Athens, Ga. – Three University of Georgia undergraduates have been awarded 2008 Study Abroad Grants by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

The recipients are Sarah Alongi, a sophomore marketing and public relations double major from Canton; Zachary Anderson, a junior anthropology major from Athens; and Sarah Pelham, a sophomore Chinese language and literature and comparative literature double major from Suwanee.

Phi Kappa Phi, founded in 1897, is the oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Study Abroad Grant program is open to members and non-members who are pursuing study abroad opportunities related to their field of study. Fifty awards of $1,000 each are given annually.

“Study abroad is increasingly being recognized as an important component of higher education,” said David S. Williams, director of UGA’s Honors Program. “I am proud of Sarah, Zachary and Sarah for pursuing international studies. They are very worthy recipients of Phi Kappa Phi grants.”

Alongi is currently in Tanzania participating in a May term program sponsored by the Institute for Leadership Advancement in UGA’s Terry College of Business. Alongi is studying the country’s developing economy first-hand by visiting businesses and meeting with government officials and university administrators in several cities.

“I am thrilled to be the recipient of this grant,” said Alongi. “I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Tanzania to study global leadership and international communications.”

While at UGA, Alongi has participated in numerous activities that have developed her interest further in global and community service career pursuits. She has been involved with Women to the World and the Global Text Project as well as serving as co-director of AIDS Walk/Run Athens.

Anderson is currently spending the May term in Fiji, exploring sense of place and resource management issues of a locally managed marine conservation area under the guidance of Peter Brosius, an anthropology professor at UGA. After this study abroad trip, Anderson plans to stay in Fiji and then travel to Brazil to conduct research for his undergraduate thesis.

“The Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant allows me to make the most of my undergraduate education in anthropology,” said Anderson. “It also helps pave the way for future travels and research.”

In addition to a minor in ecology and completing a certificate in environmental ethics at UGA, Anderson is part of a team that manages the web site for the Coweeta LTER (Long Term Ecological Research), a U.S.D.A. Forest Service research site in western North Carolina. After graduation, he would like to complete graduate studies in cultural anthropology, focusing on enthnoecology and conservation-related issues.

Starting in June, Pelham will be participating in two language immersion programs in Beijing. She will study Mandarin at the Beijing Institute of Education until early August and then spend the fall semester at the Capital University of Economics and Business.

“I cannot thank Phi Kappa Phi enough for helping me reach my goal of studying abroad in China,” said Pelham. “Receiving the award will help me fulfill my dreams.”

Pelham says her interest in China’s culture and history, along with human rights and environmental issues, puts her on two possible career paths. She either would like to be a journalist or work for a non-governmental organization, focusing on China’s issues.

For more information on The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, visit http://www.phikappaphi.org.

For more information on UGA’s Honors Program, visit http://www.uga.edu/honors.

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Note to editors: Photos of Alongi, Anderson and Pelham are available by contacting Wendy Jones at 706/542-6927 or wfjones@uga.edu.