An Eastern Kentucky University senior biology major has been awarded a $5,000 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship for graduate study.

Fotina Lefta of Albania, a member of the EKU Honors Program who will enter the University of Kentucky’s School of Dentistry in the fall, was one of 60 students in the nation to receive the 2009 award from the national honor society.

Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards 60 fellowships of $5,000 each and 40 Awards of Excellence of $2,000 each to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the Society-wide awards. Lefta also received a $500 scholarship from the EKU chapter.

“I, the Phi Kappa Phi Board of Directors, and the EKU chapter congratulate Tina on her exceptional academic record and outstanding service to others,” said Dr. Robert B. Rogow, national Society President of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and dean of EKU’s College of Business and Technology. “I am very proud that she has received this prestigious fellowship from Phi Kappa Phi and wish her much success next year as she begins her graduate studies.”

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Phi Kappa Phi annually inducts more than 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni. The Society has chapters at 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.