Luster Wins Phi Kappa Phi Award; UK Chapter Honored

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2014) — 2014 University of Kentucky graduate Dominque Luster is the recipient of a $5,000 graduate fellowship from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (PKP), the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Luster, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre within UK's College of Fine Arts, recently began pursuit of a master's in library and information science  at the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition, two UK graduate students have received Love of Learning awards, worth $500 each, from Phi Kappa Phi. Sara K. Ehrensberger, who is pursuing a Master of Science in physician assistant studies in the UK College of Health Sciences, and Ekim Ekinci, a third-year student in the UK College of Pharmacy, are among 147 PKP members nationwide to be selected for this honor.

Due in part to these awards, together with strong participation by members in other campus and national activities, the UK Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was named a 2014 'Chapter of Excellence' by the organization at its recent biennial convention held in St. Louis. This is the second time the UK Chapter, in only its sixth year of existence after being chartered in the spring of 2009, has received the 'excellence' distinction.

"The University of Kentucky chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi continues to distinguish itself nationally," said Kenneth Roberts, dean emeritus of the College of Pharmacy and president of the UK chapter. "Our student members routinely excel in national competition and the chapter has consistently exceeded the expectations and high standards established by the national headquarters. Throughout the chapter's brief history it has prospered under outstanding leadership and institutional support. The recognition received this year is a credit to the exceptional women and men who have become active members of the UK chapter."

“It was an honor to receive the Certificate of Excellence at the biennial convention on behalf of our chapter,” said Austin Cantor, emeritus faculty member of the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and UK chapter faculty vice president. “The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has over 300 chapters across the country. We were one of a small number of chapters to merit this distinction.”

Luster's interest in library science, and more specifically in archives and records management, took hold while she served a Learning Lab internship in Special Collections at UK.

"As an undergraduate, I researched a variety of topics across the humanities and presented at a number of conferences, including the Harvard Collegiate Research Conference and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR 2014), which was hosted by UK in the spring," Luster said. "I am really grateful for all of the support I received from across the UK campus, including the folks involved in the Gaines Center for the Humanities, the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards."

Luster also spoke of her appreciation for PKP and the UK chapter. "Being named a PKP Fellow is about more than just name recognition or financial compensation, it's about being part of a community of scholars who are there to support or encourage you whenever you need them."

Phi Kappa Phi's robust award programs give more than $1 million each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives.

Founded in 1897, the society annually inducts students from more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. PKP membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff, alumni and community members who have achieved scholarly distinction also may qualify.

PKP's mission is "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

The UK Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi http://www.uky.edu/academy/phi-kappa-phi

will issue its annual invitations for membership Oct. 10. The chapter's annual induction ceremony will take place Monday evening, Nov. 3, in the Small Ballroom of the UK Student Center.

MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200; carl.nathe@uky.edu.