Noah Molder Awarded $8,500 Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship 

July 1, 2024. University of Memphis Noah Molder has been awarded a $8,500 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship to support his graduate study in mathematical sciences at the University of Memphis, which he will begin this fall. Molder is one of fifty-four recipients  nationwide to receive a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship.

Molder received two degrees in May 2024—a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematical sciences and a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with a concentration in film and video production.

He actively participated in the Helen Hardin Honors College and the Department of Mathematical Sciences honors program, earning his degrees with “University Honors with Thesis” and “Honors in Mathematical Sciences” designations.

Molder’s honors thesis focused on the topic of nontransitive dice, which draws on techniques from probability theory, combinatorics, complexity theory, game theory, and scientific computing. His research was published in the 2024 volume of QuaesitUM, the UofM’s undergraduate research journal.

Molder has received many awards during his undergraduate years at the University of Memphis, including the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Outstanding Senior Award, the College of Communication and Fine Arts Dean’s Academic Award, and the Honors College’s Director’s Award for Outstanding Performance in an Honors Curriculum.

“I am overjoyed and deeply grateful to have received this fellowship. With this, I will have greater freedom to pursue research and make the most of my time in graduate school,” said Molder. “I would like to thank Dr. Thomas Hagen, my research advisor, who offered a guiding hand through my undergraduate experience, as well as the other members of the Department of Mathematical Sciences who played a role in my success. In addition, I think Professor David Goodman and the Helen Hardin Honors College for their support as I navigated a somewhat unusual interdisciplinary education.”

“The Phi Kappa Phi graduate fellowship is a highly competitive and prestigious national award,” said Melinda Jones, director of the Helen Hardin Honors College. “We were not surprised when Noah was selected for the award because he is a one-of-a-kind student who made the most of his opportunities on our campus. I cannot wait to see what Noah’s future holds.” 

Since its creation in 1932, the fellowship program has become one of Phi Kappa Phi’s most visible and financially well-supported endeavors, allocating $615,000 annually to outstanding students for first-year graduate or professional study. This year’s program awarded 54 fellowships of $8,500 each, six at $20,000 each, and two awards at $35,000 to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for Society-wide awards.

This is the fifth consecutive year that an Honors College student has received a graduate fellowship in the national Phi Kappa Phi competition. For more information about the campus nomination process, contact Dr. Beverly Bond in the History Department (Phi Kappa Phi Scholarship Chairperson) or honors@memphis.edu.