USA Students Awarded Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship

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Posted on October 3, 2024

Logan Gatlin

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University of South Alabama students Milena Mata and Maura Hawkins were awarded nationally competitive Phi Kappa Phi scholarships to study abroad recently. Mata, a senior who studied in Spain, is a public relations major graduating this December. Hawkins, a sophomore, studied in India and is a psychology major. She will graduate in May of 2026.

Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society dedicated to promoting academic excellence. Annually, the national association awards $1.3 million to students, chapters, members and institutions in scholarships and grants across academic disciplines that encompass sciences and the arts.  

“I have always known I wanted to study abroad, and my parents have encouraged it since I was a child,” Mata said. “Combining skills in Spanish and communications will help me become a better professional.”

When Mata learned that South offers a study abroad trip to Spain, she decided to make Spanish her second minor and go on the trip. 

Hawkins chose to study abroad in India because she wanted to serve the rural communities in that country. She and other students helped set up medical camps, and the University offered free medical screenings to multiple rural areas.

“While studying abroad in India, I was appreciative of not only helping residents through medicine but also learning plenty about Tamil Nadu culture,” Hawkins said. “I studied briefly about how to speak Tamil. But while in India, I discovered there are many different regional languages.”-

To learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, visit https://www.phikappaphi.org/#firstPane 

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