• Thomas Pangia of Milledgeville who is pursing a degree in chemistry;
• Hannah Sadowski of Alpharetta, a Georgia College Honors Program student who is pursuing environmental science degree; and
• Erin Schubach of Loganville, a Georgia College Honors Program student who is pursuing a degree in English.

The award recognizes outstanding rising sophomores studying at Phi Kappa Phi member institutions. Pangia, Sadowski and Schubach are the first Georgia College students to receive the honor.

“We are proud of Thomas, Hannah, and Erin and hope that Phi Kappa Phi, perhaps through its graduate fellowships, can play a role in their future academic success,” said Julia Metzker, president of Georgia College Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. “These young scholars are outstanding examples of academic excellence at Georgia College.”

Phi Kappa Phi approved the creation of the Emerging Scholar Award in 2007. Each year, the honors society grants 60 awards in the amount of $250 to students who meet all the following eligibility requirements:
• Attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter;
• Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale; and
• Have a minimum of 30 semester of academic credit.

Applicants are evaluated based on numerous factors, including academic recognition and awards, campus and community involvement, leadership experiences, and quality and scope of proposed program.

"This award is part of Phi Kappa Phi's continuing effort to respond to the needs of undergraduate students in American higher education," said Society Executive Director Dr. Perry A. Snyder.

For more information, call Melanie DeVore, PKP Scholarship Coordinator and Georgia Power Endowed Professor of Environmental Science, at (478) 445-2438, or Steven Elliott-Gower, Director of the Honors & Scholars Program, at (478) 445-1467 or visit www.phikappaphi.org/Web/Awards/Emerging_Scholars.html.