TAMIU’s Pérez-Milicua Gets PKP Graduate Fellowship Recipient

BATON ROUGE, La.— Gisselle Pérez-Milicua, a graduating senior of Texas A&M International University has been awarded one of 60 nationwide Fellowships by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for the 2008-2009 academic year.

The Fellowship will enable Pérez-Milicua to pursue a degree in medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine. She is the daughter of Luis Perez-Milicua and Graciela Guajardo.

Since its creation in 1932, the Fellowship Program has become one of the Society’s most visible and financially well-supported endeavors, allocating nearly $380,000 annually to deserving students for first-year graduate study. Currently, 60 Fellowships of $5,000 and 40 Awards of Excellence of $2,000 are awarded each year.

The selection process for the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships and awards of Excellence is based on the applicants’ 1) undergraduate academic performance; 2) leadership and service on the campus and in the community; 3) evidence of graduate potential; 4) personal statement of educational perspective, purpose and objectives; and 5) the evaluation reports from three individuals who are in a position to attest to the student’s performance, citizenship and character.

Pérez-Milicua is the third TAMIU student to receive the exclusive Fellowship in the past three years. Previous recipients include Monica Guzman and Thao Thanh Vu. The TAMIU Phi Kappa Phi chapter was established in 2005.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. It annually inducts more than 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni.

The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated.

For additional information on TAMIU’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, e-mail Dr. Deborah Blackwell, chapter president at dblackwell@tamiu.edu or visit tamiu.edu/coas/lla/phikappaphi

For more information on Phi Kappa Phi, please call 800.804.9880 or visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu