Scholars News Desk
Caruso Awarded Stenger Fellowship; Five Scholars Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi
April 20, 2008
College Park, Md. – On Sunday, April 13th, Maryland’s Chapter 22 of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society held its initiation ceremony in the Stamp Student Union. Three fellowships were awarded to graduates pursuing further degrees. Rachael Caruso, a 2006 College Park Scholars citation recipient from the Advocates for Children program, received the W. Jackson Stenger Fellowship from Maryland’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Rachael will apply the fellowship -- in the amount of $5,000 -- to her graduate studies at the University of Alabama, in speech therapy. Rachael was a Summa Cum Laude graduate in December, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in hearing and speech sciences. Other recipients were Shannon Auxier, from College Park, and Jonathon Grabe, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Established in 1920, Chapter 22 of Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest honor society at Maryland that recognizes academic excellence across all disciplines. Phi Kappa phi invites juniors and seniors in the top 10 percent of their class, and graduate students with a grade point average of at least 4.0, for induction. Faculty members, alumni and staff are also selected on the basis of outstanding achievement. At the ceremony, the following five College Park Scholars were inducted into the chapter:
Michael Midey Besser is a government and politics major. This spring, he will complete the requirements for his College Park Scholars citation in Public Leadership. Michael is a 2006 graduate from Andover High School, in Andover Massachusetts.
Max C. Czuper is a Jewish studies major. This spring, he will complete the requirements for his College Park Scholars citation in Public Leadership. Max is a 2006 high school graduate from The Weber School, in Atlanta, GA.
Cindy Yoon Jung Kim is a finance major in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. This fall, Cindy will earn her College Park Scholars citation in Business, Society and the Economy. She is a 2006 graduate from Thomas Sprigg Wootten High School, in Rockville, MD.
Rachel Emma Weitzner will graduate this May, with a Bachelor of Arts in hearing and speech sciences, and a minor in special education. She earned her College Park Scholars citation from the Advocates for Children Program in 2006. Rachel is a 2004 graduate from Holmdel High School, in Old Bridge NJ.
Meredith Z. Xu is majoring in international business in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. This fall, Meredith will earn her College Park Scholars citation in Business, Society and the Economy. She is a 2006 graduate from East Brunswick High School in New Jersey.
Established in 1920, the University of Maryland’s Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi recognizes and promotes the superior scholarship of students from five of the University System of Maryland campuses. Each year Phi Kappa Phi/National awards over $450,000 in scholarships and awards. The Maryland Chapter complements these awards with an additional $20,000 of scholarships.
For more information on this press release or on College Park Scholars, contact Kevin Baxter at (301) 314-1522, or bax@umd.edu. For more information about Chapter 22 of Phi Kappa Phi, consult its Website.
