Academic Awards

The C. Louis Smith Award

Named after a former Political Science professor and Dean of the College, the C. Louis Smith Award is given annually to the most outstanding student in the Political Science program. Selection is made by the members of the faculty.

2023- Yenni Coca Izquierdo
2022- Brady Willis
2021- Iain Feeney
2020- Ishara Nanayakkara
2019- John Grove
2018 – Jay Callahan
2017 – Matthew H. Young
2016 – Matthew H. Young
2015 – Kelly Grenier
2014 – Lawamwe Muzima
2013 – Sam Hawes
2012 – Jamond Perry
2011 – Sierra Merida
2010 – Oliver Munyaradzi
2009 – Breanna Trombley
2008 – Kateryna Peremanova
2007 – Airzola Cleaves
2006 – William Gyude Moore
2005 – Aisulu Masylkanova
2004 – Izabela Luckiewicz
2003 – Sarah F. Hooks
2002 – Josh Stanton
2001 – Irakli Khodeli
2000 – Irakli Khodeli
1999 – David Scott Bradley
1998 – Druv Aditya Dhavan
1997 – Shawn Travis Pinkston
1996 – David Truman Cole
1995 – Larry Thomas Swartz
1994 – Stephanie Cateena Flanary
1993 – Jeffrey Fay Pigott
1992 – Mary Ann Roenker
1990 – Rebecca Jane Kiser
1989 – David Peeler
1988 – Helen Louise Echols
1987 – Manuel Vincente B. Alverado
1986 – Adegboyega Adesina Somide
1985 – Suzanne Lynn Peters
1984 – Harold Stephen Robinson
1982 – Alesia Amelia Wykle
1981 – Joe Hurley
1979 – Donna Lynn Morgan
1977 – Ricky Lynn Dear
1975 – Gordeau Bingham
1974 – John Steven Sparkman

Department Labor Award Winners

2023- Kelli Thomas
2022- Jesse Davis
2021- Berenice Davila
2020- Belen Rodriguez
2019- Ishara Nanayakkkara
2018 – Seth M. Lewis
2017 – Matthew H. Young
2016 – Matthew H. Young
2015 – Kimberly Ratcliff
2014 – Kelly Grenier
2013 – Jessica Ciccarelli
2012 – Sam Hawes
2011 – Sierra Merida
2010 – Julie Potter
2009 – John Bradley
2008 – Martine Romy Bernard
2007 – Anastasia Shegay
2006 – Aisulu Masylkanova
2005 – A.J. Schultz
2004 – Caroline Payne

The Blanton Prize

Given annually to one graduating Senior, majoring in Political Science and/or History, for excellence in their fields and demonstration of “strong writing skills.”

2022- Jordan Tucker
2021- Natalie McAninch
2020- Ash Dodwani (PSC)
2018 – Osvaldo Flores (PSC)
2016 – Katelyn Blair (PSC)
2015 – Jennifer Lenoir (PSC)
2014 – Chris Gill (PSC)
2012 – Ismalia Ceesay (PSC)
2011 – Courtenay Burns (PSC)
2010 – Kristopher Brown (HIS)
2019 – Ruslan Petrakiev (PSC)
2008 – Martine Romy Bernard (PSC)
2007 – Jason Peerce (HIS)
2006 – Benjamin C. Ibershoff (PSC)
2005 – Gregory P. Niel (HIS)
2004 – Heather Barton (PSC)
2003 – Emily Andrews (HIS)
2002 – Kyle Fred French (HIS)

E. Taylor Parks Award

Similar to the Blanton Prize, the Parks Award goes to a graduating senior who has “demonstrated excellence in the fields of History and/or Political Science.” It is named for the former chair of the two departments Dr. E. Taylor Parks and was established by Mr. E.R. Brann (’42).

2023- Maryam Al-Tatooz
2023- Eduard Ciobanu
2019- Kiley Barnard
2017 – Tran Nguyen (Independent Major: Public Policy)
2015 – Kimberly Ratcliff (PSC)
2014 – Nathaniel Fouch (PSC)
2013 – Valerie Erb (PSC)
2012 – Catherine Beechie (HIS)
2011 – Daniel Miller (HIS)
2010 – Julie Potter (PSC)
2009 – Alix Heitzman (HIS)
2008 – Maggie C. Park (HIS)
2007 – Jeremy Wells (PSC)
2006 – Joshua Powell (HIS)
2005 – Caroline Payne (PSC)
2004 – Joshua Miller (HIS)
2003 – Aaron S. Housh (PSC)
2002 – Johnathan H. Coffey (HIS)
2001 – Irakli Khodeli (PSC)
2000 – Brian Gartner (HIS)
1999 – David Scott Bradley (PSC)
1998 – James G. Viatoe (HIS)
1997 – Steven Lamont Evans (PSC)

Channell Barbour Political Science Essay Award

This award is given to an African American Political Science major with Junior or Senior status and a minimum overall GPA of 3.5. The Award ended in 2010.

2008 – Martine Romy Bernard
2006 – Airzola Cleaves

This award went to students in the social sciences who have demonstrated “outstanding character and financial need as well as an outstanding ability in their chosen field.” The award ended in 2004.

2004 – Andrea Faulkner
2003 – Novruz Bashirov
2002 – Amy Rebecca Swanson
2001 – Terry Albury
2009 – Lina Stulpinate
1999 – Jeremy Todd Smith
1998 – Prakash Shiahi
1997 – Steven Lamont Evans (PSC)
1996 – David Truman Cole (PSC)
1995 – Debra Bruce
1994 – Larry Thomas Swartz (PSC)
1993 – Juliana Renault Pradez de Faria (PSC)
1992 – Millicent Lane (PSC)
1991 – Shelia Lane Buzzard (PSC)
1990 – Ruby Robin Miller
1989 – Paul Harrison White
1988 – Markus Edward Bays
1987 – Billy Burnett Brackett
1986 – Michael Peter Bobic (PSC)
1985 – Peggy Lynn Farley

Awarded annually for excellence in the study of economics, business administration, history, sociology, psychology, and political science.

2023- Yenni Coca Izquierdo
2022- Esteban Reina Soto
2020- Ishara Nanayakkara, Matthew Sadler, and Amber Williamson
2019- Simeon Huff
2018 – Jay Callahan, Micah Egana, and Minashsha Lamisa
2017 – Tran Nguyen, Kaylee Ramer, Malcolm Ethan Johnson
2016 – Shelby Cansler, Kenneth Madden
2013 – Yuta Katsumi, Daniel Brasa, Samuel Tincher, Lwamwe Muzima, Kendale Seth
2012 – Jamond Perry, Raven Weaver, Trung “Alex” Huynh
2011 – Carla Bell
2010 – Oliver Munyaradzi, Megan Rogers, Kim Nguyen
2009 – Alix Heitzman, Stephanie Mathies, Breanna Trombley
2008 – Tian X. Wei, Rosanna Green
2007 – De-Ann Watkins
2005 – Jennifer Kilkus
2004 – Izabela Luciewicz
2003 – Kirk Aaron Amick, Amber Marie Robinson
2002 – Amy Rebecca Smith