The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, today announced the recipients of a 2026 Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant. The $1,000 grants were awarded to 75 students across the nation.

The grants are designed to support undergraduates, both members and nonmembers from campuses that have Phi Kappa Phi chapters, as they seek expanded knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad.

“We are honored to support this year’s Study Abroad recipients as they expand their academic journeys beyond the classroom and across the globe,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer. “These students exemplify curiosity, leadership, and a dedication to lifelong learning. We look forward to seeing how their international experiences will broaden their perspectives, enrich their education, and shape the impact they make in their communities and professions.”

The selection process for a study abroad grant is based on the applicant’s academic achievement, campus and community service, relation of travel to academic preparation and career goals, a personal statement, letters of recommendation and acceptance into a study abroad program.

Established in 2001, the Study Abroad Grant Program is part of the Society’s robust portfolio of award and grant programs, which currently gives more than $1 million each year to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

For the complete list of recipients from the program, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/2026StudyAbroad. The application process for 2027 will open on Dec. 15, 2026.

About Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States and its territories. 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. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.” For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

CONTACT
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7777

The Collaboration Centers Youth Voice and Digital Safety as Artificial Intelligence Rapidly Transforms Society

NEW YORK, NY – DoSomething, the leading digital hub for youth-centered leadership and service, is launching Future Proof: Gen Z and AI, with support from Google. The new grassroots initiative is designed to educate, mobilize, and power young people to navigate and shape the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. The program will begin with a focus on schools near Google data centers, including in Columbus, Ohio and Dallas, Texas.

Gen Z is actively engaging with Artificial Intelligence tools, with usage doubling year over year for schoolwork and everyday tasks. While AI is transforming education, work, and society at unprecedented speed, the generation most impacted by these changes is often left out of the conversation. Young people are increasingly calling on leaders to address the growing impact of AI on trust, safety, and online information.

“Every young person deserves the tools to understand the technology shaping their world. DoSomething’s network of more than 1 million young change makers has shown that when properly equipped, young people drive real impact – creating ripple effects that influence everyone around them. This program puts youth voices at the center of the AI conversation, providing the resources, peer networks, and training opportunities that empower young people to advocate for responsible AI and drive impact in the places they call home,” said Utaukwa Allen, Global Lead, Economic & Community Development at Google.

“DoSomething’s members, thirteen to twenty-five year olds, are the first truly digital native generation,” said DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething. “They have been clear that they want a seat at the table to shape the role that artificial intelligence plays in their daily lives. With support from Google, DoSomething is excited to educate and equip today’s digital native youth to not just be prepared to live in an AI-driven world, but be active leaders shaping a responsible AI future.”

Future Proof: Gen Z and AI aims to close this gap by equipping young people with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to engage with AI responsibly and advocate for its ethical use.  Through a combination of peer-led learning and digital resources, participants will explore how AI impacts their lives, communities, and futures, while building practical skills to apply the technology in positive ways.

The program includes three core components:

• AI Unfiltered: What Gen Z Thinks mobilizes peer-led discussions in high schools and colleges to build AI literacy, surface youth concerns, and envision safe and equitable AI futures.
• The AI Vanguard: Changemaker Skills offers a series of virtual training sessions for up to 150 young leaders, equipping them with practical tools to drive safe, sustainable change in their communities using AI technologies.
• Future Forward: AI Playbook provides scalable digital resources designed to reach more than 2,500 young people nationwide with actionable insights on AI safety, ethics, and opportunity.

In its first year, this program will reach nearly 2,700 young people across digital and community-based activations, engaging more than 2,500 youth through DoSomething’s digital platform, 150 students through peer-led sessions in communities where Google is investing in economic development to support their data center investments, and training 20 youth leaders (ages 15–25) to amplify AI safety efforts locally and nationally.

“Gen Z is already engaging with AI every day, but they deserve the tools, support, and space to do so safely, thoughtfully, and confidently,” said Keely Quinn, Vice President of Programming & Impact at DoSomething. “Future Proof: Gen Z and AI creates opportunities for young people to ask questions, build real skills, and move from curiosity to action in ways that strengthen their communities and shape a more safe online future.”

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About DoSomething:
DoSomething is the leading digital hub for youth-centered impact and service with over 1 million active members and a 31-year legacy of mobilizing over 8 million young people in every U.S. area code and 189 countries to take action. We fuel young people to change the world. We specialize in transforming civically curious young people into civically committed leaders. Our actions and programs educate and equip young people, ages 13 to 25, to build solutions to the issues that matter most to them. DoSomething has registered 425,000 young people to vote since 2018 and awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships to young people committed to doing good in their communities since 2010.

