Megan Bird ’21 is among this year’s recipients of a Phi Kappa Phi fellowship that provides financial support to first-year graduate students across all academic disciplines. Her award is for $8,500, which she will apply toward studies that begin this fall at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
A Levine Scholars Program alumna, Bird completed a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration with a double major in Spanish and a minor in statistics. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Bird served three years as news editor for the student newspaper, Niner Times, and was a teaching assistant for several professors during her time at UNC Charlotte. She also co-authored a scholarly publication about judicial clerks with John Szmer, an associate professor in the Political Science and Public Administration Department.
“UNC Charlotte's customizable education experience really gave me the space to explore what I wanted to do, allowing me to learn about a breadth of subjects with still a depth of knowledge,” said Bird. “This fellowship from Phi Kappa Phi will propel me one step closer toward my goal of working in public interest law. Thank you to the Political Science Department for the invaluable support and instruction, the Levine Scholars Program for the friendships and mentorship and Dr. Malin Pereira for advising me on scholarship opportunities. I sincerely hope to pay forward all of your kindness and the generosity of this scholarship.”
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi currently awards 54 fellowships of $8,500 each, six at $20,000 each and two at $35,000. Established in 1932, the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship has become the society’s signature award, providing funding for the first year of graduate or professional study. Phi Kappa Phi membership is by invitation only, by an established campus chapter, and is restricted to students with integrity and high ethical standards and who are ranked scholastically in the top of their class, regardless of field of study: the top 7.5% of second-semester university juniors and the top 10% of seniors and graduate students.
"Phi Kappa Phi fellows represent the most promising graduate students in the nation. We’re proud to partner with our local chapters to recognize these impressive emerging scholars and help support their academic journey,” said Traci Navarre, acting society executive director.