Notre Dame junior Noelle Dana has been named a 2022 Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholar for her academic excellence, leadership and commitment to public service. She was chosen from among nearly 900 applicants from Phi Beta Kappa institutions nationwide.
Established in 2020, the Key into Public Service Program highlights the wide range of opportunities for liberal arts graduates to pursue rewarding careers in public service. Key into Public Service scholars receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship, along with the opportunity for in-person training, mentoring and reflection on pathways into active citizenship.
Dana worked closely with the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE) at Notre Dame to apply for the scholarship. CUSE promotes the intellectual development of Notre Dame undergraduates through scholarly engagement, research, creative endeavors and the pursuit of fellowships.
“It is gratifying to see Noelle, who is an exceptional individual, recognized for her commitment to using her energy in the service of others,” said Jeffrey Thibert, the Paul and Maureen Stefanick Director of CUSE. “The fact that Notre Dame has had three PBK KIPS Scholars selected in the program’s three years of existence is a testament to the ability of our undergraduates to compete for even the most selective fellowship opportunities. As always, we hope that this recognition for Noelle inspires even more undergraduates to look into fellowship opportunities with CUSE’s help.”
A child of divorce, Dana seeks to empower and advocate for the rights of children of divorce. Dana is president of the Notre Dame chapter of College Mentors for Kids. This summer, she will intern with Caritas Internationalis in Armenia, where she will provide humanitarian aid in a variety of projects, including those focused on combating youth unemployment.
Inspired by the gap year she took during the pandemic to work in the U.S. Senate, she intends to return to Capitol Hill after graduation.
“I am so grateful for the honor of being selected for the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Key into Public Service Scholarship and look forward to learning how I can better advocate and empower others in public service,” Dana said.
“I would like to thank Elise Rudt and Jeffrey Thibert in CUSE,” she said, “as well as my family, the Dana clan. I am deeply appreciative for the friends, professors, mentors and many others who have supported and guided me throughout my undergraduate career, and would like to give special thanks to Maureen Dawson, Travis Bryant, Robert Ordway, Amber Nejjari and Anna Dolezal.”
For more on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit cuse.nd.edu.
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on May 02, 2022.