Bulldogs receive Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants for academic achievement

Three junior students from Mississippi State University are embarking on international study opportunities funded by a prestigious honor society.

James Chalmers from Cumming, Georgia; Joshua Phillips from Birmingham, Alabama; and Muneebah Umar from Starkville have been selected among 125 students nationwide to receive the 2024 Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants from the oldest collegiate honor society in the United States. Each student will receive a $1,000 award based on their academic performance, participation in campus and community activities, the alignment of their travel plans with academic and career goals, and other criteria.

Chalmers, a mechanical engineering major, will be studying in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Phillips, who is pursuing a double major in political science and economics, will travel to the Noor Majan Arabic Institute in Muscat, Oman. Umar, a biological sciences major, will be attending the University of Oxford in England.

“These students have demonstrated excellence not only in their academic pursuits but also in their involvement in extracurricular activities and community service. The connection between their study abroad experiences and their future aspirations made them ideal candidates for this scholarship,” stated Peter Ryan, the executive vice provost, Graduate School dean, and president of MSU’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter. “I am confident that all three students will make the most of this opportunity and eagerly anticipate their return to campus next semester.”

The Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant Program is part of the society’s extensive range of awards and grants, which allocate $1.3 million annually to exceptional students and members through various fellowships, post-baccalaureate development funding, and literacy initiatives at local, national, and international levels.

For further details about the Study Abroad Grant Program and other Phi Kappa Phi awards, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/awards.