Student scholarships
The VCU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi awards four types of scholarships to students: the Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship Award Nomination and the Lauren A Woods Graduate Scholarship, the Wayne C. Hall Scholarship, the Susan E. Kennedy Scholarship and the Robert G. Davis Undergraduate Writing and Research Award. Click the accordions below to learn more about each of the scholarships.
Additionally, each academic unit usually gives a scholarship ($500 minimum) in the name of Phi Kappa Phi to students of their own choosing from their units. Scholarships are also available for students participating in the Education Abroad Program. To learn more about these opportunities, click here.
Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship Award Nomination and the Lauren A. Woods Graduate Scholarship
Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship Award Nomination and the Lauren A. Woods Graduate Scholarship Graduate Scholarship of $3,000 is given to the individual chosen by the awards selection committee and nominated by the VCU chapter for the Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship Award.
About the Award
The Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship is a national award of $5,000 given by the Phi Kappa Phi national office to 60 graduating seniors from universities across the country. Forty additional Awards of Excellence of $2,000 are also made. Each Phi Kappa Phi Chapter may nominate one student for these awards. The VCU Phi Kappa Phi Chapter nominee for the National Fellowship Award automatically receives the $3,000 Lauren A. Woods Graduate Scholarship.
Eligibility
The applicant is a graduating senior planning to pursue graduate or professional study.
Submission Materials and Selection Process
The applicant must obtain and fill out a Fellowship Program Application Packet, available for download from the Phi Kappa Phi national office website by clicking here.
In addition to the Application for Fellowship form, applicants must also submit the following:
- Official academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- An example of creative work, e.g., CD, DVD, slides or several pages from a manuscript
- Three letters of recommendation
Applicants submit one original of the Application for Fellowship form, letters of recommendation, example of creative work and official transcripts to his/her academic unit dean’s or designee’s office. Please check with the academic unit dean's office for the submission deadline. Do not send completed application form to the Phi Kappa Phi national office.
The academic unit dean or designee submits application packet to the Phi Kappa Phi Executive Director’s office. An awards selection committee of Phi Kappa Phi faculty members will choose the chapter nominee (who is automatically the recipient of the Lauren A. Woods Graduate Scholarship) in February and will inform all applicants of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Selection Criteria
The applicant:
- Has excellent scholastic achievement,
- Has excellent standardized test scores, when applicable (e.g., GRE, LSAT, MCAT),
- Participates in honors and community activities,
- Provides a clear and complete expression of study plans and career goals, and
- Submits excellent letters of reference
Wayne C. Hall Scholarship
The Wayne C. Hall Undergraduate Scholarship is a $3,000 scholarship given to a rising senior chosen by the awards selection committee.
About the Award
The Wayne C. Hall Undergraduate Scholarship is a university-wide award named in honor of the former VCU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the second president of the VCU Phi Kappa Phi Chapter, Wayne C. Hall, in the amount of $3000. This award is given to a rising senior. Each academic unit with undergraduate programs may nominate one student for this award. Each unit’s nominee selection process is established by the unit’s dean or their designee.
Eligibility
The applicant:
- Expects to be a full-time student, with senior standing, for both semesters of the academic year,
- Has a 3.50 minimum cumulative grade point average, and
- Is qualified for potential election to Phi Kappa Phi.
Submission Materials and Selection Process
Applicants must submit:
- A current résumé
- A 500-word essay describing experiences, personal interests and career objectives that are relevant to the mission of Phi Kappa Phi.
- Official academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
The applicant submits one original of the resume, essay and official transcripts to his or her academic unit dean’s or designee’s office. Please check with the academic unit dean's office for the submission deadline.
Academic unit dean or designee submits application packet to the Phi Kappa Phi Executive Director’s office. A selection committee of Phi Kappa Phi faculty members will choose the recipient of the Wayne C Hall Undergraduate Scholarship in February and will inform all applicants of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Selection Criteria
- Quality of overall submission packet (neatness, well-organized, proofread)
- Excellent academic achievement
- Experiences, personal interests and career objectives, as described in essay, that are relevant to mission of Phi Kappa Phi
Susan E. Kennedy Scholarship
The Susan E. Kennedy Scholarship is a $3,000 scholarship given to a graduate student chosen by the awards selection committee.
About the Award
The Susan E. Kennedy Scholarship is named in honor of Susan E. Kennedy, former chair of the History Department and former Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences. This award is in the amount of $3,000 and given to a graduate student.
Eligibility
The applicant has:
- Advanced the presence of women in higher education,
- Completed at least one semester of graduate work, and
- Attained at least a 3.5 GPA in his/her graduate work
Submission and Selection Process
Complete the one-page application [PDF]
With the application form, applicant will submit:
- Essay (not to exceed one page) that indicates how he/she has advanced the presence of women in higher education
- One-page current résumé
- Official graduate academic transcript
- Two letters of recommendation
The applicant submits one original of the application, essay, resume, letters of reference and official transcripts to his or her academic unit dean’s or designee’s office. Please check with the academic dean's office for the submission deadline.
Academic unit dean or designee submits application packet to the Phi Kappa Phi Executive Director’s office. A selection committee of Phi Kappa Phi faculty members will choose the recipient of Susan E. Kennedy in February and will inform all applicants of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Selection Criteria
- Quality of overall submission packet (neatness, well-organized, proofread),
- Academic achievement,
- Evidence and quality of how applicant has advanced the presence of women in higher education
Robert G. Davis Undergraduate Writing and Research Award
The Robert G. Davis Undergraduate Writing and Research Award is a $400 scholarship given to five students from Honors 200/UNIV 200 chosen by the awards selection committee.