Texas State Students receive Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award

Six Texas State University students have received the 2021 Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award from among 200 recipients in the nation.

Phi Kappa Phi, founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, is the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society.  

The Texas State honorees are:

• Olufadeke (Fadeke) Adeniyi, alumna, Data Analytics & Information Systems
• Petra Banks, doctoral student in Applied Anthropology
• Mariana Davila, Specialist in School Psychology major.   
• Justin Goldstein, doctoral student in Applied Anthropology
• Alisa Hartsell, doctoral student in Geography
• Shayne O'Brien, doctoral student in Geography

Each recipient is an active Phi Kappa Phi member and received $500 to fund their post-baccalaureate endeavors including pursuing graduate studies, easing costs associated with doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, and travel expenses for teaching, research and/or learning.

Petra Banks explained how much this award meant to her and her future career. “Receiving the Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award is such an honor. Not only will it help me achieve my goals for my dissertation, but it also gave me a boost of confidence, which is welcome in any graduate program,” said Banks. “I am proud to be a part of Phi Kappa Phi, and I hope that I can give back to my community through this and other organizations long after I graduate.”

Anthropology student, Justin Goldstein, was equally appreciative. "I'm so grateful to Phi Kappa Phi for this award. The Love of Learning Award will help me pursue the additional training I need to successfully complete my dissertation."

Geography doctoral candidate Alisa Hartsell used her Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning award to fund her first in-person conference. “I both presented my research and organized a session for the Race, Ethnicity and Place Conference in Baltimore. Attending a conference in person was encouraging. It gave me the opportunity to connect with friends and fellow researchers I have not seen or talked to in years.”