USA Winners of National Phi Sigma Iota Scholarships
Liam White was awarded the 2023 Dorothy I. Mitstifer Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for his outstanding performance as a Spanish major and his leadership in the Honors
Society's Chi Omega chapter. Liam graduated in spring 2023 with double majors in
Spanish and English. He received the scholarship to complete a year-long internship
at the Albacete campus of the University of Castilla la Mancha in Spain. As part of
the internship, Liam will teach English to UCLM undergraduates and assist UCLM's Office
of International Relations with its English-language correspondence.
Syliah Neely was awarded the 2022 Dr. Santiago Vilas Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for her outstanding performance as a Spanish major and her active leadership in
the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Syliah graduated in spring 2022 with Double
majors in French and Spanish. She was awarded the scholarship for her year-long internship
teaching English in France under the aegis of the TAPIS program.
Sophia Sloan was awarded the 2021 Dr. Anthony S. Corbiere Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for her outstanding performance as a Spanish major and her active leadership in
the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Sophia will graduate in spring 2022 with
a major in Spanish and a minor in Applied Linguistics She was awarded the scholarship
to help develop a Spanish-language database of health conditions using the materials
created by the students of USA's Graduate Certificate in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals
Natalie Turner was awarded the 2020 Phi Sigma Iota Scholarship for her outstanding performance as a French major and her active leadership in the
Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Natalie graduated in spring 2020 with majors in
French and Biology. She applied her scholarship award towards her year-long internship
teaching English in Marseilles, France under the aegis of the TAPIS program.
Bailey Hoffman was awarded the 2019 Dr. Cleon Capsus Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for her outstanding performance as a Spanish major and her active
leadership in the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Bailey graduated in spring
2019 with a major in Biology and a minor in Spanish. She used her scholarship to
do an internship with BELONG, a Mobile-based NGO that helps to settle Hispanic immigrants
into the community.
Sonya Smith was awarded the 2018 Dr. Anthony S. Corbiere Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for her outstanding performance as a Spanish and German major and
her active leadership in the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Sonya graduated in
fall 2018 with majors in Spanish and German. She used her scholarship to inspire cultural
awareness through basic instruction of Spanish language at a Mobile Parks and Recreation
community center.
Sarah Meeker was awarded the 2017 Dr. Anthony S. Corbiere Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for her outstanding performance in Spanish and Russian languages
and her active leadership in the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Sarah graduated
in spring 2017 with majors in Spanish and Russian. She declined the scholarship,
awarded to her to study in Russia, due to a change in plans.
Lauren Heim was awarded the 2016 Dr. Cleon Capsus Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for her outstanding performance as a Spanish major and her active
leadership in the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Lauren graduated in spring 2016
with a major in Spanish and a minor in Composite Sciences. She is using her scholarship
to travel to Cuzco, Peru and volunteer at a medical clinic there this summer. She
plans to specialize in midwifery upon her return from Peru.
Khanh Trinh was awarded the 2015 Dr. Santiago Vinas National Scholarship by Phi Sigma Iota for his outstanding performance as a Spanish major and his active
leadership in the Honors Society's Chi Omega chapter. Khanh is a double major of Spanish
and Biology and plans to attend Medical school after graduating.
Nicholas Knaebel received the 2014 Dr. Santiago Vinas Scholarship from Phi Sigma Iota for his outstanding commitment to promoting foreign languages
on the USA campus. Nick was instrumental in setting up the society's Chi Omega chapter
at the University of South Alabama. He graduated in Spring 2014 with a triple major
in Russian, Spanish and English. During 2014-15 Nick taught English as a second language
at the American School in Vladimir, Russia.
