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Recipients of Department Awards  |  Recipients of College of Liberal Arts Awards

Recipients of National Scholarships/Awards

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Department Scholarships

Students in Political Science and International Relations may be eligible for a variety of scholarship awards that can help cover college costs. Use this link to MTSU's Scholarship Manager, a tool that helps you to identify and apply for relevant scholarships like the ones listed below.

Tennessee Board of Regent Scholarships to Intern in Washington, D.C.

Joann Arnold Memorial Scholarship
The Joann Arnold Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Joann Arnold by the Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association for the purpose of providing scholarship for students who intend to go to law school. To be eligible for consideration, a student must be a permanent resident of Rutherford or Cannon counties and studying law. Preference shall be given to Pre-Law students, but will not be limited to Political Science majors. 

Jane Duke Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Jane Henegar Duke Memorial Scholarship was was established in memory of Jane Henegar Duke by the Rutherford County Legal Professionals for the purpose of providing scholarship for students in Political Science at MTSU. To be eligible for consideration, a student must be a permanent resident of Tennessee, a junior or senior majoring in Political Science with a minimum GPA of 2.50, and enrolled full-time. The student should also be able to demonstrate financial need as determined by the office of Financial Aid. Preference will be given to female students. 

Harry Horne International Relations Scholarship
The Harry Horne International Relations Scholarship was established in honor of the former Canadian diplomat and specialist in international relations who taught at Middle Tennessee State University from 1983 to 1990. The purpose of the scholarship is to promote and encourage the study of foreign affairs. The scholarship recipient must have graduated from a Tennessee high school and be majoring in International Relations and/or Global Studies at MTSU. Recipients must have a 3.0 grade point average in high school or college work. If the recipient is an incoming freshman, he or she must have scored a 25 or higher on the ACT. The scholarship award pays of portion of tuition for one academic year. 

David W. Kious Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2016 based on an endowment from the life insurance policy of Mr. David Kious. Mr. Kious received his undergraduate degree in Political Science - Pre-law from MTSU  and his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He was a founding partner of Middle Tennessee Title and Southern Title Services and a founding partner of Kious, Rodgers, Barger, Holder & Kious, PLLC, as well as Lawyers Land & Title Services, LLC. To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must be Political Science major with a Pre-law concentration. Each scholarship is for one academic year. Prior recipients are not disqualified from consideration during subsequent years.  

Norman Parks Scholarship
The Norman L. Parks Scholarship was established to honor a former chair of the Department of Political Science who taught at MTSU from 1953 to 1974. The purpose of the scholarship is to promote and encourage the study of law. The scholarship pays a portion of tuition tuition and fees for the first year of study at MTSU. Any graduating high school senior is eligible to apply. Applicants will be judged on the basis of high school scholastic record, ACT score, desire to study law, and need for financial support. The scholarship recipient must agree to attend MTSU and major in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law during the first semester of study.

Charles R. Ray Pre-Law Scholarship
The Charles R. Ray Pre-Law Scholarship is funded by a prominent graduate of Franklin-Simpson High School in Franklin, Kentucky. Mr. Ray completed a pre-law degree at MTSU, a law degree at Vanderbilt University, and went on to distinguish himself in legal practice in Nashville, Tennessee. The purpose of the scholarship is to promote and encourage the study of law. The student selected for the scholarship will be awarded $500.00 toward college expenses for each successful semester of full-time study (up to eight semesters) at MTSU (maintaining a 2.50 GPA) in preparation of for law school. Any graduating high school senior is eligible to apply. Preference will be given to students from Franklin-Simpson High School in Franklin, Kentucky. Applicants will be judged on the basis of high school scholastic record, ACT score, desire to study law, and need for financial support. The scholarship recipient must agree to attend MTSU and major in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law.

The Anne Twining Sloan and Steve Saunders Memorial Scholarship was established by the friends and family of Anne Twining Sloan and Steve Saunders in their memory for the purpose of providing financial assistance to students of Middle Tennessee State University who participate in endeavors relating to any aspect of international education. 

The Gene H. Sloan Scholarship was established by his daughter Dr. Anne Twining Sloan, former professor in the Department of Political Science and Internationals Relations for the purpose of providing scholarships for students in pre-law, journalism, or business law at MTSU. To be eligible for consideration for this scholarship, a student must be a junior or senior majoring in pre-law, journalism, or minoring in business law. The recipient must have a 3.2 grade point average or higher at the time the award is made.  Each scholarship is for one academic year. Prior recipients are not disqualified from consideration for this scholarship during subsequent years. 

George, Cynthia, and Roxanne Vernardakis Scholarship
Awarded to an International Student whose field of study is in the Political Science Department. Preference is given to majors of Public Policy and Management and Political Science. First preference goes to a student from the Republic of Cyprus. 

Drs. Clyde and Irina Willis Scholarship was established in 2015 upon the retirement of Dr. Clyde Willis from the Department of Political Science and International Relations. Dr. Willis taught in the pre-law program, served as pre-law advisor, and coached the mediation team. He passed away in 2017. To be eligible for consideration for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:  

• Have an overall minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale at the time of the application
• Have declared a major in Political Science or International Relations
• Student must be a Sophomore or higher in classification
• Financial need, in the broadest sense, may also be considered
• If a recipient fails to maintain the required level of academic performance or changes to a major/ minor outside those specified, they shall forfeit any unpaid balance of their award.
• Previous recipients are not precluded from receiving the scholarship in future years.

