Monthly Archives: October 2023

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi to Install Chapter 359 at Meredith College


The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will install its 359th chapter at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Oct. 25. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.

The installation of the Meredith College chapter comes after a thorough petitioning process, site visit and approval from the Society’s board of directors. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

“Congratulations to the dedicated individuals supporting the Meredith College chapter. Your commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service exemplifies our values. Furthermore, your commitment to student success provides the environment for your students to thrive.  May your chapter support your institution’s continued pursuit of knowledge and a brighter future for all,” said Society Executive and CEO Director Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer.

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Dr. Betty-Shannon Prevatt, President-elect Laura Davidson, Secretary Dr. Jean Jackson, Treasurer Dr. Whitney Manzo, and Awards Officer Dr. Rebecca Duncan.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded when Marcus L. Urann had a desire to create a different kind of honor society—one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 select campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines and inducts approximately 25,000 new members each year. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.3 million to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi to Install Chapter 358 at Ave Maria University

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will install its 358th chapter at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida, on Oct. 17. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.

The installation of the Ave Maria University chapter comes after a thorough petitioning process, site visit and approval from the Society’s board of directors. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

“Congratulations to the dedicated individuals supporting the Ave Maria University chapter. Your mission-oriented community and commitment to academic excellence and leadership exemplifies our values. May your chapter symbolize the pursuit of knowledge, a dedication to serving others, a life well lived, and a brighter future for all,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer.

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Agnes Berki, Presidents-elect Ladislav Sallai and Stephen Wirick, Secretaries Megan Hare and Marie Ferman, Treasurer TJ Ijima, and Public Relations Officer John Spadaccini.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded when Marcus L. Urann had a desire to create a different kind of honor society—one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 select campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines and inducts approximately 25,000 new members each year. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.3 million to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

A $45 Million Settlement has been reached with Altria adding to the money available for those who bought a JUUL Product before December 7, 2022. 

A class action lawsuit claims that Plaintiffs paid more for JUUL products than they otherwise would have paid if they had been given accurate information about JUUL products’ addictiveness and safety, and that JUUL products were unlawfully marketed to minors.

Following the $255 million settlement with JUUL Labs, Inc. and related individuals and entities, a $45 million settlement with the remaining defendant, Altria, has been reached to resolve the class action litigation.

The group of people who Altria has agreed to pay is called the Settlement Class and it includes everyone who purchased JUUL products from brick and mortar or online retail stores or from JUUL directly before December 7, 2022. Those who are in this group and want to get paid must file a claim.

Class Members who previously submitted a claim in the earlier settlement with JUUL Labs do NOT need to submit a new claim for the Altria settlement to receive payment. Class Members will receive a single payment that includes their share from both settlements.

Millions of Emails and Mailed Notices have been sent and continue to be sent to identified Class Members with information about the Settlement. Recipients can click a link in the email or scan a QR code in the Mailed Notice or simply return the postage pre-paid, return postcard to file a claim. Those who do not receive an email or postcard about the Settlement can file a claim by visiting the website at www.JUULclassaction.com or obtain a paper claim form by contacting the Settlement Administrator at 1-855-604-1734.

Payments will be based on how much each claimant spent on JUUL products compared to other Settlement Class members. How much each claimant will receive is unknown at this time because it depends on how many claims are submitted. More information about how payments will be calculated is available in the Plan of Allocation at www.JUULclassaction.com.

In addition to filing a claim, class members may object to the Settlement. If they have not filed a claim, class members may request exclusion from the Settlement Class. Class members who do not exclude themselves may be bound by the Settlement, which may impact their rights. Full details about Class Member rights and options, including the deadlines to exercise them, are available at www.JUULclassaction.com. A full list of the products included in the Settlement and the ongoing litigation, as well as other important documents, are also available at www.JUULclassaction.com.

Frito-Lay Opens New Scholarship for College Students to Celebrate Community Builders

$100,000 in Scholarships Presented to Needs-Based Local Leaders

Plano, Texas, October 2, 2023 Frito-Lay® today announced the opening of a needs-based scholarship aimed at students who demonstrate a commitment to uplifting and leading their communities. The Frito-Lay Community Builders Scholarship will award four students $25,000 each to help further their higher-education goals. Applications open Tuesday, October 3, and students are encouraged to apply early and before the submission deadline of November 20.

“At Frito-Lay, we are committed to celebrating and supporting the next generation of community leaders by providing them with resources to help build a brighter future,” said Joan Cetera, vice president of corporate affairs at PepsiCo. “As these young leaders take the reins, we see a path towards a future where communities are more resilient, where diversity and inclusion are celebrated, and where every individual has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

The scholarship is an opportunity to honor students from all backgrounds who improve their communities and provide additional financial assistance to alleviate the burden of higher education costs. In addition to the application requirements, students will be asked to submit a response to a prompt about how they contribute to their communities and how it impacts their higher education path. Students are encouraged to illustrate their demonstrated leadership skills, extracurricular activities, work experience, and personal and professional goals.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must:

• Live in the United States (U.S.)
• Be high school seniors, graduates or current college undergraduates
• Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study in the U.S. at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year
• Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)

A diverse group of employees from Frito-Lay, including frontline workers, employee resource group leaders, and executives who each have a unique commitment to community building will make up the judging panel and review submitted applications. All applicants will be notified of their award status by January 30, 2024.

To learn more and enter, visit learnmore.scholarsapply.org/frito-lay.

About Frito-Lay North America

Frito-Lay North America is the $23 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Frito-Lay snacks include Lay’s® and Ruffles® potato chips, Doritos® and Tostitos® tortilla chips and branded dips, Cheetos® snacks, Stacy’s® pita chips, PopCorners® popped-corn snacks, SunChips® multigrain snacks and Fritos corn chips. The company operates 30+ manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, more than 200 distribution centers and services 315,000 retail customers per week through its direct-store-delivery model. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, on Twitter (@fritolay), on Instagram (@fritolay) and on Facebook (Frito-Lay).

MEDIA CONTACT: frito-lay@mww.com