Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber is among 255 faculty, staff and students newly inducted into Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) as the chapter celebrates its 40th anniversary at UNC Charlotte. The April 11 ceremony also celebrated the chapter being awarded the Platinum Circle of Excellence by the national honor society.
“We are known as an active chapter and we are proud of this recognition,” said Assistant Provost Leslie Zenk, past president of the Charlotte chapter and member of the PKP National Board of Directors. “Over the years, Charlotte chapter members have received 16 fellowship awards, two of which were for the prestigious Marcus L. Urann Fellowship. Chapter members also have benefitted from scholarship awards and involvement in community service projects to champion literacy among children.”
Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest and most selective of honor societies recognizing and promoting excellence in all academic disciplines. Membership is by invitation only and is offered to the top 7.5% of last-term juniors and the top 10% of last-term seniors as well as outstanding graduate students, faculty, professional staff and alumni.
Three outstanding chapter members were awarded Bonnie E. Cone Phi Kappa Phi scholarships to fund their graduate studies.
- Megan Bird received a $1,500 scholarship to further her education at law school. A double major in Spanish and political science with a minor in statistics, she served for three years as news editor for the Niner Times, was a teaching assistant for various professors, and co-authored a paper about judicial clerks with John Szmer, associate professor of political science and public administration.
- Josephine Justin received a $1,000 scholarship. A senior who will graduate in May with double majors in political science and communication studies, she will attend UNC Chapel Hill in the fall to pursue a Master’s of City and Regional Planning (MCRP).
- Dmitry Tereschenko received a $1,000 scholarship. He is a senior in the Levine Scholars Program and English Honors Program. He will graduate in May with double majors in English, concentrating in Language and Digital Technology and Applied Anthropology with minors in Russian Studies and Linguistics. He plans to attend Georgetown University to pursue a Master of Arts in Language and Communication.
Since 2013, chapter members have received $47,000 in scholarship awards from either the local or national chapter. In addition, seven chapter members have received the Love of Learning Awards to help fund post-baccalaureate professional development.
The Phi Kappa Phi Charlotte chapter comprises 795 active student members and 183 faculty and staff members. The chapter continues to grow with approximately 240 new members initiated each year.