Top 2022 Graduate Earns Prestigious National Fellowship

Morgan Preston receiving her diploma from ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr. in May 2022

Morgan Preston Preston graduated from ASU in May with her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in political science and English, and she earned the 2022 ASU Presidential Award as the top graduate in her class. As the PKP Sherrill Carlson Fellow, she will pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

PKP is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, and induction is by invitation only. The fellowship selection process for PKP student members is based on:

• Evidence of graduate potential
• Undergraduate academic achievement
• Service and leadership experience
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement of educational perspective and career goals
• Acceptance in an approved graduate or professional program

Dr. Dennis Hall, assistant professor of mathematics, is the awards and grants coordinator for ASU’s chapter of PKP.

Dr. Dennis Hall “The mission of Phi Kappa Phi is to promote academic excellence and service to others,” Hall said. “Morgan has taken these ideals to heart in the classroom, on the volleyball court and in the community. We are proud to have such a deserving student represent our chapter and can’t wait to see what she does next!”

Also a varsity Belles volleyball player, Preston graduated ASU with Highest University Honors after completing the Honors Program curriculum with thesis option. She received numerous scholarships at ASU, including the Women’s Athletic Scholarship for Volleyball, Honors Program Scholarship, Berchman T. Carville and LP Gragg English Scholarships, and Dr. E. James Hindman Scholarship for political science. Her academic performance earned her induction into the Alpha Chi and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies and Sigma Tau Delta English honor society. Additionally, she was named to the 2021 Lone Star Conference All-Academic Volleyball Team.

Chuck Waddington “I can’t overstate how proud I am of Morgan,” said Chuck Waddington, ASU head volleyball coach. “This young lady was absolutely committed to being great both on the court and in the classroom. She walks away from ASU as both a national champion and the university’s top scholar. It was an incredible honor to coach Morgan. I’m so excited about her future.”

Also actively engaged in campus affairs, Preston served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, participated in the Honors Student Association and Sigma Tau Delta, joined the ASU Free Market Institute’s McLane Teammates Reading Program, and attended the Free Citizens, Free Souls Conference on Education, Social Justice and Great Books. She also excelled in undergraduate research, earning one of only 10 Alfred H. Nolle Scholarships from Alpha Chi in 2021 and one of only three 2022 Dennis Boe Awards for outstanding undergraduate research from the Great Plains Honors Council.