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:

Three $10,000 Scholar of the Year awards
Six graduate student scholarships
Thirty-seven undergraduate scholarships
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:

Ms. Jennifer Miller, McKendree University (Chair)
Ms. Mary Jo Dwyer,
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