Wichita Senior Wins Phi Kappa Phi National Fellowship

The University of Kansas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society has selected Wichita senior Lauren Stewart to receive the 2005 Blackiston Memorial Graduate Fellowship.

Stewart, an honors English student and National Merit Scholar, will receive $1,000 and is the chapter's nominee for a national Phi Kappa Phi fellowship. The Blackiston Fellowship is the latest achievement for Stewart who has won numerous awards and honors during her time at KU. In 2004, she received the Hoopes Award for Critical Writing and she has been a Rock Chalk Scholar since 2001. She has been on the Dean's List every semester at KU and she was a nominee for the 2004 Ex.C.E.L. Award.

Stewart has been involved in a variety of activities at KU. She has served as both president of Student Union Activities and vice president of university relations for SUA. She currently serves as SUA Traditions Coordinator. She is a peer educator for the "Leadership in America" Thematic Learning Community and a member of the Board of Class Officers. In 2001-2002, Stewart was first violinist for the KU Symphony Orchestra. She also is active in the National Association for Campus Activities and the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center.

After graduation in May 2005, Stewart, who has been a member of Phi Kappa Phi since Fall 2002, plans to pursue a master's degree and doctorate in English languages and literature.

The Blackiston Memorial Fellowship is named in honor of James Blackiston, a graduate student in linguistics and instructor in the Intensive English Center who was active in the formation of the KU chapter in 1975. Blackiston died during the summer of 1975.

Phi Kappa Phi was established in 1897 to recognize academic excellence in all disciplines. Only the top 7 percent of seniors, the top 4 percent of last-term juniors and the top 10 percent of graduate students are invited to join. The KU chapter includes all of the schools of the university.

Phi Kappa Phi's primary objectives are to promote the pursuit of excellence in all fields of higher education and to recognize outstanding achievement by students, faculty and others by election to membership and through various awards for distinguished achievement.