Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.—A Mississippi State double-major graduate student is being recognized with a 2015 Love of Learning honor by Phi Kappa Phi.
Jonathan R. Belanich is receiving a $500 award from the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. At the university, he simultaneously is pursuing a doctoral degree in biological sciences/microbiology and a master’s in applied anthropology.
A Lindenhurst, New York, native now residing in Starkville, he is among 80 members from around the country being honored this year by PKP. He will apply his award toward microbiology dissertation research expenses.
Belanich was initiated into PKP in 2012 at the University of Alabama, from which he graduated last year. While at UA, he was honored with both a Henry Pettus Randall Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award and Randall Endowed Research Scholarship, among other recognitions.
For the seventh consecutive year, MSU’s PKP chapter was named a Chapter of Excellence—one of only 29 chosen for the top honor from more than 300 active chapters under consideration this year.
By receiving the Chapter of Excellence distinction, the MSU chapter is recognized as a thriving organization that meets regularly, holds annual initiations and applies frequently for PKP’s select award and grant programs.
Granted through invitation only, PKP membership is limited to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of second-term juniors. Faculty and other non-students achieving scholarly distinction also qualify. For more, visit www.phikappaphi.org.
Established in 2007, the society’s recognition program annually selects only 160 members. Awards may be applied to graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development or education-related travel expenses.
Demonstrated leadership and community service experiences, along with academic honors and awards, are among criteria for selection.
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, the society currently has more than 300 university and college chapters throughout North America and the Philippines. Its more than 32,000 members include students, faculty, professional staff and alumni.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.