The Jack Justin Turner Scholarship was established by friends and family of the late Jack Justin Turner (former IR professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations) for the purpose of providing scholarships to students majoring in International Relations at Middle Tennessee State University.  To be eligible for consideration for this scholarship, a student shall be majoring in International Relations at MTSU.  The student shall be a junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be enrolled full-time.  This scholarship may be renewed at the discretion of the Political Science Scholarship Committee. The student should maintain a 3.0 GPA.

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Departmental Awards 

Norman L. Parks Award
The Norman L. Parks Award goes to the PreLaw major with the highest, overall GPA. Dr. Parks was the founding chair of the Department of Political Science and served in the position for about 20 years where he inspired a generation of political science and pre-law students including Charles R. Ray.

C. C. Sims Award
The C.C. Sims Award goes to the student with the highest overall GPA, other than the Parks recipient. Dr. Sims was a one-time Chair of what was then a combined History and Political Science Department. He had a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and is credited by Dr. James M. Buchanan for inspiring him to go there for his Ph.D.

John W. Burgess Award
The John W. Burgess award goes to a student in the Political Science Department with an outstanding record in academic achievement (after the Norman Parks and C.C. Sims Awards are decided). John W. Burgess was a native Tennessean from Giles County who is considered the father of the modern discipline of political science. He left an indelible mark on the discipline, especially in regard to the need for rigor in research, writing, and teaching. He is an excellent example of the dedicated scholar, the idealist, and the humanitarian. It is appropriate, therefore, that the Tennessee Political Science Association awards this honor in his name.

Jack Justin Turner Award
The Jack Justin Turner Award goes to the International Relations student with the highest, overall GPA. Dr. Jack Turner is a former International Relations professor who became a novelist after retiring.

Meritorious Service Award
The Meritorious Award goes to students who have been recognized as providing meritorious service to one or more of the following: Mock Trial Society, Mock Mediation, Society of International Affairs (Model UN), the department, or other student organization. This award was established by current faculty member, Dr. Mario Perez-Reilly, and former faculty member, Dr. Anne Sloan.

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Criteria

• All award candidates must have at least an overall G.P.A. of 3.5.
• Candidates must have a minimum of 18 hours in Political Science at MTSU.
• If there is a tie in the above awards, the Political Science G.P.A. will serve to break the tie.
• Awards given at the Awards Banquet are for students graduating the preceding Summer or Fall convocation, and those graduating in May. The G.P.A.'s for the August and December graduates are known. Those of the May graduation are based on grades through the preceding Fall semester.

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Recipients of Department Awards

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2019-2020
Norman L. Parks Award - Shane A. Richards (graduated May 2020), Overall highest GPA in Political Science, PreLaw
C. Sims Award - Lauren Hennessee (graduated August 2019), Overall highest GPA, after Parks award recipient 
John W. Burgess Award - Nathan Watkins (graduated December 2019), Overall highest GPA, after Parks & Sims award recipients
Jack Justin Turner Award - James M. Allen (graduated May 2020), Overall highest GPA in International Relations    

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2016-17
Norman L. Parks Award: James Cole Hodge and Jodi Schokney
C.C. Sims Award: Mitchell Brisbon and Connor McDonald
John W. Burgess Award: Agnes Porter
Jack Justin Turner Award: Caitlin Henderson
Meritorious Service Awards: Cole Hodge, Wesley Eke (Mock Trial),  Erika Helgelson (Model UN),  Jodi Shockney (Mediation)

Current and former students publish their research in the Russian Compendium the Belgorod Dialogue - 2016. The Problems of Philology, General and National History: A Compendium of Materials of the 8th Youth Academic Forum, A.I. Papkov, editor. To see their work, click here.

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2015-16
Norman L. Parks Award: Christopher Ryan Sullivan
C.C. Sims Award: John W. Gleason
John W. Burgess Award: Matthew Dalton Lauderback
Jack Justin Turner Award:Katherine Stubblefield
Meritorious Service Awards: Joseph Kidd  (Moot Court)

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2014-15
Norman L. Parks Award: Davis Thompson
C.C. Sims Award: Yerlyn Castro-Vargas
John W. Burgess Award: Mark Naifeh
Jack Justin Turner Award: Jeffrey Laudieri and Tandra Martin
Meritorious Service Awards: Davis Thompson (Mock Trial and Moot Court), Clark Palombo (Mock Trial and Moot Court), Nural Deen (Moot Court), Joe Kidd (Moot Court), Lisa Stark (Model UN)

L-R: David Carleton (Faculty -Student Success Award), Yerlyn Castro-Vargas, Nissi Monsegue (Robert LaLance Achievement Award), Davis Thompson, and Clark Palombo during CLA's awards ceremony.

