Category Archives: News & Events

Stanford Summer Session Tuition Grants

Posted on by

The Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa has been informed about an opportunity at Stanford University. Here is the information:​

For 2026, we are offering a Merit Grant for students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, and for those who are awarded a Merit Grant, additional Need-Based Grants are available to help further reduce the cost of tuition.

 Merit Grant Eligibility and Requirements:

  • Have completed at least one year of undergraduate study
  • Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher (or equivalent)
  • Submission of a short essay

 Need-based Tuition Grant Eligibility:

  • Meet all requirements of a merit-based grant
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Provide a copy of Student Aid Report from a completed FAFSA application for the 2024-2025 or 2025-26 academic year.
  • FAFSA must be completed for current institution and not for Stanford University.

​T​he application deadline to be considered for a Tuition Grant is February 13, 2026.

​You are also invited to attend an upcoming webinar​ on Tuesday, January 20th. This session will highlight the opportunities available to  visiting students, including details about ​Stanford’s merit and need-based grants.

 Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM PST
Location: Zoom
Registration Link:  https://stansum.co/prospective-student-webinar-2026
 
This webinar will cover:

  • How Stanford Summer Session works
  • Academics and Student Life
  • Details on our Tuition Grants for qualified students
  • Q&A session to answer student questions live

Students can sign up to learn more at: https://summer.stanford.edu/merit-grant-interest.

​If you have any further questions, you can reach out to Patricia Hall, Academic Programs, Stanford Summer Session at pghall@stanford, edu, or visit summer.stanford.edu.

Congratulations Cade Czarnecki, PBK Public Service Scholar from the University of Notre Dame!

Posted on by

Cade Czarnecki is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame, where he studies Political Science and Economics. He currently serves as the president of BridgeND, a co-partisan organization aimed at fostering respectful political dialogue amongst passionate, young students and citizens. Combining his political fervor and quantitative proficiency, Cade will spend his senior year writing an Economics thesis that examines labor market outcomes across states in relation to federal funding disparities driven by their electoral vote significance. Cade’s previous professional experiences include interning for a judge in his home state of Ohio, working in the Office of the Executive Secretariat at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and gaining insight into the legal sector at a law firm. This summer, Cade will work as a Poverty Research Fellow at Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunity, focusing on evidence-based solutions to poverty.  After graduation, Cade intends to pursue a J.D. to translate his research experience into actionable policy change.

Chosen from over 800 applicants attending Phi Beta Kappa chapter institutions across the nation, the 2025 Key into Public Service Scholars hail from 16 states. These rising college juniors and seniors display notable breadth and depth across the arts and sciences in pursuit of their studies ranging from a double major in History and Anthropology with a minor in Global Health to a triple major in Economics, Political Science, and Sociology. Their career aspirations are just as diverse, ranging from serving as the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Arizona Governor’s Office to Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

In celebration of their achievements, each 2025 scholar will receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship and will participate in an educational conference held in Washington, D.C., providing them with invaluable training, mentorship, and opportunities for reflection on pathways to active citizenship. Learn more at www.pbk.org/2025-kips-scholars.

Congratulations, Cade!

Congratulations to Epsilon Chapter Members, Clare Cullinan and Bennett Schmitt!

Posted on by

Clare Cullinan of South Bend, Indiana, has been named valedictorian and Bennett Schmitt from Jasper, Indiana, has been selected as salutatorian of the 2025 University of Notre Dame graduating class.

The 180th University Commencement Ceremony will be held May 18 (Sunday) in Notre Dame Stadium for graduates and guests. During the ceremony, Cullinan will present the valedictory address, and as salutatorian, Schmitt will offer the invocation.

A smiling female student with long brown hair, wearing a green jacket, stands in front of a stone archway on the Notre Dame campus.
Valedictorian Clare Cullinan (photo by Michael Caterina/University of Notre Dame)

Cullinan, a global affairs major with a studio art minor, is in the first graduating undergraduate class of the Keough School of Global Affairs. She will graduate summa cum laude with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average. She has been a member of the dean’s list every semester and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Schmitt, who has majors in environmental sciences and applied and computational mathematics and statistics and a minor in energy studies, will graduate summa cum laude from the College of Science with a 4.0 grade point average. He is a Sorin Scholar with the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, a member of the dean’s list and a Phi Beta Kappa early inductee.

A smiling male student with short brown hair wearing a navy suit, blue patterned tie and lapel pin stands in front of a building with stone arches on the Notre Dame campus.
Salutatorian Bennett Schmitt (photo by Michael Caterina/University of Notre Dame)

The Epsilon Chapter is very proud of you, Clare and Bennett! Congratulations and best wishes!

2024 Early Induction at the Epsilon Chapter of the University of Notre Dame

Posted on by

At a ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2024 in B071 Jenkins Nanovic Hall, the Epsilon Chapter of Indiana was pleased to induct the following new members to Phi Beta Kappa:

  • Annaliese Marie-Athonette Anderson
  • Charlotte Cardarella
  • Marko Roman Gural
  • Isabella Henriquez
  • Halle Elizabeth Keane
  • Amir Khouzam
  • Hayden Michael Kirwan
  • Madeleine Kohl
  • Connor Walsh Marrot
  • Andrew Allen Packard
  • Bennett Schmitt
  • Elanor E. Sullivan

Dr. Eva Dziadula, President of the Epsilon Chapter, administered the pledge to the new inductees. Dr. Eugene Gholz, Vice-President of the Epsilon Chapter, told us about the history of the Society, and Helen Cawley, Secretary, spoke about volunteer opportunities and the Society’s upcoming 250th Anniversary Celebration.

We heartily welcome the newest PBK members to our chapter here at the University of Notre Dame and wish them all the best in their lifelong journey of learning!

Phi Beta Kappa Scholarships

Posted on by
View web version of this message

Public Service Scholarship

$5,000 Scholarships Available to Undergraduates

The Society is now accepting online applications for our Key into Public Service scholarship. The program connects undergraduate arts and sciences majors with pathways into local, state, and federal government service. The Society will select 20 successful applicants who will receive $5,000 academic scholarships and will participate in an educational conference experience in Washington, D.C., that will provide them with training, mentoring, and resources on pathways into public service careers. Phi Beta Kappa membership is not required, but students must attend a Phi Beta Kappa chapter institution and have a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Characteristics of ideal recipients include intellectual curiosity, breadth and depth in arts and sciences coursework, leadership propensity, and service to others. Interested students can learn more and apply online until January 21, 2025, at PBK.org/ServiceScholarsApp.