Three Phi Psi brothers honored

Phi Kappa Psi brothers Jonathan Austrian, John Buchanan and Michael Silver each received the national Solon E. Summerfield Scholars endowment, an annual scholarship awarded by Phi Psi's national office. The awards were announced on February 14. Although 180 men from Phi Psi chapters throughout the country applied for the academics and service scholarship -- including six from the Penn chapter -- only 25 received the honor. Penn's chapter produced more winners than any other nationwide. Silver, the chairman of the Undergraduate Assembly, won the Outstanding Summerfield scholarship, the top award the endowment offered. Buchanan, executive vice president of the InterFraternity Council, and Austrian were among the group of about 22 honored students. "This is a reflection of our niche on campus as a chapter with campus and community leaders," Silver said. The last three Undergraduate Assembly chairmen were Phi Psi brothers, as were two of the past three InterFraternity Council executive vice presidents, Silver noted. Winners of the scholarship were required to have at least a 3.0 grade-point average and be active in campus activities, community service and their Phi Psi chapters. Austrian, Buchanan and Silver are all in Penn's honors program. They also served on Phi Psi's board last semester. In addition to his role on the UA, Silver -- who won the $3,000 first prize -- also served as the president of Penn's Reform Jewish Community and participated in a two-semester community service class that involved educating students about lead poisoning. Austrian, also a College senior, won the $1,000 prize. He is the head of Step One tutoring, a community service project that works with the Lea School. Austrian also serves on the Executive Board of the Kite and Key Society. "[Community service] brings completion to my week and makes my week worthwhile," Austrian said. Buchanan, a College junior, won the $1,000 prize. Last summer, he volunteered with a program called Bridge of Nashville, which prepares underprivileged children for college. Austrian also talked about the importance of fraternities in "instilling community values." "Fraternities make community leaders," he said. "It's good that we reward members who represent what fraternities should be." "We plan on having even more winners next year," Buchanan said. This year was the first time in more than 10 years that members of Penn's Phi Psi chapter have won the scholarship.