Appalachian State University has a local chapter of the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi, which recognizes outstanding scholarship by both undergraduate and graduate students. What is especially noteworthy about the Phi Kappa Phi is that it recognizes exceptional scholars from all academic disciplines. This is expressed well in the motto of Phi Kappa Phi: "Let the love of learning rule humankind." As in previous years, this spring Appalachian's Chapter Alpha of Phi Kappa Phi will induct into its membership a new class of outstanding undergraduate and graduate scholars.
As part of its mission of promoting scholarship, Appalachian's Chapter Alpha of Phi Kappa Phi now provides scholarship monies to support student research. This year the local chapter is presenting these scholarship monies for the first time, and has received numerous excellent applications presenting many fine projects. Having screened these, the local chapter has named two awardees:
- Charity Epley, who will work in the Chemistry Department under Professor Michael Ramey. Her project centers on the synthesis of substituted hexaphenylbenzenes for use in a number of applications.
- Caitlin Wotanis, who will work in the department of Biology under Professor Lynn Siefferman. Her project is to examine the blue-green coloration in eggshells of Eastern Bluebirds to see whether the coloration functions as a sexually selected signal of a female's phenotypic quality to its mate.
Congratulations to Charity and Caitlin as they pursue their projects. Many fine applications were submitted, and Phi Kappa Phi thanks all those who presented these fine proposals.
Alan J. Hauser, President
Appalachian's Chapter Alpha
The National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi