Scholarships
The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation provides academic scholarships to students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Scholarship recipients are carefully chosen based upon their academic success, commitment to the ideals of Phi Kappa Tau, and service to their campus, community and Fraternity.
Thanks to the generosity of many alumni, parents and friends, the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation is proud to award a number of academic scholarships each year.
To apply, you will need one letter of recommendation, an up-to-date resume including any volunteer or campus community service and at least two references, and an essay describing how, by admitting you to membership, Phi Kappa Tau has helped you develop into a Man of Distinction.
Phi Kappa Tau Scholarship Application
Scholarship applications are due no later than March 1, 2024 at Midnight.
Please note the UIFI Scholarship has a separate application (below).
The following list encompasses all available undergraduate or graduate scholarships. If you are looking to apply for any of the SeriousFun stipends, visit the Philanthropy page.
Foundation Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of Phi Kappa Tau benefactors through the years, ten named endowed scholarships exist, each currently making $1,250 annual awards. Applicants must be members returning to school the next year as an undergraduate or graduate student.
Gregory D. Hollen Scholarship
One $1,500 scholarship is awarded through the generosity of Past Fraternity National President Gregory D. Hollen, Maryland ’75.
Paul A. Elfers Omega Scholarships
Six $4,500 scholarships are awarded through the generosity of Paul A. Elfers, Wisconsin-Madison ’24, a charter member of Omega chapter at Wisconsin. One of the six scholarships is reserved for an outstanding chapter treasurer. Elfers entered Chapter Eternal in 1995.
Parents Fund Scholarships
Two or more $1,000 scholarships are awarded through the generosity of parents. At least one scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student and one to a graduate student.
Thomas C. Cunningham Memorial Scholarship
One $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a current or former staff member who is enrolled in a graduate-level program to honor the memory of Past Fraternity National President Thomas C. Cunningham, Nebraska Wesleyan ’60. Cunningham entered Chapter Eternal in 2004.
Jon F. Hays Scholarship Fund
One $1,000 scholarship awarded to associate, Resident Council or Graduate Council members of Phi Kappa Tau pursuing a bachelor’s degree or a Juris Doctor. Applicants shall have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled as a full-time student. Recipients shall demonstrate financial need and a track record of outstanding community service. Preference shall be given to students who are current members or honorably-discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, first responders or whose parents have served in the U.S. Armed Forces or as first responders. Funding for scholarship provided by Jon F. Hays, Old Dominion ’07.
Rosser-Call Volunteer Support Scholarship
The award amount (at least $500 per scholarship) may be based upon a student’s expenses related to his service at a SeriousFun Children’s Network camp and and/or his financial need in the next school year. The Scholarship shall be available to associate or Resident Council members of Phi Kappa Tau seeking a bachelor’s degree. Applicants shall have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled as a full-time student or part-time student who has volunteered for a least one week or served as a staff member for one of the camps in the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Preference shall be given to students who have served at the Roundup River Camp in Colorado. Funding provided by Mike Rosser, Colorado State ’61.
UIFI Scholarships
The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation provides two Undergraduate Inter-Fraternity Institute (UIFI) Scholarships, which cover tuition for this outstanding Greek leadership development program. Hosted by the North American Inter-Fraternity Conference (NIC), UIFI is a five-day, hands-on clinic designed to reach attendees core values and assist them in finding their true fraternal calling.
Participants return to their chapter and teach what they learned about being a better leader to their chapter brothers. This program is geared for individuals who are ready to realize their potential and are ready to achieve goals set by themselves, their chapter, and their campus Greek communities.
UIFI is open to all initiated undergraduates. However, many participants either serve on their campus fraternity council or in a high leadership position within their chapter. For additional programming information on UIFI, including past attendee testimonials, please visit the NIC’s website.
For this application you will need to write 300 words describing and discussing your:
Chapter activity
Campus activity
Community service activity
Leadership activity
As well as another 300 words describing and discussing:
Why you should be chosen to attend
How this experience will impact your chapter and Greek community at large
chapter educational grant (Ceg) Reimbursement
Chapter Educational Grant Funds are accounts within the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation set up to receive gifts and restrict them for the educational benefit of specific chapters. The money can’t be used for any other chapter, or for the general endowment or Fraternity. The local Board of Governors determines how the funds are utilized on the chapter’s behalf.
The Chapter Educational Grant Funds can be used to provide scholarships, academic incentives, grants for Leadership Academy, Presidents Academy, Regional Conferences and Building Men of Character Retreats, national leadership programs, such as the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) or LeaderShape, and other educational programs.
Certain housing projects may qualify for funding provided those projects are educational in nature. Such building projects may include chapter house libraries, study labs/rooms/facilities and computer technology.
All Chapter Educational Grant requests must be made by the Board of Governors chairman or official alumni officer of the chapter.
National Program/Event Reimbursement Percentage Overview
The following programs/events are allowed these percentages: Presidents Academy (100%), Regional Conferences (40%), Leadership Academy, (100%), National Convention (20%) and National Conclave (41%).
Application Criteria
Grant request forms and other materials must be computer generated and electronically submitted.
Receipts for educational material or programs (other than scholarships) should be scanned and electronically submitted.
Grant request and receipts should be electronically submitted to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation at foundation@phikappatau.org.
Grant Request Deadlines
Completed grant requests should be electronically submitted to foundation@phikappatau.org at least 30 days prior to dispersal of funds.
Grant Selection
All grant requests are reviewed by the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation staff. All grant requests will be reviewed for compliance with Phi Kappa Tau Foundation and Internal Revenue Service guidelines. All grant requests must be made by the Board of Governors chairman or official alumni officer of the chapter.
Chapter Educational Grant Policy
This policy was approved by the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation Board of Trustees on September 19, 2009.