joyna Bozzoto Award from Boston Partners in Education. The awards recognize the mentors, educators and students who go above and beyond to enrich learning in Boston Public Schools. Miller has volunteered with BPIE for five years and serves as a mentor to high schoolers.

Dan Sandweiss (University of Maine) has been honored with UMaine's College of Liberal Arts and Science 2021 Award for Service and Outreach. The award is given to a faculty member who is strong in all areas of their position and has made extraordinary accomplishments specifically in service and outreach at the school.

David Wallace (Murray State University) was selected to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching program. Through the JET program, he will work as an assistant teacher of English in a Japanese school for a minimum of one year.

Five Angelo State University Belles tennis players were named 2020-21 NCAA Division II Scholar-Athletes. They include Society members Zoe Gubbels and Anna Schneemann. The Belles also won their second straight Lone Star Conference Championship this spring.

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

Test Prep with Phi Kappa Phi Partners and Peers

Are you researching graduate schools? Maybe you're planning ahead for an admissions test. Find the perfect school to fit your needs and improve your test scores by taking full advantage of these resources from Society partners and your Phi Kappa Phi peers!

Becker Professional Education – Our members can save $300 when registering for all four parts of the Becker CPA Review Course at the same time. Click here to find out how to get your discount or to take advantage of Becker's 0% Student Financing for CPA Exam Review.

Link community – In our exclusive community, members are sharing their key advice for preparing for comprehensive exams. Join the conversation to see what others suggest as you approach the big day or share your own tried-and-true tips for test prep.

The Princeton Review – Phi Kappa Phi members, friends and family can save up 15% on The Princeton Review courses and tutoring for the ACT, SAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT and more! For more than 35 years, students have trusted The Princeton Review to help them get into their dream schools. Click here to get more info and achieve your academic goals.

U.S. News – Society members can save 20% on one full year of unlimited Grad Compass by U.S. News to help you find the perfect grad school to suit your needs. Their expanded data for law, business, engineering, education, medical and nursing programs includes average salaries for graduates, test scores for students, available financial aid and more.

Many Society benefits and our exclusive Link community are 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 these exclusive benefits today!

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Awards 2021 Fellowships

Phi Kappa Phi today announced the recipients of its 2021 Fellowships. The fellowships, totaling $649,000, were awarded to 62 of the nation’s top scholars at institutions with an active chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.​

Established in 1932, the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship has become the Society’s signature award, providing funding for the first year of graduate or professional study. This year’s program awarded two awards at $35,000 each, the 1897 Fellowship and the Sherrill Carlson Fellowship; six $20,000 Marcus L. Urann Fellowships, named for the Society’s founder; and 54 fellowships of $8,500 each.​

"Phi Kappa Phi Fellows represent the most promising graduate students in the nation. We’re proud to partner with our local chapters to recognize these impressive emerging scholars and help support their academic journey,” said acting Society Executive Director, Traci Navarre.​

The 2021 class of fellows represents students from more than 60 colleges and universities across the nation. The recipients—drawn from all academic disciplines—are pursuing post-baccalaureate programs of study ranging from science and engineering to arts and humanities.​

The selection process for a fellowship is based on the applicant’s evidence of graduate potential, undergraduate academic achievement, service and leadership experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement of educational perspective and career goals, and acceptance in an approved graduate or professional program.​

Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships are part of the Society’s robust awards program, which gives more than $1 million each year to outstanding members and students on chapter campuses through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.​

To see the complete list of 2021 Phi Kappa Phi Fellows, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/2021Fellowships.

The Perfect 10: Rewards Earned, a Decade in the Making

Ten recipients. Ten thousand dollars each. For members in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral studies, the Society's Dissertation Fellowship can be a game changer. When applications open in October, will you be next?

When Thomas Herbst applied for the Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship last year, he was working his way through his study of volcanoes at the University of Missouri. While researching pressure associated with volcanic activity, his need to relieve a bit of personal financial pressure was mounting. He turned to the Society's million-dollar-a-year awards program for help.

"Prior to earning a place at Mizzou, I was employed as a geologist with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources," said Herbst. "I was sincerely passionate about every aspect of being a geologist for the state. However, my interest to conduct original research and make a genuine contribution to the field went unsatisfied." That desire to return to academia also brought with it the additional costs associated with the research.

The selection process for a dissertation fellowship examines how the fellowship will contribute to the completion of the dissertation, the significance of original research, and endorsement by the dissertation chair. Recipients receive $10,000 to apply toward 12 months of dissertation writing.

Herbst was named one of the 2021 Dissertation Fellows earlier this year. "I am so grateful and honored," he said. "This has been ten years in the making, and since my initiation in 2010, it has never left my thoughts that the generous benefits and opportunities for graduate students offered by Phi Kappa Phi could one day be put to good use."

What's the best part of Society membership for him? "The fervent and unwavering dedication to honoring academic excellence across all disciplines is, in my humble opinion, what makes Phi Kappa Phi stand out. On the day of graduation, I will be extremely proud to wear the Phi Kappa Phi regalia."

To learn more about the program or to sign up for a reminder when it opens, click here. Questions? Contact Kelli Partin, awards manager, at kpartin@phikappaphi.org.

Forum 15: Community

With each edition of the Society's Forum magazine, "Forum 15" highlights elements of popular culture related to the theme. Our goal is to affirm that the ideas we discuss in Forum have a vivid presence in our daily lives – in the books we read, the shows we watch, the songs we sing, the movies we see, and the buildings we admire.

As we prepare for the winter edition focusing on community, we'd love your suggestions for items to include in "Forum 15." Is there a movie, book, painting, sculpture or piece of architecture that strikes you as a memorable exploration of community? Share your ideas in our members-only online community. We'll include as many ideas as we can in the winter Forum.

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.