Kaitlyn Johnson of Wright City, Missouri, recently was awarded a study abroad grant worth $1,000 from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

The grants are designed to support undergraduates, both members and nonmembers from campuses that have Phi Kappa Phi chapters, as they seek expanded knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad.

Currently a senior majoring in communication disorders at Truman State University, Johnson will use the grant to study abroad in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The selection process for a study abroad grant is based on the applicant’s academic achievement, campus and community service, relation of travel to academic preparation and career goals, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and acceptance into a study abroad program. Each recipient receives $1,000 to be applied toward travel abroad.

Established in 2001, the Study Abroad Grant Program is part of the Society’s robust portfolio of award and grant programs, which gives $1.3 million each year to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

To learn more about the Study Abroad Program and other Phi Kappa Phi awards, visit www.phikappaphi.org/awards.

Eligible students were invited to become members in the Truman State University Chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

As a chapter we are excited to welcome these students during the Initiation Ceremony on April 10th.

Recent inductee Shari Fieser was selected by the national Phi Kappa Phil office to receive at 2018 Love of Learning Award. Love of Learning Awards help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members. Awards can go towards graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching/research/learning, and more. Shari is an Admission Counselor here at Truman and completing graduate studies in leadership.

Two hundred awards, at $500 each, are distributed each year. Thank you, Shari, for applying and helping to represent the Truman chapter of Phi Kappa Phi!

Look who made this week’s Truman Index!

On Sunday, March 25, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi initiated 86 new students, faculty, and staff into the organization. The ceremony included a musical performance by Kaylee Hershberger and a keynote address from Truman’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Janet Gooch. The ceremony was led by the Society’s president, Dr. Jack Holcomb, and past president, Dr. Michael Ashcraft.

New members to the Honor Society include Alexia Adeshakin, Katherine Andrews, Jacque Bischoff, Grace Bodman, Grace Brewer, Lillian Brink, Kaley Burroughs, Kayla Carroll-Seuferling, Jonas Chang, Jacob James Colangelo, Chaney Cooper, Kyra Cooper, John Crane, Tess Cummings, Amanda Decker, Sarah DeWolf, Rachel Duzan, Lois Easley, Elijah Farrales, Rebecca Fazio, Shari Fieser, Madeline Fitzgerald, Céline Fuchs, Alex Garber, Allie Gentry, Sonia Giannotti, Carolyn Gillette, Lisa Goran, James Harmon, Christian Hatala, Sydney Hawkins, Jacob Higginson, Chance Hill, Jacob Holke, Elizabeth Hosler, Joseph Hubble, Michaela Hylen, Justin Jarvis, Ryan Jeschke, Morgan Johns, Christian King, John Kusmec, Ashlei Lagle, Sarah Larson, Kelsey Lieberman, Yu Xuan Lin, Kathryn Maag, Samuel Mainieri, Taylor Manes, Melinda Mathews, Ashleigh McDonald, Scott McEachern, Gordon McPherson, Adam Miesner, Joseph Milliano, Michaela Mooney, Anne Morgan, Mitchell Nichols, Anne Njoku, Nicole Orf, Jessica Peterein, Stephen Plassmeyer, Nicolas Poindexter, Sebastian Quesada, Evan Reeves, Julia Ritsema, Noah Rogers, Elizabeth Runyon, Cassandra Schimpf, Karie Schmitz, Ryan Schwab, Jordan Shroyer, Noah Smentkowski, Benjamin Smythe, Evyn Spencer, Marilise Stamps, Emiline Sundman, Kyle Trojahn, Allyson Uhles, Michael Varner, Jonathan Vieker, Conner Viets, Elizabeth Westhoff, Margaret Wilcox, Joel Wilper, and Elizabeth Wilson.

Dr. Janet Gooch, Truman’s Provost and a member of Phi Kappa Phi, delivered the keynote address.

The check-in table featured the original, hand drawn charter document from 1991.

The cover of this year’s program.

The inside of this year’s program features the names of all the new members.

This ad will run in an upcoming issue of Truman’s school paper, The Index.

Get excited! On Sunday, we are inducting 86 new members of Phi Kappa Phi. It’s our largest class since 2009! All members of the Honor Society are invited to attend the ceremony at 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 25, in Georgian Room B in the Student Union.

As we come to the close of another successful semester, we hope that ALL of our Student, Faculty, and Staff members will drop by the Phi Kappa Phi Reception from 4:30-5:30PM to meet and acknowledge our members who participated in the Student Research Conference (SRC) and then stay for a very brief Installation Ceremony for our 2014-2015 Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Officers.  Please see below the slate of candidates for faculty/staff officers; in lieu of an additional business meeting this spring, we invite you to send to our Chapter Secretary any comments you have regarding this slate.  Thank you, and we hope to see you on the 15^th.

2014-2015 Chapter Officers Slate

President-Elect –Dr. Jack Holcomb, Director of the Center for Academic Excellence

Vice-President for Service-Laura Bates, Director of Student Involvement and Campus Activities

Secretary- Zac Burden, Missouri Hall Director

The Reception with refreshments will begin at 4:30 p.m. and short installation ceremony will occur from 5:00-5:15 p.m. in the Student Union Conference Room.

If you have not already, soon you will be getting a request from the Faculty and Staff Campaign to make a donation to Truman’s foundation.  I would like to let you know about a special PKP project to which you can donate as part of this push.  We are fundraising to purchase and install two concrete chess tables and benches on the quad.  There are now no such tables for students to work at in this area and no permanently-installed chess tables anywhere on campus.  We will provide chess pieces and checker pieces for students to check out so they can take advantage of the game opportunity.

The cost of these tables will be approximately $2000.  Last year, as president of the local chapter, I contributed 10% of the cost, or $200.  Since then another $200 has been raised.  If eight others contribute $200, we will reach our goal in no time!  If 16 people contribute $100, we will have enough to install the tables.  Finally, if 32 people contribute $50 apiece we will be able to get the tables put up, perhaps in time for the fall freshmen check-in.  As with any other contribution to the Foundation, this will be tax deductible.

In order to have this money directed to the PKP tables, please indicate with your donation that it is to be directed to the “PKP Special Project” fund.

The Phi Kappa Phi Initiation Ceremony photos, taken by Dr. James Guffey are on the Truman U-drive for your convenience.

The specific location is: U:\_MT Student File Area\jguffey\Phi Kappa Phi Photos

and they will be available for only a limited time because of space considerations.

Our local chapter is happy to have you as a member, and we encourage you to always read the national Phi Kappa Phi site for the most complete information regarding scholarship awards: http://www.phikappaphi.org/web/Awards/Scholarships_Awards.html