2025 Key into Public Service Scholarship

2025 Key into Public Service Scholarship

The Phi Beta Kappa Society is a leading national advocate for the value of arts and sciences education. Key into Public Service highlights the wide range of career opportunities for liberal arts and sciences majors in local, state, or federal government. A cohort of 20 Service Scholars majoring in arts and sciences disciplines at Phi Beta Kappa chapter institutions will each receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship. Membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society is not required to receive this scholarship.

Selected students are required to participate in an educational conference taking place in Washington, D.C. from June 25-29, 2025. This conference will highlight pathways into a variety of public service careers, provide a mentoring conversation matched to recipient interest, and offer other networking opportunities.

Examples of panels from previous conferences include graduate school preparation, working in federal/state/local government, and how to network effectively as a public service professional. Please Note: The scholarship and conference will NOT focus on nonprofit, NGOs, government consulting, think tanks, or lobbying positions. Learn more about the resources and information highlighted in previous years here.

The Society is committed to providing access to opportunity and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in its programs and activities.

The deadline for submission of the scholarship application is Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. The Society will notify successful applicants by April 30, 2025.
 

Applicants must be enrolled at one of Phi Beta Kappa’s 290+ chapter institutions. Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is not required for eligibility. 

Applicants should expect to graduate between 12/1/2025 and 8/1/2027. First-year students and seniors who will graduate in Spring/Summer 2025 are NOT eligible. 

Successful applicants will demonstrate in their essays, activities, and letter of recommendation, 1) an interest in working in local, state, or federal government service; and 2) breadth and depth across the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 while demonstrating academic excellence in your arts, humanities, mathematics, natural science, or social science major.

Applicants will also need to provide the name of a professor, faculty member, or academic advisor who can attest to your academic achievements and interest in public service.

Applicants must also commit to attend the conference for all scholarship recipients taking place June 25-29, 2025 in Washington, D.C. This mandatory conference will provide training and mentoring opportunities and showcase pathways from arts and sciences education into active citizenship and public service. The Society will provide transportation, lodging, and meal per diems. The Society may switch the format to a virtual event if needed to ensure the safety and health of all participants.

We strongly encourage you to learn more about Phi Beta Kappa’s work as an advocate for the liberal arts and sciences before completing your application. Phi Beta Kappa is committed to highlighting the value of expertise in the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences in service to communities and to the nation. We see the recognition and support of Service Scholars as integral to these goals.

Preferred Characteristics for Applicants:

Intellectual Curiosity: Ideas excite you and you learn from many viewpoints. You are passionate about your arts and sciences education, and eager to learn more about the world around you.

Breadth and Interdisciplinary Depth: You demonstrate academic excellence in your arts, humanities, mathematics, natural science, or social science major with a minimum 3.5 grade point average. In addition, you also take a range of coursework outside your primary field of interest as demonstrated in your transcript and can communicate why a well-rounded education matters. 

Leadership: You can identify how you influence others positively, either on or off campus through academic research, campus extracurricular activities, internships, employment, or community organizing.

Service to Others: You would like to pursue a career in local, state, or federal service to serve the common good. You can show a meaningful commitment to others by your participation in volunteer/community service activities. 

Please note: There is no internship program associated with this scholarship. Scholarship recipients are required to participate in the in-person conference in Washington, D.C. from June 25-29, 2025 to receive the academic award.