Senior earns Phi Kappa Phi scholarship, spends summer in Southern Africa

July 31, 2017

[caption id="attachment_7493" align="alignright" width="244"] Senior Jordan Nourse sits atop Victoria Falls on the on the Zambezi River.[/caption] Jordan Nourse, senior exercise science major in the School of Health and Kinesiology, spent her summer traveling to Southern Africa thanks in part to the Georgia Southern Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 123 Study Abroad Scholarship in the amount of $500. From June 17 to July 18 Nourse, a native of Covington, Georgia, traveled to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, studying and experiencing diversity, history and culture in environments that exhibit core developmental issues in politics, cultural identity and inequality. “The reason I was drawn to this study abroad was to help me enhance my intellectual understanding of the region and its people, while also enabling me to become a more adept health care professional through enhancing my own personal development.” Nourse had to have a minimum 3.75 grade point average and submit an electronic application, unofficial transcripts and two letters of recommendations from University faculty to be eligible for the scholarship. While studying abroad, Nourse visited the Himba Tribe, Bo Kapp and Victoria Falls. During the visit, she and other participants also canoed the Orange River, climbed sand dunes, hiked Table Mountain and white water rafted the Zambezi, all while earning credit for her Human Rights and Environment class. “I had the opportunity to challenge myself and to do a lot of activities that I otherwise never would have gotten the chance to do,” Nourse said. “This experience allowed me to develop a greater understanding of the different aspects of culture, better insight into varying perspectives and effective skills for problem solving, all of which will make me a more adept health care professional so I can help a greater variety of people.” After graduation, Nourse plans to attend physical therapy school. To learn more about study abroad opportunities at Georgia Southern, visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/studyabroad. [caption id="attachment_7495" align="aligncenter" width="296"] Jordan Nourse is pictured on the sand dunes in Namibia.[/caption] About Phi Kappa Phi Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others." Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1.4 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 118 degree programs serving 20,673 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.