2025 Scholarship Recipients
Founders Fund Scholarships
The Phi Eta Sigma National Board of Directors is proud to announce the 2025–2026 Founders Fund Scholarship recipients.
More than $300,000 in local and national scholarships and awards were distributed to Phi Eta Sigma members who demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, campus and community involvement, and meaningful engagement with Phi Eta Sigma at the chapter and/or national level.
“One of the things we are most proud of at Phi Eta Sigma is our Founders Fund scholarship program, which every member contributes to yearly as part of their lifetime dues. It is an excellent way to pay the mission of the Society forward for future generations,” said Dr. Mary Lee Caldwell, Executive Director.
“These members have exemplified the purposes and mission of Phi Eta Sigma. We couldn’t be prouder of—and more impressed by—all of our applicants and recipients this year.”
A Legacy of Investing in Scholars
Since 1940, Phi Eta Sigma has awarded more than $7 million in scholarships to its members nationwide. Each year, the Founders Fund supports students through:
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Three $10,000 Scholar of the Year awards
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Six graduate student scholarships
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Thirty-seven undergraduate scholarships
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Additional Elevate Scholarships for undergraduate and graduate members
This program is made possible through the collective commitment of Phi Eta Sigma members, who invest in future scholars through their lifetime dues.
2025–2026 Founders Fund
Scholarship Recipients
Scholar Leaders of the Year
Benjamin Anderson — McKendree University
Foy-Sagabiel Undergraduate Scholar of the Year
Karson McHendry — Old Dominion University
Centennial Leader / Scholar of the Year
Stephanie Washburn — University of Florida
Thomas Arkle Clark Graduate Scholar of the Year
Graduate Scholarship Recipients
Lyndsey Buren — Monmouth University
Kendrick C. Babcock Graduate Scholar
Avery Carrino — University of Central Florida
Charles M. Thompson Graduate Scholar
Dillon Cook — The University of Alabama
G. Herbert Smith Graduate Scholar
Nicole Kaufeldt — The University of Alabama
Fred H. Turner Graduate Scholar
Gabriella Sblendorio — IU Indianapolis
Scott Goodnight Graduate Scholar
Seanna Zona — Mercyhurst University
William Tate Graduate Scholar
Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients
Elevate Scholarship Recipients
Gabriella Casillas — University of New Mexico
Thomas Cataloni — Florida Institute of Technology
Saniyya Derico — Georgia Southern University – Armstrong
Kelsey Drane — Texas Tech University
Morgan Fischer — IU Indianapolis
Nicole Gordon — IU Indianapolis
Sofia Kanda — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Faith Kirkland — The University of Alabama
Alexandria Mackey — IU Indianapolis
Madeleine Pardue — Mercer University
Ruth Rogers — Georgia Southern University – Armstrong
Katelyn Roney — The University of Alabama
Alanna Schill — University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Jonathan Sheffer — University of Tulsa
Raajvi Singh — Baruch College
Soomin Son — UCLA
Amarion Willis — Winston-Salem State University
Scholarship Selection Committee
The following members of the National Board of Directors served on the 2025 Scholarship Selection Committee:
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Ms. Jennifer Miller, McKendree University (Chair)
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Ms. Mary Jo Dwyer,
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Mr. Tony Kemp, Mercer University
Learn More
Students interested in applying for Phi Eta Sigma scholarships or learning more about eligibility and requirements are encouraged to visit:
phietasigma.org/scholarship
About Phi Eta Sigma
Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Phi Eta Sigma is the nation’s oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students across all disciplines. Since its founding, more than 1.2 million scholars have been inducted. The Society’s motto is “Knowledge is Power.”
Tara Mahon — Monmouth University
Larry L. Mangus Undergraduate Scholar
Anika Malhotra — Emory University
James G. Allen Undergraduate Scholar
Zoe McAlpine — Mercer University
G. Robert Standing Undergraduate Scholar
Carissa Mollet — IU Indianapolis
Lisa Ruch Undergraduate Scholar
William Cyrus Morrill V — University of Mississippi
Gary Grikscheit Undergraduate Scholar
Jenna Mosley — University of Wisconsin–Platteville
Kyle C. Sessions Undergraduate Scholar
Kathryn Mumaugh — IU Indianapolis
John R. Harrell Undergraduate Scholar
Divine Favour Ozomma — McKendree University
Raymond R. Glos Undergraduate Scholar
Haley Raymond — Georgia Southern University
Lois Edwards Alexander Undergraduate Scholar
Amira Riggers — IU Indianapolis
Arno “Shorty” Nowotny Undergraduate Scholar
Taylor Robinson — The University of Alabama
Molly M. Lawrence Undergraduate Scholar
Josefina Salinas — IU Indianapolis
Donald Gregory Undergraduate Scholar
Sienna Scaglione — Syracuse University
Mary Jo Dwyer Undergraduate Scholar
Statler Schmidt — Butler University
Archie L. Lejeune Undergraduate Scholar
Madison Snyder — Moravian University
Marjorie T. Sagabiel Undergraduate Scholar
Sabrina Vasko — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
G. T. “Jerry” Cowley Undergraduate Scholar
Kathryn Volz — Mercer University
Karlem Riess Undergraduate Scholar
Katherine Wilt — Otterbein University
Robert D. Place Undergraduate Scholar
Indira Amin — Purdue University
M. L. Wardell Undergraduate Scholar
Ashlyn Bell — The University of Alabama
Herb Songer Undergraduate Scholar
Courtney Bivona — University of Tampa
William L. Robinson Undergraduate Scholar
Tahja Burch — Old Dominion University
W. Lee Johnston Undergraduate Scholar
Hailey Clark — Fisk University
Stanley L. Stephens Undergraduate Scholar
Elizabeth Cordero — Florida State University
B. J. Alexander Undergraduate Scholar
Jonathan Davenport — McKendree University
Charles Burchett Undergraduate Scholar
Sydney Davis — IU Indianapolis
Harry B. Shucker Undergraduate Scholar
Lucas Dotson — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Gaylord F. Hatch Undergraduate Scholar
Zoe Elston — University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Richard Tuerk Undergraduate Scholar
Cristopher Espino — UCLA
Joan K. Nelson Undergraduate Scholar
Cleo Hahn — University of New Mexico
Curtis F. Lard Undergraduate Scholar
Kaelyn Hart — Butler University
Sharon Dine Harrell Undergraduate Scholar
Sloan Hatter — Florida Institute of Technology
Nancy S. Kaplan Undergraduate Scholar
Raeghan Henrichs — McKendree University
Roy E. Thoman Undergraduate Scholar
Lauren Hillin — Trine University
Bill W. Shafer Undergraduate Scholar
Alexander Jackson — Trine University
Oscar Beck Undergraduate Scholar
Bryce Jaworski — The Pennsylvania State University
Franklin B. Krauss Undergraduate Scholar
Caleb Lee — Auburn University
Emma O’Rear Foy Undergraduate Scholar