May 21, 2003

Contact: Gary Reich, Division of Government, (785) 864-9053.

KU political science department honors top students

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas political science department honored top students at its annual Pi Sigma Alpha initiation and awards banquet April 22 at the Lawrence Holiday Inn Holidome.

Thirty-five students were inducted into the Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, a national honor society. Criteria for induction include at least junior standing in political science and a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in all political science and government division courses. Cumulative GPAs must be at least 3.4 for undergraduates and at least 3.5 for graduate students, with no course grade lower than a B.

Special award and scholarship recipients also were recognized during the program.

Curtis M. Wood, Lawrence graduate student, received the $6,000 Joseph P. Harris graduate fellowship, which recognizes an outstanding doctoral candidate in political science.

Andrew Ray Miner, Beloit senior, received the Eldon Fields Award, and Bradley Lewis, Hutchinson senior, received the Ethan Allen Award. Each award is worth $600 and recognizes an outstanding graduating senior majoring in political science.

Emmy Lou Levens, Overland Park junior, received the $3,000 Emmett L. Bennett Scholarship, which is awarded to an outstanding junior majoring in political science.

Ruth A. French, Partridge junior, and Alvar Ayala, Torreon Coahui, Mexico, sophomore, each received the $3,000 Gustafson Scholarship. Jennifer Wade, Wichita junior; Irakli Mirzashvili, Ness City junior; and John Michael Connolly, Lawrence junior, each received $1,500 Harley S. Nelson Family Fund Scholarships. Both awards are given to outstanding political science undergraduates.

Nine students received Walter Thompson scholarships worth between $1,000 and $3,000, which are given to deserving political science students. Five students received Walter Thompson scholarships of $400 to $600, which are given to students in the study abroad program and those serving internships in Washington, D.C.

Four seniors completing departmental honors received faculty Pi Sigma Alpha awards.

Pi Sigma Alpha inductees and political science award winners are listed below by hometown, with their year in school, parents' names, high school and award.

Hometowns are Beloit, Ellinwood, Hutchinson, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Leawood, Lenexa, Marysville, Minneapolis, Ness City, Olathe, Overland Park, Partridge, Pittsburg, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Solomon, Topeka and Wichita; Burr Ridge and Winnetka, Ill.; St. Joseph, Mo.; Lincoln and Omaha, Neb.; Colfax, N.D.; Bristow, Grove and Shawnee, Okla.; Nanjing, China; Nicosia, Cyprus; Ellwangen, Germany; Miura-Gun Kana, Japan; Torreon Coahui, Mexico; Seoul, South Korea; and Taipei, Taiwan.

BARTON COUNTY
From Ellinwood
Adam C. Miles, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Mary Miles; Ellinwood High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Bethany Katherine Phillips, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Gary Phillips; Ellinwood High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

CRAWFORD COUNTY
From Pittsburg
Sarah Emily Scott, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Nancy Scott; Colgan High School graduate; Faculty Pi Sigma Alpha Award.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Solomon
Jared Taylor Hiatt, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Teri Valcoure; Salina High School Central graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence
Mahalley Dawn Allen, Upper Graduate School; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.
Jiyoung Choi, Lower Graduate School; Pi Sigma Alpha.
John Michael Connolly, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of John and Heide Connolly; Lawrence High School graduate; Nelson Family Fund Scholarship and Pi Sigma Alpha.
Adonia T. David, Upper Graduate School, daughter of Billie David; Lawrence High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Shaylisa Michele Hurte, Upper Graduate School, daughter of Sally and Doug Burger; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.
Peter Michael Picucci, Upper Graduate School; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.
Bennette Seaman, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Micheal Christopher Struemph, Upper Graduate School; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship
Justin Abbott Tucker, Lower Graduate School; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.
Curtis Hamilton Wood, Upper Graduate School; Joseph P. Harris Fellowship.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood
Abra C. Bron, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Rock and Carol Bron; Blue Valley North High School graduate; Walter Thompson Study Abroad Scholarship.
Jonathan Stuart Cline, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Stephen and Nancy Cline; Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

From Lenexa
Natalie Anne Patrick, sophomore College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of John and Julanne Patrick; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School graduate; Walter Thompson Study Abroad Scholarship.

From Olathe
Jeremy I. Franker, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Norm and Cathy Franker; Olathe North High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

From Overland Park
Emmy Lou Levens, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Katherine Levens; Shawnee Mission North High School graduate; Emmett L. Bennett Scholarship and Pi Sigma Alpha.
Kara Lizabeth Smith, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith; Shawnee Mission South High School graduate; Faculty Pi Sigma Alpha Award and Pi Sigma Alpha.
Eric James Steinle, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Dan Steinle; Olathe East High School graduate; Faculty Pi Sigma Alpha Award.

