KU News Release

KU political science department announces spring awards, honor society members

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LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Political Science recently honored top students at its annual Pi Sigma Alpha initiation and awards banquet held April 19 at the Kansas Union.

Thirty-four students were inducted to the Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, a national political science honor society. Inductees must have at least junior standing in political science and a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in all political science courses. Cumulative grade-point averages for undergraduates must be at least 3.4, for graduate students at least 3.5. Neither may have a course grade lower than a 3.0.

Special award and scholarship recipients were recognized during the program. Awards provide cash prizes with no restrictions. Scholarships provide funds for tuition. The awards and scholarships offered were:

— Two Ethan Allen Awards of $300 each to outstanding graduating seniors majoring in political science
— An Emmett L. Bennett Scholarship of $3,000 to an outstanding junior majoring in political science
— An Eldon Fields Award of $300 to an outstanding senior majoring in political science
— Four Gustafson Scholarships of $2,000 each to outstanding political science undergraduates
— Joseph Harris Fellowship of $6,000 to an outstanding doctoral student
— Three Harley S. Nelson Family Fund Scholarships of $1,200 to outstanding political science undergraduates
— Five Pi Sigma Alpha Awards to outstanding seniors completing departmental honors
— Seventeen Walter Thompson Scholarships averaging between $800 and $3,000 to deserving political science undergraduate and graduate students
— Three Walter Thompson scholarships of $800 to $1,600 for students studying abroad

All of these funds are managed by KU Endowment.

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

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