Ole Miss Student One of Top 50 Scholars for National Honors Society

This year marks the third in a row that a University of Mississippi student has been named a 2017 Walter and Adelheid Hohenstein Fellow from Phi Kappa Phi honor society, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective honor society in all areas of academia. 
Elizabeth Wicks, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and French, while pursuing a minor in Chemistry from the University of Mississippi, has been named a 2017 fellow of Phi Kappa Phi and also received a $5,000 scholarship for her fellowship. The Ocean Springs native, who is currently in her first year at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, intends to use the money from her scholarship to further her education in the field of medicine.
“Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society with everyday excellence as its core value—a value that I believe we should all strive for from the moment we wake up each morning,” Wicks said. “Being a part of the Phi Kappa Phi Society enriched my experience at Ole Miss and introduced me to a lifelong community of citizen scholars across the nation who seek high values and humble service.”
“It has been truly rewarding to have the honor of being a part of this exceptional organization which focuses on a love of learning.”
Dr. Debora Wenger, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, is the current president of Phi Kappa Phi at University of Mississippi. She notes the significance of this scholarship for both Wicks and the school.
“This scholarship is an honor, not only for Elizabeth and our previous winners, but also for the University of Mississippi,” said Wenger. “The fact that we have had three students awarded national Phi Kappa Phi scholarships in the past three years proves to me, once again, that our students can compete against any in the country.”
Wicks intends to continue to pursue a career in global health and health policy with her degree in medicine from UMMC.
Past Phi Kappa Phi fellows include poet Rita Dove, YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley and two NASA scientists. Meghan Wagner, who is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Mississippi, and Marcus Daniels, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biological science in 2015 and went on to medical school at Johns Hopkins University, are two past Phi Kappa Phi fellowship winners from Ole Miss.
“Being named a Phi Kappa Phi Walter and Adelheid Hohenstein Fellow has been an immense honor. I am thankful to have received this support and national recognition from the Phi Kappa Phi organization in order to pursue my career as a physician ” Wicks said.
Story contributed by Meek School of Journalism & New Media graduate student Pepper Taylor, pdtaylor@go.olemiss.edu.