Five Texas State Graduate Students Awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award in 2019

The Graduate College is pleased to announce that five Texas State students received the Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award in 2019. This $500 award helps active Phi Kappa Phi members fund post-baccalaureate professional development pertaining to their graduate studies, ranging from costs associated with doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, and travel expenses for teaching, research, and/or learning.

The awardees include: 

Laura Brackney – M.M. student in music with a concentration in composition

Joshua Brian Hodge – Ph.D. student in geography

Meagan Hoff – Ph.D. student in developmental education

Amy Jiang – M.Ed. student in management of technical education

Melody Martinez – M.S. student in aquatic resources

Amy Jiang sought out assistance from The Graduate College's external funding advising services to prepare her application. She received her Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Beijing Institute of Technology in 2001 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Developmental Psychology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2003. She had been searching for a master’s degree program to advance her education while working full time and raising a young child when the MEd program from the Department of Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (OWLS) stood out because of its unique design for non-traditional students and its connections to her two primary fields—education and management. She graduated from the program in December and plans to advance to a leadership position at this stage of her career, in a role that allows her to facilitate positive organizational change. 

An active life-long adult learner, Amy’s primary educational goal is to continue learning—a fitting goal for a Love of Learning Award recipient. She appreciates that the award recognizes her academic achievement, but, more importantly, she values its support of her commitment to helping others learn. Amy advises future applicants to believe in the uniqueness of their stories and to work with professionals such as the external funding coordinators in The Graduate College during the application process.

Congratulations to all on earning this award!