Recognizing Academic Excellence in First-Year Students
Phi Eta Sigma is the nation鈥檚 oldest and largest honor society for first-year college students, celebrating academic achievement and service excellence. Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, it has grown to over 350 chapters and 1 million members nationwide.
At Georgia Southern, students are invited to join Phi Eta Sigma after achieving a minimum 3.6 GPA in their first fall semester as a full-time student. Membership connects you to a prestigious network of scholars, leadership opportunities, and service initiatives, helping you build a strong foundation for success.
Members who choose to be active in the Phi Eta Sigma student organization work in conjunction with the Office of First and Second Year Experience (FYSY) to promote the first-year experience on campus (such as with Conversations with Professors) and are involved with community service activities in their local area.
Phi Eta Sigma has active chapters both in Statesboro and at Armstrong/Liberty.
Statesboro Chapter
Georgia Southern鈥檚 Statesboro chapter marked its 32nd year as an active chapter on October 19, 2023.
Statesboro chapter of Phi Eta Sigma is the .
The Georgia Southern chapter of Phi Eta Sigma extends offers to join in December to students who
- begin at Georgia Southern as new college students the spring, summer or fall of that calendar year
- take at least 12 hours in the fall
- have earned a cumulative Georgia Southern GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The chapter sends letters to students鈥� permanent home address as well as via email. If you have not received communication about joining by the beginning of spring classes and believe you should have, contact faculty advisor Dr. Chris Caplinger at caplinca@georgiasouthern.edu.
Received an invitation to join the Statesboro chapter?
Follow the link below for instructions.
How to Join Phi Eta Sigma2023-2024 Officers
- President: Megan Patterson
- Vice President: Parker Daniels
- Secretary: Daniel Troyano
- Treasurer: Jaylin Wood
- Social Coordinators: Holly Bollinger and Daysha MaCallum
- Service Coordinators: Victorias Chester and Logan Cauley
- National Conference Delegate: Sarah Batenko
Local Scholarships
Each Spring, Phi Eta Sigma sponsors a scholarship competition for active members of the local chapter. The 2025 deadline is February 1st. In order to be considered, a student must have been inducted for a full semester previous to applying.
Congratulations to 2024 winners Aiden Kirkley, Naveah Newsome and Megan Patterson.
National Scholarships
Active Georgia Southern Phi Eta Sigma members have been very successful in the organization鈥檚 national scholarship competition over the past decade. The winners since 2006 are:
- 2024: Jaylin Wood ($1000)
- 2022: Jasmine Alexander ($5000) and Anna Turner ($1000)
- 2021: Sarah VanOrder ($5000); Mary-Gloria Chidiebere Iwunwa ($1000); Mackenzie Miller ($1000); Lauryn Pruitt ($1000)
- 2020: Michaela Mahekeya ($1000), Malainha McKinney ($1000), Mackenzie Miller ($1000)
- 2019: Michaela Mahekeya ($5000); Manisha Dhanani ($5000); Dajah Jones ($1000)
- 2018: Ashley Archer ($7000, Graduate Scholarship); Elizabeth Hartley ($5000); Emily Coates ($1000); Elizabeth Lennon ($1000)
- 2017: Reid Loveless ($5000); Sharmita Saha Porshia ($5000); Ashley Archer ($1000)
- 2016: Candace Moon ($6000)
- 2015: Ashleigh Rasheed ($6000)
- 2014: Melissa Royal ($6000); Keenya Riggins ($1000)
- 2013: Victoria Burnett ($6000); Melissa Royal ($1000)
- 2012: Hayley Johnson ($6000)
- 2011: Sarah Moore ($6000); Genevieve Lyke ($1000)
- 2010: Jessica Spaleta ($6000)
- 2009: Allison Beasley ($1000)
- 2008: Zachary Damon ($1000)
- 2007: Larry Cloud ($1000); Mallori Hecht ($1000)
- 2006: Ashley Reed ($1000)
Armstrong Chapter
Georgia Southern鈥檚 Armstrong chapter marked its 40th year as an active chapter on October 25, 2018.
The Georgia Southern Armstrong chapter of Phi Eta Sigma extends offers to join in December to students who
- begin at Georgia Southern as new college students the spring, summer or fall of that calendar year
- take at least 12 hours in the fall
- have earned a cumulative Georgia Southern GPA of 3.6 or higher.
The chapter sends letters to students鈥� permanent home address as well as via email. If you have not received communication about joining by the beginning of spring classes and believe you should have, contact faculty advisor Dr. Joshua Williams at jlwilliams@georgiasouthern.edu.
Current Officers
- President: Cecielia Huy Pham
- Vice-President: Heaven Divinity
- Social Coordinator: Kia Simms
National Scholarships
Active Georgia Southern Phi Eta Sigma members have been very successful in the organization鈥檚 national scholarship competition over the past decade. The chapter advisor with the assistance of a committee, screens the applications to put the strongest candidates forward each year. The pool of nominees typically comes from members who apply for local scholarships. Nomination packets are typically due March 1 and often require a significant amount of revision. The number of nominees we can put forward is determined by the size of the previous year鈥檚 initiation class. Georgia Southern has nominated three students for the past several years.
Phi Eta Sigma members collected a total of 276 pounds of non perishable food items to donate to the local America鈥檚 Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. The donation was made on April 15th and was the first service project of 2019 which involved new inductees from our 2019 induction. Fantastic Start!