JONESBORO — Arkansas State University alumnus Rocco Hicks, a May 2026 graduate, has been awarded the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, an honor given by the nation’s oldest all-discipline collegiate honor society. Hicks is one of 48 scholars across the country to receive the $8,500 award, which supports graduates as they pursue advanced education.
Hicks, a native of Prattsville, graduated with degrees in political science and communication studies from A-State’s College of Liberal Arts and Communication. His selection for the fellowship followed a nomination from A-State’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter. Reflecting on the honor, he credited campus organizations and faculty for their support.
“I was overjoyed when Mrs. Jennifer Salo reached out to me to let me know I was selected,” Hicks said. “I wouldn’t have had the drive or confidence to believe I could achieve a scholarship like this without their support.”
While at A-State, Hicks built an impressive record of academic and extracurricular achievements. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, a finalist for the Wilson Award—the university’s highest student honor—and a national finalist in 2025 for the Truman Scholarship. He was also a university nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship. Other accolades include attending the Harvard Public Policy and Leadership Conference and multiple study-abroad experiences, including the Fulbright UK Summer Institute in Northern Ireland.
Hicks held numerous leadership roles, serving as president of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, and as captain of A-State’s debate team. He also volunteered his time as a communications coach at the A-State Communication Center, among other honors and activities.
Since graduating in May, Hicks has been preparing for his next academic chapter. "I will attend the University of Arkansas School of Law, where I begin my first year of classes this month,” he said. “This fellowship has helped me by minimizing the expected loan requirements so I can afford such an education.”
He emphasized that students should pursue available opportunities. "College will broaden anyone's horizons if they allow it to, but for those students wanting to take that extra step, this is the perfect way to do so,” said Hicks, encouraging peers to explore programs through the Competitive Scholarship Program.
For more information about applying for national awards, students can contact Jennifer Salo, coordinator of competitive scholarships and fellowships, at jsalo@AState.edu. Details about the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi are available through A-State chapter president Dr. Ed Salo, at esalo@AState.edu.