Top Fellowship Bios
Phi Kappa Phi is proud to present the 2025 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship recipients. The Society awards two Fellowships of $35,000 each, six at $15,000 each, and forty of $8,500 each to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the Society-wide awards.
1897 Fellow
Annamarie Thompson
Nominating Chapter: Mississippi State University
Graduate Institution: Duke University School of Medicine
Annamarie Thompson continues the tradition of stellar academic performance and dedication to service that has become synonymous with recipients of the Phi Kappa Phi 1897 Fellowship. Thompson graduated from the Mississippi State University in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a minor in Mathematics. Thompson will be pursuing a Ph.D. in molecular cancer biology at Duke University.
Thompson was heavily engaged in multiple leadership positions on campus and in the community. On campus, she served as a Bagley College of Engineering Ambassador, on the Leadership Council, on the Dean search committee, and as an Honors College Ambassador. In the community, she served as an elected representative on the Undergraduate Research Experience Program, and as a volunteer at the local humane society, at the Grace Presbyterian Church Nursery, at a local science/math camp, and an arts festival.
Thompson was a high achieving participant in the Mississippi State University Honors program. In addition to her course work, she completed a capstone project, successfully defended her senior thesis, and served as an Honors College Ambassador. She worked as an undergraduate research assistant, participated in three medical research projects, presented work at three conferences, and contributed to an article pending publication.
As a child, Thompson became fascinated with the healthcare experiences of others; she plans to devote her career to the fight against childhood cancer.
Sherrill Carlson Fellow
Quintin Kies
Nominating Chapter: United States Air Force Academy
Graduate Institution: University of Wisconsin at Madison
Bio coming soon.
Marcus L. Urann Fellows
Megan Honnold
Nominating Chapter: The University of New Mexico
Graduate Institution: Rutgers University
Meg Honnold has been named a Marcus L. Urann Fellow by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Honnold completed her undergraduate work at the University of New Mexico, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Honnold’s undergraduate academic experiences were highly influenced by the interplay of interdepartmental research priorities and different streams of intellectual thought, as she completed her honors thesis in her dual departments of Sociology and American Studies, under the supervision of multiple faculty members. This foundation has spurred her on to pursue multidisciplinary graduate work to culminate in a Ph.D.
Vasilii Maksimov
Nominating Chapter: Alfred University
Graduate Institution: The University of North Texas
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi awards a 2025 Marcus L. Urann Fellowship to Vasilli Dmitrievich Maksimov. Maksimov is a graduate of Alfred University with a double major in glass engineering science & physics and double minor in mathematics and computer science. He was active in the Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi. Vasilli volunteered with the Summer Research Institute. He is an international student with a passion for helping the community. He founded the Atomistic Simulations Club and his volunteer work included aiding international students to acclimate to the United States culture. Vasilli will continue his studies to earn a Ph.D. in materials science and has been accepted to the University of North Texas and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Shaheed Perez
Nominating Chapter: Florida State University
Graduate Institution: University of California, Irvine
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has awarded a 2025 Marcus L. Urann Fellowship to Shaheed Perez, a graduate of Florida State University with a major in physics and a minor in mathematics.
During his time at FSU, Perez was actively involved in the Florida-Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Sigma Pi Sigma, Phi Beta Kappa, and Golden Key International Honour Society. An honors student with a passion for science outreach, he founded the Future Physicists Society, a recognized student organization on campus. His volunteer efforts included supporting international students through the Center for Global Engagement, participating in the FSU Shadow Experience, presenting at the 88th Annual Physics Conference for the Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society, and serving as a judge at the First Lego League Regional Championship.
Perez will continue his academic journey by pursuing a Ph.D. in theoretical physics at the University of California, Irvine.
Aryan Verma
Nominating Chapter: The University of Texas at Dallas
Graduate Institution: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Aryan Verma, a 2024 graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, has been awarded a 2025 Marcus L. Urann Fellowship from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He will begin his M.D. studies at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he is especially eager to train across diverse models of clinical care—including Parkland Hospital, a county hospital; Clements University Hospital, an academic teaching hospital; and the Dallas VA Medical Center, a veteran’s hospital.
Verma’s extensive academic research, combined with deep involvement in university and community leadership, has prepared him to pursue his goal of becoming a geriatrician who integrates clinical care, community engagement, research, and public policy to improve the lives of older adults. A defining experience in his journey was serving as a Bill Archer Fellow, where he worked as a legislative intern in the Washington, D.C., office of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. There, he advocated for equity-driven provisions in the Farm Bill aimed at reducing food insecurity among under-resourced older adults. This experience sharpened his understanding that advancing the health of older adults requires more than clinical care—it demands systemic change.
Caroline Whitmarsh
Nominating Chapter: The University of Texas at Austin
Graduate Institution: UT Southwestern Medical Center
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has named Caroline Whitmarsh a 2025 Marcus L. Urann Fellow. A 2024 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Whitmarsh earned a bachelor's degree with highest honors in psychology and in the university’s prestigious Plan II Honors program—an interdisciplinary curriculum blending STEM and the humanities. She was the College of Liberal Arts Dean's Distinguished Graduate, the highest award bestowed by the college. Whitmarsh intends to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and has been accepted by five universities for her graduate studies. While at the University of Texas, Whitmarsh was a research assistant and teaching assistant, and a member of the Plan II Honors Director's Student Advisory Committee. As a participant in the Psychology Departmental Honors Program, she successfully defended her thesis focused on upper-elementary students with reading comprehension difficulties.
Syakira Divany Wijaya
Nominating Chapter: Berea College
Graduate Institution: Southern Methodist University
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has selected Syakira Wijaya as the 2025 Alice and Russell True Foundation Fellow. Wijaya recently graduated summa cum laude from Berea College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and computer and information science, and has been accepted into Southern Methodist University to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychological science. At Berea College, Wijaya was a Bonner Scholar, a service-based leadership curriculum enrichment program. She was a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, and President of its Berea College chapter. She also was a member of Epsilon Pi Tau, the International Honor Society in Technology. Wijaya's undergraduate research focused on child development and socio-environmental influences, including technology. She presented some of her findings at the 2024 International Congress of Infant Studies in Glasgow, Scotland, where she won the Outstanding Undergraduate Award Submission.