From Prairie Village
Ryan David Hines, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of David and Mary Hines; Shawnee Mission East High School graduate; Walter Thompson Study Abroad Scholarship and Pi Sigma Alpha.

From Shawnee
Nyana Abreu Miller, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Thomas and Celia Miller; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School graduate; Walter Thompson Study Abroad Scholarship.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Leavenworth
Jeffrey John Cary, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Jan and John Cary; Leavenworth High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Christopher Bailey Wiles, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; son of Bailey and Patricia Wiles; Pleasant Ridge High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

MARSHALL COUNTY
From Marysville
Thomas M. Keating, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Mick and Jane Keating; Marysville High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

MITCHELL COUNTY
From Beloit
Andrew Ray Miner, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Kendall and Renee Miner; Beloit High School graduate; Eldon Fields Award and Pi Sigma Alpha.

NESS COUNTY
From Ness City
Irakli George Mirzashvili, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Ann Fitzgerald; Ness City High School graduate; Nelson Family Fund Scholarship and Pi Sigma Alpha.

OTTAWA COUNTY
From Minneapolis
Bradly Harold Bergman, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bergman; Minneapolis High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

RENO COUNTY
From Hutchinson
Bradley N. Lewis, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Neal and Kristi Lewis; Buhler High School graduate; Ethan Allen Award.

From Partridge
Ruth A. French, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Jim and Lisa French; Haven High School graduate; Gustafson Scholarship and Pi Sigma Alpha.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Sahar Habibi, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Zee Habibi; Goddard High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Beau Allen Jackson, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Courtley and Kristin Jackson; Andover High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Melissa Michelle Murfin, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of David and Janet Murfin; Wichita Collegiate School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Bryan Joseph Seck, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of William and Kathleen Seck; Wichita High School East graduate; Walter Thompson Study Abroad Scholarship.
Jennifer D. Wade, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Paul and Mary Wade; Wichita High School East graduate; Nelson Family Fund Scholarship and Pi Sigma Alpha.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka
Mary Catherine Boatright, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Lee and Cathy Harrison; Topeka High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Amber Dianne Henry, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Dianne Henry; Shawnee Heights High School graduate; Faculty Pi Sigma Alpha Award.

ILLINOIS
From Burr Ridge
Michael Edward Barnicle, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Terrence and Eileen Barnicle; Nazareth Academy graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

From Winnetka
James Bernard McLaughlin, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Jim and Pat McLaughlin; New Trier Township High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

MISSOURI
From St. Joseph
Molly E. McMurray, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, daughter of Bill McMurray; Central High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

NEBRASKA
From Lincoln
Daniel L Cabacungan, senior Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Business, son of Domingo and Carol Cabacungan; Lincoln East Jr-Sr High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.
Bryan Michael Meerkatz, Lower Graduate School, son of Marilyn Meerkatz; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.

From Omaha
David Andrew Goeschel, junior Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Journalism, son of Dennis and Leanne Goeschel; Westside High School graduate; Pi Sigma Alpha.

NORTH DAKOTA
From Colfax
Joseph Alan Pull, senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Tim and Mary Pull; Richland High School graduate; Faculty Pi Sigma Alpha Award.

OKLAHOMA
From Bristow
Holona Leanne Ochs, Lower Graduate School, daughter of Rita Juedeman; Pi Sigma Alpha.

From Grove
Nicholas Wayne Prewett, Upper Graduate School, son of Art Prewett; Pi Sigma Alpha.

From Shawnee
Bonnie Jo Johnson, Upper Graduate School, daughter of Jerome and Shirley Johnson; Shawnee Senior High School; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.

CHINA
From Nanjing
Yahong Zhang, Lower Graduate School; Pi Sigma Alpha.

CYPRUS
From Nicosia
Omur Yilmaz, Lower Graduate School, daughter of Isilay And Soyer Yilmaz; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.

GERMANY
From Ellwangen
Joerg Timo Weishaupt, Upper Graduate School, son of K.H. Weishaupt; Pi Sigma Alpha.

JAPAN
From Miura-Gun Kana
Takafumi Komatsubara, junior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Mitsuo Komatsubara; Pi Sigma Alpha.

MEXICO
From Torreon Coahui
Alvar Ayala, sophomore College Of Liberal Arts and Sciences, son of Luis Alfonso Ayala Amezquita; Gustafson Scholarship.

SOUTH KOREA
From Seoul
Taehyun Nam, Upper Graduate School; Walter Thompson Graduate Scholarship.

TAIWAN
From Taipei
Chengshan Liu, Upper Graduate School, son of Kuo-Hsiang and Shiu-Ch Hsih Liu; Pi Sigma Alpha.