Political science department honors top students

Mon, 05/19/2014

Betty Jo Ross

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Political Science Department honored its top students at their Recognition Ceremony, with awards and induction into Pi Sigma Alpha last month at the Adams Alumni Center.

Twenty-eight students were inducted into the Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Criteria for induction include a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in all political science courses with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.4 for undergraduates. For graduate students, the average must be at least 3.5. Neither may have a course grade lower than a B in any political science course.

These students were inducted:

Elizabeth Albani , senior from Parkville, Missouri
Mark Arce, senior from Overland Park
Nicolas Ball, junior from West Des Moines, Iowa
Immanuel Chioco, senior from Humboldt, Tennessee
Carolina Costa Candal, graduate student from Spain
Jordan Dollar, sophomore from Blue Springs, Missouri
Chelsea Ellis, senior from Salina
Zhi Geng, senior from China
Nicole Gilmore, junior from Columbus
Derek Glasgow, graduate student from Winfield
Nicole Humphrey, sophomore from Lawrence
Tyler Jaspan, senior from Edgewater, Maryland
Sisi Li, senior from China
John Livingstone, graduate student from Pequannock, New Jersey
Joshua Luthi, senior from Overland Park
Patrick McCarthy, graduate student from Chesapeake, Virginia
Allison McKinnon, senior from Overland Park
Jerry Moon, graduate student from Kewanee, Illinois
Abigail Naudet, junior from Lake Ozark, Missouri
Anthony Ocepek, graduate student from Norton, Ohio
Brett Pollard, senior from Leawood
Michael Raven, senior from Hays
Joshua Schukman, graduate student from Great Bend
Emily Taylor, senior from Silver Lake
Stephen Tennant, graduate student from Leavenworth
Brian Turnbull, graduate student from Mayetta
Gina Wehby, senior from Wichita
Charles Williams, graduate student from George West, Texas

The Department of Political Science provides cash awards with no restrictions and scholarships that provide tuition assistance. The awards and scholarships presented were:

The Ethan P. Allen Pi Sigma Alpha Award to outstanding graduating seniors majoring in political science. The recipients are:

Amanda Gress, senior from Silver Springs, Maryland
Ibrahim Berro, senior from Lawrence
Gina Wehby, senior from Wichita
Tyler Childress, senior from Coffeyville

The Emmett L. Bennett Scholarship to an outstanding junior majoring in political science. The recipient is:

Tsedenya Bizani, junior from Olathe
Ashley Hart, junior from Kansas City, Kansas
Shayne Thoman, junior from Kansas City, Kansas
Jordan Kane, junior from Overland Park
Hannah Sybert, junior from Joplin, Missouri
Rhavean King, junior from Memphis, Tennessee

The Eldon Fields Award to outstanding student majoring in political science. The recipients are:

Chelsea Ellis, senior from Salina
Matt Kasper, senior from Shawnee
Joey Hentzler, junior from Topeka

The Elizabeth and Carl Gustafson Scholarships, ranging from $300 to $500, to outstanding political science undergraduates. The recipients:

Alina Zheng, sophomore from Lawrence,
Nicole Humphrey, sophomore from Lawrence
Emily Crane, junior from Nixa, Maryland
Kaitlyn DeYoung, junior from Wichita
Jordan Dollar, sophomore from Blue Springs, Missouri
Alex Chartrand, junior from Overland Park
Nicholas Czarnecki, senior from Overland Park
Garvey Burrows, Jr., junior from Silver Springs, Maryland
Ibrahim Berro, senior from Lawrence
Tyler Childress, senior from Coffeyville
Chelsea Ellis, senior from Salina
Matthew Kasper, senior from Shawnee
Gina Wehby, senior from Wichita
Joey Hentzler, junior from Topeka
KayeLee Rogers, senior from Lane

The Allan J. Cigler Academic Enrichment Award was presented in the amount of $1,500. This fund is made possible by former students of Professor Allan Cigler, who wished to recognize him for his continued academic service. The recipient:

Abigail Naudet, junior from Lake Ozark, Missouri

The Political Science Future Military Leaders Scholarship is awarded twice a year to political science majors participating in ROTC. This fund is possible by the generosity of Roberto Montoya. This year the winners are as follows:

Benjamin Allman, junior from Topeka (Fall 2013)
Madeline Wilcox, senior from Leavenworth (Spring 2014)

The Walter Thompson Scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, awarded to deserving political science students. The recipients:

Rhavean King, junior from Memphis, Tennessee
Brittany Mesa, junior from Garden City
Ryan Ott, sophomore from Benton
Lauren Fleming, junior from Lawrence
Alexander Samuelson, senior from Overland Park
Hsin-Yi (Sherri) Pan, senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Shayne Thoman, junior from Kansas City, Kansas
Amanda Gress, senior from Overland Park
Luke Campbell, graduate student from Liberty, Missouri
Carolina Costa Candal, graduate student from Spain
Brittnee Carter, graduate student from South Haven, Michigan
Derek Glasgow, graduate student from Winfield
Saatvika Rai, graduate student from India
Josh Schukman, graduate student from Overland Park
Steven Sylvester, graduate student from Chico, California
Lidiya Zubytska, graduate student from Lawrence

The Joseph P. Harris Fellowship in Political Science is awarded to a graduate student nearing completion of their dissertation and is given to aid the student in completion of their work. This year the recipient is:

Steven Torrente from Hackensack, New Jersey

The Political Science Faculty Award is given to those students who have nearly completed or have completed an honors thesis with a faculty member. Those students are:

Jacklyn Baillergeon, senior from Lansing
Joshua Luthi, senior from Overland Park
Michael Raven, senior from Hays

All of the scholarship funds are managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.