2025 Literacy Grant Recipients

Phi Kappa Phi is proud to present the 2025 Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Grant recipients. Grants of up to $2,500 are available to Phi Kappa Phi chapters and individual members to fund ongoing literacy projects or to create new initiatives.

Roselle Barretto

Science in the Mountains: STEM Literacy for Indigenous Youth

Science in the Mountains: STEM Literacy for Indigenous Youth is an educational initiative bringing hands-on, culturally responsive STEM learning to the Manide (Kabihug) Indigenous Tribe in the mountainous region of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Philippines. Targeting children ages 6–15, where school attendance is below 12%, the project fosters scientific literacy through interactive activities and community-based learning, aiming to spark curiosity and support long-term academic growth.

Lisa Taylor Cook

Expanding Literacy and Executive Functioning Skills in Early Childhood Programs

The Expanding Literacy and Executive Functioning Skills in Early Childhood Programs is an initiative that pairs children's literature with engaging, developmentally appropriate activities designed to strengthen executive functioning skills in young children. Grounded in current research, this project provides literacy kits that include materials and strategies tailored to support skills such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation. College students enrolled in an early childhood literacy course will help design and assemble the kits as part of their applied learning experience. The completed kits will be distributed to early childhood programs and professionals throughout North Texas to encourage the integration of executive functioning practices into early learning environments.

Kristen Diederichs

Storybook Music Project

Storybook Music Project by Utka Ensemble commissions and performs chamber music alongside storybooks in Dane County libraries. Designed to support youth literacy, enrich library programming, and broaden access to classical music, the project also creates a diverse repertoire for other ensembles seeking inclusive, family-friendly works.

Fonda Dupre

Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Deep Dive into Literacy: Bones Beneath the Waves

The Literacy Through the Arts Project is a creative literacy initiative designed to integrate reading, science, and the arts for 4th grade students at Central Academy of the Arts. Each student receives a copy of Bones by Steve Jenkins, a nonfiction book that explores the skeletal systems of humans and animals. The project includes a field trip to the Georgia Aquarium, where students observe marine animals and investigate how their skeletons support movement and survival. After returning, students apply their learning by creating original infographics that combine factual writing with artistic design. This project encourages students to think critically, read closely, and express their understanding through visual storytelling—bringing literacy and the arts together in meaningful ways.

Tabitha Ernst-Chadwick

Financial Literacy-Elevate Communities

Financial Literacy – Elevate Communities brings tailored financial education directly to local centers, churches, and schools, meeting people where they are. Serving all ages and backgrounds, the program offers workshops on budgeting, saving, homebuyer preparedness, fraud prevention, and more. By addressing each community’s unique needs, the initiative empowers individuals with the knowledge to achieve financial freedom.

Maria Garrett

Chemistry Outreach through the Lens of Scientific Literacy

Chemistry Outreach through the Lens of Scientific Literacy promotes scientific literacy among upper elementary students by pairing engaging chemistry demonstrations with critical thinking activities. Undergraduate students enrolled in a special topics course create accessible videos, handouts, and book reviews to support learning in grades 3–5. Through multimedia resources and literature, the project fosters curiosity, strengthens science communication, and encourages the next generation of scientists. All materials are shared with partner school classrooms and libraries via a dedicated Google Site.

Laurence Gebhardt

Refugee Literacy

BRIDGES Idaho supports refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia as they resettle in Idaho with limited English proficiency and unrecognized credentials. The program provides access to language instruction, educational resources, and employment pathways. Through partnerships with Idaho State University and local organizations, BRIDGES offers tailored support—including enrollment in ISU’s Intensive English Institute and technology courses to help refugees build literacy, integrate into the community, and achieve long-term success.

Stacy Jones

Family Literacy Engagement: Building a Community of Readers

Family Literacy Engagement is a community initiative that promotes a love of reading through shared family experiences. Each month, families at Central Elementary, Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary, and University Place Elementary receive curated book boxes featuring diverse, age-appropriate titles and interactive activities. Led by school librarians and supported by families and community partners, the program strengthens school-family connections, boosts reading skills, and fosters lifelong literacy for all.