Paulina Erices Awarded Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant

2016 Jul 5

Paulina Erices of Littleton, Colo., recently was awarded a 2016 Literacy Grant from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi--the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Erices is one of 16 recipients nationwide to receive the award.

The $500 grant will be used to provide literacy supplies to children in Nicaraguan impoverished schools. Working with La Merced, a volunteer-based nonprofit organization in the U.S., members from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Pennsylvania State University chapters of Phi Kappa Phi have teamed up for the collaborative literacy effort. In its first phase, the project will evaluate and assess the needs of teachers and administration at a K-12 school in Managua, Nicaragua. After assessment, project leaders will acquire the necessary materials to provide teachers with equipment and support to meet the children's needs. Communication with school administrators and on-site visits will take place over 24+ months to assess impact and effectiveness of intervention for continued support.

The Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant program was established in 2003 to provide funding to Phi Kappa Phi chapters and active members for initiatives that reinforce part of the Society's mission: "to engage the community of scholars in service to others." Drawing from a multi-disciplinary community of students and scholars from large and small institutions, applicants are encouraged to consider literacy projects that have creative relevance to their disciplines and the needs of their communities.

In addition to literacy grants, Phi Kappa Phi's robust award programs give more than $1 million each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, and member and chapter awards. To learn more about these programs, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Awards.

About Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni each year. The Society has chapters at more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of second-term juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society's mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.