Dean’s Excellence Awards
The Dean's Excellence awards were created to recognize top first-year and sophomore students for their achievements. The award is administered in partnership with the TAMU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, one of the oldest and most prestigious honor societies in the world. The goal of the Dean's Excellence awards is to identify and honor those students who exemplify the Phi Kappa Phi motto to "let the love of learning rule humanity.”
Gathright Scholar Awards
The top student in each college and classification is designated as a Gathright Scholar, with the second student recognized as the Deans' Excellence Award winner.
Thomas S. Gathright Scholar Award was established in April 1973 by The Association of Former Students in conjunction with Texas A&M's Student Government Association. Named in honor of the first president of the A&M College of Texas, this award recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement on a university-wide scale.
In spring 2019, the Gathright Award became a collaboration between The Association of Former Students, LAUNCH (Office of National Fellowships), and the Texas A&M chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and recognizes the top freshman, sophomore, and junior in each college.
Eligible Texas A&M Phi Kappa Phi member students will receive an email invitation to apply. Local review of applications are made each spring and the Texas A&M nominee to the national competition is recognized with a scholarship at our spring induction ceremony.
Applicants do not have to be Society members but must attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter.
Dissertation Fellowships support students in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral study. Awards are for 12 months of dissertation writing. All pre-dissertation requirements should be met by the application deadline, including approval of the dissertation proposal.
Love of Learning Awards help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members to include (but not be limited to): Graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching/research/learning, etc. Recipients of the Fellowship award are not eligible to apply. One hundred fifty-five awards, at $1,000 each, are distributed each year.
The competition is open to all active (dues current) Phi Kappa Phi members who:
- Have completed their baccalaureate studies by application submission deadline.
- Have not yet received a Fellowship or Award of Excellence grant.
The Phi Kappa Phi Scholar Award and Phi Kappa Phi Artist Award honor those individuals who demonstrate the ideals of the Society through their lifelong activities, achievements, and scholarship. Each awardee receives a recognition citation, life membership and a $1,000 donation to a nonprofit cause of their choice. Each award is given once per biennium.
First presented in 1974, the Scholar Award recognizes excellence in teaching, research and public service. The Artist Award was established in 1983 to recognize the achievements of those who, in addition to their outstanding scholarship, have displayed talents in the broad realm of the arts—creative, graphic, performing, visual and/or fine arts.