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 2013-14
 Norman L. Parks Award: Samantha Farish
C.C. Sims Award: Louis Martino
John W. Burgess Award: Noah Neilsen
Jack Justin Turner Award: Whitney Flatt
Meritorious Service Awards: Tyler Sanders (Moot Court), Samantha Farish (Moot Court and Mock Trial), Morgan Mansourian (Mediation), Joey Meyer (Model UN), Whitney Flatt (Model UN)

Left to Right: Lorel Holsinger (IR major, college award recipient), Davis Thompson (PS major, college award recipient), Morgan Mansourian, Whitney Flatt, Samanta Farish, Joey Meyer, Louis Martino. Not shown: Noah Nielsen, Tyler Sanders.

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2012-13
Norman L. Parks Award: Joseph Huckleberry
C.C. Sims Award: Constance Grieves
John W. Burgess Award: Clifton Barnett
Jack Justin Turner Award: Kaitlyn Newman
Meritorious Service Awards: Kaitlin Beck (Mock Trial and Moot Court), Mahmud Brifkani ( Moot Court), Mark Fyke (Moot Court), Heather Haggard (Mock Trial), Andrew Mitchell (Mediation), Kaitlyn Newman (Model UN),  Michael Reed (Moot Court) 

Back row: Mahmud Brifkani (Meritorious award - Moot Court), Joey Meyer (Senior Honor Student award for College of Liberal Arts), Dr. Karen Petersen, Andrew Mitchell (Meritorious award - Mediation), Joseph Huckleberry (Norman L. Parks Award for top pre-law major), Mark Fyke (Meritorious award - Moot Court), Dr. Amanda DiPaolo, Michael Reed (Meritorious award - Moot Court)
Front Row: Kaitlin Beck (Meritorious award - Mock Trial and Moot Court), Heather Haggard (Meritorious award - Mock Trial).
Not Shown: Constance Grieves (C.C. Sims Award), Clifton Barnett (John W. Burgess Award), Kaitlyn Newman (Jack Justin Turner Award for top IR major and Meritorious award – Model UN)

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2011-12
Norman L. Parks Award: Kristin Johnson
C.C. Sims Award: Lisa Riggs
John W. Burgess Award: Marianne Hoover
Jack Justin Turner Award: Adam Emerson
Meritorious Service Award: Lisa Riggs (Dept); Rachel Harmon (Mock Trial); Jacob Butler (Moot Court); Yasser Arafat (Moot Court); Kristin Johnson (Moot Court); Alexander Smith (Model UN).

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2010-11
Norman L. Parks Award: Jenni Bewley 
C.C. Sims Award: Alison Carden
John W. Burgess Award: Nathaniel Greene
Jack Justin Turner Award: Nick Mackie
Meritorious Service Awards: Eric Bisby (Moot Court and Mock Trial); Charlie Burns (Moot Court); Shaun Guffey
(Model UN & Rotaract); D.J. Haggard (Mock Trial); Sam Keen (Moot Court); Nick Mackie (Model UN & Rotaract);
Lee Whitwell (Mock Trial).(2010-11).

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Recipients of College of Liberal Arts Awards

 

Janeth Almazan received the Department Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award and the College of LIberal Arts Outstanding Student Award.

 

Dr. Lisa Langenbach received the MTSU College of Liberal Arts Faculty Teaching Award. 

 

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Recipients of National Scholarships/Awards

Political Science Winners

 2017
Tiffany Miller, Spanish and International Relations – PKP Study Abroad (Chile)
Kelly Richardson, Political Science – PPIA Junior Summer Institute (University of Minnesota)
Bonnie Walker, International Relations – CLS (Turkish)

2016
Dalton Lauderback, Global Studies and Political Science – Fulbright (Germany)

 2015
Tandra Martin, International Relations – Marshall Finalist, Rhodes Finalist, Fulbright ETA (South Africa)
Davis Thompson, Political Science – Marshall Finalist, Fulbright ETA (Slovak Republic)
Caitlin Henderson, International Relations – CLS (Chinese Beijing Language & Cultural University)

2014
Tandra Martin, International Relations – Public Policy and International Affairs and the Harold Love Community Service Award, Boren (Morocco)
Davis Thompson, Political Science – Truman Finalist
Nissi Monsegue, International Relations – Gilman (China)

2013
Patrick Pratt, International Relations and Political Science – Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship

2012
Adam Emerson, International Relations and Psychology – Fulbright (Russia)

2011
Katherine Bogle, Political Science – Truman Finalist
Patrick Pratt, International Relations – Fulbright (Tanzania)
Kimberly Yarborough, International Relations and Spanish – Fulbright (Spain)

2009
Adam Emerson, International Relations and Psychology – PKP Emerging Scholar

2008
Gretchen Jenkins, Political Science – PKP Award of Excellence

2006
Katie Crytzer, Political Science (pre-law) – PKP Fellowship
Gretchen Jenkins, Political Science (pre-law) – PKP Fellowship

2004
Andrea Walker, Political Science (pre-law) – PKP Fellowship

2002
Virginia Vile, Political Science (pre-law) – PKP Fellowship

2001
Natalie Woodward, Political Science (pre-law) – PKP Award of Excellence