The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi to Install Chapter 354 at the University of Guam

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will install its 354th chapter at the University of Guam in Mangilao, Guam, on March 11. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.

The installation of the University of Guam chapter comes after a thorough petitioning process, site visit and approval from the Society’s board of directors. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

“The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to welcome the University of Guam to its community of scholars,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. “The university’s mission—to enlighten, to discover, to serve—reflects UOG’s strong emphasis on the transmission of both indigenous and global knowledge as well as its deep commitment to the needs of its region.”

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Troy McVey, President-elect Christopher Garcia, Treasurer Margaret Hattori-Uchima, Secretary Monique Storie and Membership Secretary Arline Leon Guerrero.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded when Marcus L. Urann had a desire to create a different kind of honor society—one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 select campuses in the United States and the Philippines and inducts approximately 30,000 new members each year. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Applying for Awards

Deadlines are rapidly approaching for several Phi Kappa Phi awards, and we don’t want you to miss out. The awards currently open include:

• Study Abroad – Deadline March 15 – For undergraduates, both members and non-members alike
• Literacy – Deadline April 1 – For members and chapters funding literacy initiatives
• Fellowship – National Deadline April 15 (chapter deadlines vary) – For members entering the first year of graduate or professional study
• Love of Learning – Deadline June 30 – For post-baccalaureate professional development

For your best shot at a successful application, follow these Do’s and Don’ts.

For a downloadable flyer to share on campus, click the graphic above.

Questions? Visit www.phikappaphi.org/awards for more resources, tips and FAQs about our awards program.

Member Tips: Study Advice to Make the Grade

Whether midterms are approaching or you’re tackling material for the GRE, don’t let March madness get the best of you. Studying for the upcoming challenge can seem difficult, but where there’s a will, there’s an A!

Our members have shared their best tips for staying focused and finding the right tools to make sure you’re giving it your best. After you read their advice here, join the conversation and share your tips with others within the Phi Kappa Phi community today.

1. Start with a plan.
   Set up a timeline for yourself to stay focused. Members suggest a detailed schedule or to do list as the perfect place to start, and a regular review of the schedule at the start and end of each day will keep you on track.
Be sure to consider your own personal learning style and schedule when creating the plan. Are you a night owl that absorbs information best once the sun goes down? Find time slots for studying that fit both your schedule and your personal performance peaks.


2. Break it up.
   Don’t take on too much at once and become overwhelmed. Break down large tasks into smaller parts and focus on one piece at a time. If you have an entire book to read, set a goal of a few chapters. Or study one unit at a time, with an intentional break in between to redirect your attention. Members repeatedly emphasize the importance of taking regular breaks in their advice to one another.
   
   
3. Location, location, location.
   You’ve heard the saying about real estate – remember to take it to heart with studying as well. An ideal location can improve your focus tremendously. While some members say they find support in group study sessions, others work best in solitude and silence. Whatever your preference, make sure you set the right scene before starting to study.
   
   
4. Take an alternative approach.
   Step outside of your normal study patterns and see if you can discover new approaches that may help. Are you normally a very analytical and methodical student? Give your creative side a workout and try drawing a visual representation of a concept you’re working to master. Visit the member community and find one suggestion you’ve never tried before and see if it gives you new insight on how to improve your study skills.
   
   
5. The eyes – and ears – have it.
   Visual and audio input can be key contributors to improving study success. For the visual aspect, our members shared advice on color coding notes and material, creating graphic representations of concepts, and rewriting lecture notes as a great way to look back over all you’ve learned. Watching YouTube videos about your topic can also provide a new angle or explanation that you may not have considered. For the more sound-oriented folks, a “listen and learn” approach may work better. Recording key lectures and re-listening to them later can remind you of forgotten tidbits. And for many of our members, background music is a must for maintaining focus during a study session.
   
   
6. Remember the body/mind connection.
   Don’t forget to feed your body while you feed your brain. When you break up those study sessions, consider a cat nap or a bit of exercise. While some members prefer a short walk, one member suggested a full-blown workout as her biggest recommendation. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep at night and staying hydrated and well-fed during the day.

Do you have tips that have helped you master the art of studying? Click here to share your ideas in the Phi Kappa Phi community and see what other members have shared as advice and encouragement.

Note, the community is available to active members only, and your member login will be required. For assistance with your login, email webmaster@phikappaphi.org.

