Each year, the Department of Political Science and International Relations recognizes students and their accomplishments at its annual ice cream social and awards ceremony, featuring ice cream from UDairy Creamery.

This year, two political science majors received prestigious national scholarships. Mirabella Troncoso received the Truman Scholarship Award, and Kathleen Higgins received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship Award.

The department also honored students with several undergraduate awards and fellowships.

Joshua Koppel, a political science major, and Wyatt Flicker, an international relations major, received the Robert Barrie Ulin Award. Presented to two seniors for exceptional academic achievement, the award includes a $500 prize and the opportunity to speak at the department’s end-of-year ceremony.

Alexa Webber received the Dolan Undergraduate Fellowship Award, a senior-year scholarship of up to $13,500 for a high-achieving student entering their senior year who intends to study law.

Benson Davis received the Joseph Donald Craven Essay Prize. The $1,000 prize recognizes the student whose essay offers the strongest proposal for changes to the U.S. Constitution or economic system that could improve democracy and democratic responsiveness.

The Department of Political Science and International Relations Advisory Board also presented Experiential Learning Fund awards. The fund provides political science and international relations students with up to $2,500 to support hands-on learning experiences such as internships and research opportunities.

This year’s recipients were Tajaii Furrowh, Lola Sokolskiy and Reva Sathe. The awards will help them gain skills and experience related to their career goals.

Mia M. Anderson and Gianna DeLaura received the James R. Soles Undergraduate Citizenship Stipend. The award provides up to $4,000 to support fieldwork, internships and other experiential learning activities focused on improving the welfare of society.

Seven students received UD Summer Scholars awards: Anna Beck, Alessandra Ditchkus, Mara Gilkey, Evelyne Kim, Sarah Riemer, Nicholas Turley and Alexa Webber. Each received $4,000 to conduct original, in-depth research or creative work. Their projects will culminate in presentations at the Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity at the end of the summer.

These awards represent only some of the accomplishments celebrated by the department this year. The department congratulates all its students on another year of achievement, scholarship and hard work.