3 MTSU students awarded Phi Kappa Phi study abroad grants

Middle Tennessee State University Honors student and psychology major Gresham Groves, left, is shown this summer during his study abroad trip to Vienna, Austria. Groves received a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society student abroad grant to help finance the trip and was joined by psychology major Mairiam Ibrahim, top right, and history major and Honors student Ethan Estes, bottom right, as MTSU students receiving the grants this summer. (Submitted photos; photo illustration by Jimmy Hart)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — This summer, three Middle Tennessee State University students will be studying abroad with financial support from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad.

History major and Honors student Ethan Estes, of Bell Buckle, will be studying in Scotland.

“I was incredibly excited to learn that I would be receiving a Phi Kappa Phi study abroad grant,” said Estes. “As you can imagine, traveling abroad is very expensive, so this scholarship has been crucial in helping to cover the many costs and relieve the stress of planning for this opportunity.”

Psychology major Mairiam Ibrahim, of La Vergne, will be in Germany, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. “This scholarship will help me offset some of the costs of the program, travel and other relevant expenses,” she said.

Honors student and psychology major Gresham Groves, of Spring Hill, is visiting Vienna, Austria, for his study abroad opportunity.

“I am beyond grateful to be receiving this scholarship that has made my goal of studying abroad a reality,” Groves explained. “For many, this scholarship may be the difference between studying abroad or spending a summer at home. The generous Phi Kappa Phi study abroad scholarship will allow me to pursue a once in a lifetime opportunity to see firsthand where the field of clinical/counseling psychology began in the small offices of figures such as Freud, Frankl, and Adler.

“I hope to make a difference one day in the lives of people who struggle or refuse to get treatment for mental health issues, and this trip abroad acts as one more milestone along the way to achieving my goal,” he added. “Beyond the money, this scholarship acts as further motivation to continue striving for excellence in every facet of my life. I am thankful to MTSU for providing the opportunity, and I am thankful to Phi Kappa Phi for paving the way!”

Applicants do not have to be PKP members but must attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter. Applicants also must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. For more information, visit https://www.phikappaphi.org/grants-awards/study-abroad.

— Robin E. Lee (Robin.E.Lee@mtsu.edu)