Travel Tales: Julianne Liu

Phi Kappa Phi’s Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduate students as they gain experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Seventy-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year. With the help of a grant in 2019, Julianne Liu, from University of Utah, was able to travel to France to study, as well as participate in the school’s Global U Program.

“For five weeks, I attended daily intensive French language and culture courses at the Centre Universitaire d’Études Françaises at the Université Grenoble Alpes,” shared Liu. “In addition to my language class which covered topics such as grammar, comprehension, and conversation, I also learned about French visual arts and culture and civilization.” She visited art districts and important cultural locations, enjoyed the cuisine and more.

Her days were packed with learning and activities. “In the afternoons, I spent my time in the city, going to almost every museum, seeing the historic monuments, watching French movies, hiking in the nearby mountains, and familiarizing myself with local foods and, of course, patisseries,” said Liu.

The opportunity to stay in a family’s home built personal connections while expanding her language skills. “In the evenings, I returned home to my lovely host family with whom I improved my conversational and cross-cultural fluency over dinner discussions, subjects ranging from describing ourselves and our days to uncovering similarities and differences between our cultures, governments, education systems, and eco-friendly practices.”

Liu shared what it was like to receive the award saying, “I am incredibly grateful to be a recipient of the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant.” She noted that it was an incredible, rewarding experience and added, “My time abroad improved my language proficiencies, surrounded me with a warm, supportive community, and introduced new career possibilities. I am beyond excited for forthcoming endeavors and adventures as I continue pursuing this ever-growing passion.”

Do you want to be one of our 2020 Study Abroad Grant recipients? Click here to learn more and apply by March 15.

Member Benefits Highlights – March 2020

A four-leaf clover may be hard to find, but these deals are not! Save green when you shop these great offers exclusively available through the Society’s partners all month long.

Church Hill Classics
You didn’t need luck to become a member of the nation’s oldest and most selective honor society. You earned it, now frame it! Showcase your achievement with a custom membership certificate frame that incorporates the Phi Kappa Phi logo. Visit www.DiplomaFrame.com/PKP to design your frame and shop their full product line of quality merchandise.

Dell
It’s your lucky day! Members, friends and family can save 17% on select systems during Dell’s Semi-Annual Sales event! This event only happens twice a year and will end on March 19 at 7 a.m. E.T. Shop the event today at www.Dell.com/PhiKappaPhi.

Lenovo
Lenovo’s Annual Sale offers deals that keep your pockets green! Savings up to 53% are available on award-winning technologies, including select systems and accessories. Hurry, these offers are valid through March 22 or while supplies last!

Keep in mind, active members can save up to 20% on Lenovo products and accessories year-round and access exclusive monthly offers up to 45%. Visit www.Lenovo.com/PhiKappaPhi to shop now.

MemberDeals
You won’t want to miss this deal from Universal Orlando Resorts. Get two days free when you buy two days! Click here to plan your adventure today!

MemberDeals is your one stop for great discounts on nationwide travel and entertainment, and our members have access to significant deals on movie tickets, shows and attractions, sports and concert tickets, hotels and more all year long. Want to access even more savings? Click here to access other current offers.

ΦΚΦ Travel Discount Program
Don’t miss your chance to win your hotel booking for free! Book through the ΦΚΦ Travel Discount Program before March 31 and you will automatically be entered. The program offers worldwide inventory of hotels at discounted rates that may exceed 50%. Click here to browse hotels today!

Questions about member benefits? Contact Jamie Chapman at jchapman@phikappaphi.org or 800-804-9880, ext. 217, with all of your member benefit inquiries.

Chapter Update – March 2020

Honor. Excellence. Impact.

This month’s Chapter Update highlights three academic programs completed by chapters in Florida, Nevada, and the Philippines. Two of the programs took place during the inaugural Phi Kappa Phi Week.

Florida Tech Host Animal Talks

Chapter 308 at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, hosted a lecture called “Animal Talks!” on Feb. 7.

The high-energy evening featured distinguished members of the faculty who gave TED-style talks about animals. A local group, the Space Coast Little Big Band, played jazz throughout the night.

The event included five talks that focused on faculty research including the impact of light and darkness on animal behavior, sharks and the myths and realities of a shark attack, what nonhuman primates can teach us about human evolution, how plants are social organisms that communicate through chemical signals, and lastly, how animal venoms can impact human functionality and be used to develop new drugs to improve function without causing any major side-effects.

