Lesley Casarez Awarded Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant

2015 Jun 29

Lesley Casarez of San Angelo, Texas, recently was awarded a 2015 Literacy Grant from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi--the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Casarez is one of 14 recipients nationwide to receive the award.

The $2,500 grant will be used to support the SuperWhy? Super TRIYS! project, which partners with the Texas Research Institute for Young Scholars (TRIYS). The TRIYS annual program provides San Angelo ISD students in grades 1-5 in the Gifted and Talented program with the opportunity to research issues affecting the local community including homelessness, pollution, and recycling. As part of the project, the Phi Kappa Phi chapter at Angelo State University will purchase Chromebooks to promote technology literacy and better access to research resources for TRIYS program participants.

The Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant program was established in 2003 to provide funding to Phi Kappa Phi chapters and active members for ongoing projects or new initiatives that reinforce part of the Society's mission "to engage the community of scholars in service to others." Drawing from a multi-disciplinary Society 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 the award and grant 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 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. 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 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, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.