Application open now!

Deadline: January 22

The Key into Public Service scholarship is open to students at universities that have a Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapter, regardless of whether they have been inducted. Loyola University Chicago has a PBK chapter thus all students are eligible! Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is not required for eligibility.

Each scholar will receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship and will participate in a conference that provides training, mentoring, and reflection on pathways into local, state, and federal government careers.

Selection Criteria:

• Applicants should expect to graduate between 10/1/2024 and 8/1/2026. First-year students and seniors who will graduate in Spring 2024 are NOT eligible.
  Successful applicants will demonstrate in their essays, activities, and letter of recommendation, 1) an interest in working in local, state, or federal government service; and 2) breadth and depth across the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 while demonstrating academic excellence in your arts, humanities, mathematics, natural science, or social science major.
• Applicants will also need to provide the name of a professor, faculty member, or academic advisor who can attest to your academic achievements and/or interest in public service.
• Applicants must also commit to attend the conference for all award recipients taking place June 19-23, 2024 in Washington, D.C. This mandatory conference will provide training and mentoring opportunities and showcase pathways from liberal arts and sciences education into active citizenship and public service. The Society will provide transportation, lodging, and meal per diems. The Society may switch the format to a virtual event if needed to ensure the safety and health of all participants.

Preferred Characteristics for Applicants:

• Intellectual Curiosity: Ideas excite you and you learn from many viewpoints. You are passionate about your arts and sciences education, and eager to learn more about the world around you.
• Breadth and Interdisciplinary Depth: You demonstrate academic excellence in your arts, humanities, mathematics, natural science, or social science major with a minimum 3.5 grade point average. In addition, you also take a range of coursework outside your primary field of interest as demonstrated in your transcript and can communicate why a well-rounded education matters.
• Leadership: You can identify how you influence others positively, either on or off campus through academic research, campus extracurricular activities, internships, employment, or community organizing.
• Service to Others: You would like to pursue a career in government or another form of public service to serve the common good. You can show a meaningful commitment to others by your participation in volunteer/community service activities.

A third-year undergraduate student from Loyola received the scholarship in 2022.

The details and application are available here: https://www.pbk.org/publicservice