The chapter promoted the event at a table in the union every day during Phi Kappa Phi Week. They also passed out Valentine’s Day candy to encourage students to stop by and chat. Members spoke to approximately 40 students who visited the table in the student union. In addition to flyers and emails, Chapter Public Relations Officer Jared Campbell spoke to the local radio station to promote the event to the community. Some honors and biology faculty offered extra credit to their students who attended. More than 125 people participated, and the chapter also streamed the program live on YouTube and posted the recording to their Facebook page.

UNLV Celebrates Phi Kappa Phi Week with Quiz Bowl

Chapter 100 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, partnered with the UNLV Graduate College, Honors College, and Office of Undergraduate Research, to host a Quiz Bowl on Feb. 4.

The Quiz Bowl included seven rounds with approximately 10 questions per round. Since Phi Kappa Phi recognizes students from all disciplines, the chapter used questions from a variety of topics including history, literature, science, current events, popular culture and sports.

The competition was emceed by Sean Clark, chapter president. Eleven teams and 51 participants took part in the event. Teams were allowed to make up their own names and were required to have three to five students, alumni, faculty or staff. The winning team won a gift card and UNLV tumbler.

UP Hosts Lecture of Excellence

Chapter 45 at the University of the Philippines hosted their first Lecture of Excellence for the year on Jan. 29.

The lecture was presented by Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo, a Phi Kappa Phi member, who was recently elected to serve as the Chancellor at the Diliman campus. Nemenzo teaches math and focuses on number theory, elliptic curves and coding theory.

Phi Kappa Phi members, students, faculty, staff and alumni learned about the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how this era impacts the trends and challenges at the university. After the lecture, attendees were able to participate in an open forum discussion.

Please share your chapter news, events and service projects with Michelle Lowery, chapter development director, so they can be included in future chapter updates and shared on social media. Pictures with members are encouraged!

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Florida Tech left photo by Alexander Mirling – Phi Kappa Phi chapter officers at Florida Tech’s Animal Talks! event include, from left, Donovan Southwell, student vice president; Jessica Ha Bittner, co-secretary; Dr. Heidi Hatfield Edwards, president; Mary Bonhomme, co-secretary; Ryan Fink, student vice president; Caglar Erdogan, student vice president; Angelica Zamora-Duran, student vice president; and Jared Campbell, public relations officer.

Florida Tech center photo by Angelica Zamora-Duran – Dr. Michael Grace presents “Light and Life: Insight from the Brilliant World of Animal Vision” at Florida Tech’s Animal Talks! event.

Florida Tech right photo by Sonny Wolfgram – Jared Campbell, right, chapter public relations officer at Florida Tech, talks to WFIT’s Terri Wright on the radio to promote Animal Talks!

Fourth photo by Vaneh Darakjian – The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, hosted their first Quiz Bowl during Phi Kappa Phi Week, and the winning team, “It Berns When I Vote,” included, from left, Nathaniel Waugh, Colt Kraus, Christopher Roys, Hannah Patenaude and Melyssa Barrera.

Fifth photo by Paul Antolino – Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, from left, receives thanks for presenting at the University of Philippines Phi Kappa Phi Lecture of Excellence from Dr. Fructuoso Sabug, chapter treasurer, and Dr. Adelaida Lucero, chapter secretary.

Share Your Success with Merit

Have you heard about Phi Kappa Phi’s member achievement program, Merit? The Merit program, implemented in 2013, helps Phi Kappa Phi promote member successes such as being initiated into the Society, receiving an award, becoming a chapter officer, attending Phi Kappa Phi events and more. Not only does Merit allow you to receive the recognition you deserve, it’s a surefire way to polish your online presence!

Merit allows members to customize their online profile with a photo, bio, activities, affiliations and work experience. Consider it a virtual résumé!

Updates to Merit pages are shared with a network of stakeholders who are invested in your achievements: family and friends, local news outlets, employers, former teachers, colleges and universities, volunteer organizations and more. In addition to keeping your achievements and activities in one virtual place, Merit can build your online presence to help you secure jobs, get internships and collect references.

Your Merit page is also social, so sharing news with your inner circle on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is easy.

If you have not received a Merit profile (anyone initiated before March 2013 or anyone who opted out during the join process) and would like to take advantage the program and its many benefits, email news@phikappaphi.org with your name and member ID number.

Want more information? Click here to learn more about Merit, including frequently asked questions, and check out the latest member achievements on the official Phi Kappa Phi Merit page. Stay tuned to social media throughout March as we post tips, FAQs and more during #MeritMarch.