About Google:
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Google Cloud, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.

CONTACT: DoSomething |  marcia@unbendablemedia.com

• Findings also highlight differences between student and parent perceptions, as well as the growing role of digital tools in mental health support
• More than 6 in 10 Americans enrolled in college and young adults ages 18-28 not enrolled in college reported experiencing mental or behavioral health struggles in the past year
• More than 1 in 4 respondents who used AI-based platforms for health-related reasons reported turning to those tools for companionship, reassurance and/or emotional support

UnitedHealthcare announced new findings from its fourth annual Young Adult & College Student Behavioral Health Report, a national survey conducted by YouGov examining how mental and behavioral health concerns¹ affect Americans enrolled in college and young adults ages 18-28 not enrolled in college. The survey also explored how parents may perceive and respond to these challenges.

Survey data found that among both college students and young adults, more than 6 in 10 (62%) self-reported that they or a friend/roommate experienced a mental or behavioral health concern in the past year, reflecting sustained levels reported across the past four years.

Regardless of educational or career path, mental health challenges persist while parent perception diverges:

• Among respondents, 54% of young adults and 69% of college students said they experienced a mental or behavioral health concern in the past year.
• College students reported a 15-point higher overall incidence of mental and behavioral health concerns compared to their peers not enrolled in college, with anxiety/stress, depression and ADD/ADHD self-reported at the highest rates among college students in four years.
• The data also point to a perception gap between college students and parents. 69% of students self-reported a mental or behavioral health concern in the past year compared with 43% of parents who reported what they believe students experienced — suggesting differences in awareness between students and families.

“As the behavioral health needs of college students become increasingly complex, we believe that data-driven insights are essential for identifying the challenges students face and informing effective, evidence-based support,” said Raphael D. Florestal-Kevelier, PhD, MPH, CEO of the American College Health Association (ACHA). “When institutions provide resources and support, students are better positioned to thrive both on and off campus.”

The survey also explored digital tool use for mental health support, which may be increasingly shaping how young adults and students manage mental health. Responses reveal that for some young adults, AI-based platforms are being used not only for information-seeking but also for companionship or emotional support, reflecting evolving patterns in how support may be sought:

• 31% reported they or a friend/roommate used AI-based platforms for symptom exploration, information gathering or coping strategies in the past year.
• Notably, 26% of users turned to AI platforms for companionship, reassurance and/or emotional support.

“As young people are increasingly turning to AI for guidance, it’s critical that families, educators, employers and health care stakeholders work together to help improve health literacy, strengthen care navigation and expand timely access to care,” said Dr. Nicole Brady, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Student Resources. “By creating supportive environments and helping with the use of emerging technologies, we can help young adults feel more informed and empowered to seek help.”

Of all young adults and college students who reported not seeking help for their behavioral or mental health concerns, 25% cited cost as a barrier, underscoring how affordability can influence whether individuals seek care.

Addressing barriers to care

To help address these challenges and improve access to care, UnitedHealthcare offers a range of behavioral health resources, including telephonic 24/7 mental health support lines; digital tools such as coaching and Calm Health; employee and student assistance programs; a peer support program; and in-person and virtual care options — providing multiple entry points to help support based on individual needs and circumstances. UnitedHealthcare also offers parent and youth conversation starter cards designed to help support discussions about mental well-being, particularly in light of the perception gaps identified between students and parents.

For more information about behavioral health resources, visit UHC.com and UnitedHealthcare Student Resources at UHCSR.com, the student health insurance division of UnitedHealthcare. To explore additional data, insights and trends, access the full report here.

About the Young Adult & College Student Behavioral Health Report

Commissioned by UnitedHealthcare and conducted by YouGov, the Young Adult & College Student Behavioral Health Report surveyed a total sample of 2,031, of whom 501 were college students who were currently enrolled in a U.S. institution of higher education (ages 18-28), 523 were parents of college students, 502 were young adults not enrolled in college (ages 18-28) and 505 were parents of young adults not enrolled in college. Fieldwork was undertaken between Oct. 16-31, 2025. The survey was carried out online.

¹ Response options included depression, anxiety/stress, suicidal ideation and intent, eating disorder, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse disorder, and other.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with physicians, care professionals, hospitals and other care facilities. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn.

UnitedHealthcare Media Contact

Will Holman
952-931-5926
william_s_holman@uhc.com