My experience joining Phi Mu Gamma Tau at Johns Hopkins University began because I was missing the sense of community that I was raised with at home in New Jersey. By joining the group of strong women, I felt a sense of community once more, where I was supported and found mentors and friends with whom I remain in close contact. They constantly inspired me and pushed me to do more, giving me the courage to be slated for Treasurer and then Vice President of Chapter Development. I attended Phi Mu Leadership Institute gaining valuable interview skills and feeling empowered by the action of women all over the country.

Throughout my time at Johns Hopkins and as a collegiate member of Phi Mu Gamma Tau, I was pursuing my dream of attending medical school. While participating in the rigorous curriculum at Johns Hopkins, I dove into in activities that fueled my passion of addressing inequalities in healthcare and improving health care for women, including volunteering with Health Leads, conducting research as a Research Assistant in the Xin Chen lab, working as a Teaching Assistant for General Biology I and II, and serving as a member of the mentorship committee for Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society. During my gap year, while applying to medical school, I worked as a Scribe for Johns Hopkins Community Physicians at Bayview General Internal Medicine.

Starting on July 27, 2020, I will be a medical student at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey. I am extremely excited to be returning home to New Jersey after living and learning in Baltimore for the last 5 years. I excitedly emailed my mentors, “This Jersey girl is returning home to the land of good bagels and pizza!” Medical school is an extremely expensive process, and I am grateful and feel very fortunate to have received the New Jersey Scholarship. My parents’ income was adversely affected by the pandemic, and as such I will be financially responsible for all of the costs of medical school, including tuition, housing, and fees. I am very grateful to the Phi Mu Foundation for lessening that burden during this time, and look forward to paying it forward in the future!

Thank you for your generosity in this award, and your commitment to empowering women to further their education.

Love in Our Bond,

Erini Papas

Each year through the Phi Mu Foundation Scholarship Program, we’re able to help lighten the load a bit for our collegiate and alumnae members who are pursuing their education. The recipients of the 2020-21 scholarships include 54 graduate students and 86 undergraduate students representing Phi Mu chapters from across the nation, with awards totaling $153,000.

If you would like to know more about the Foundation’s scholarship program or make a contribution to one of our many scholarship funds, please visit our Academic Scholarships page.

Applications for the 2021-22 academic year will be available later this year. Stay tuned to the Foundation’s social media for more information!

View the full list of the 2020-21 Phi Mu Foundation Scholarship Recipients.