Student Awards, Honors and Scholarships
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Honors Day

The fourth annual Honors Dinner was held at the Commerce Club March 22 to recognize the academic achievements and service of students in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Keynote speakers were Russell Lipari, a recent Master of Public Administration graduate, and Generosa Kagaruki, a candidate for the Ph.D. in Economics.

Undergraduate students who earned university academic excellence awards during the year, including the Dean's List and Faculty Scholar designations, are recognized at each Honors Day. In spring semester, 2000, eleven percent of our undergraduates qualified for the Dean's List and six percent were designated Faculty Scholars; in summer, twelve percent qualified for the Dean's List and six percent were Faculty Scholars; and in fall semester, twelve percent qualified for the Dean's List and six percent were Faculty Scholars.

The following students were recognized this year:

Karen Akins, an M.P.A. graduate specializing in human resources, received the GSU Torch of Peace Award. This award, given in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contributions to the university, was presented by Dean Bahl during the annual Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Convocation.

Bessie Lee (a student in B.S.-Urban Policy, human resources) won the Nelson Mandela/Patricia Roberts Harris Award for 2000 and was honored by the GSU Office of African American Student Services and Programs. Other finalists from AYSPS included: Kenyetta Holmes (B.S.-Urban Policy, planning and economic development), Sybil O'Neal (B.S.-Urban Policy, urban governance), and Wesley Riddick (B.S.-Urban Policy, aviation). Students were selected on the basis of campus and community involvement, and scholarship.

Olusina Akingbade, M.S. in Urban Policy Studies graduate, was selected by the American Public Transit Association to receive a national award for his work with the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

New scholarships awarded:

Kathleen Mahoney, a master's student in Economics, received the Jack Blicksilver Scholarship in Economics, established in memory of Dr. Blicksilver, late Professor of Economics Emeritus, last year by his family. Mrs. Edith Blicksilver was on hand to present the scholarship.

Scott Wellham, a senior in the urban policy, planning and economic development specialization, received the Governor Joe Frank Harris Scholarship, which will be given annually in honor of the Governor, who serves as a Distinguished Executive Fellow in the AYSPS.

Sonia Amartiefio, an undergraduate, and Generosa Kagaruki, a doctoral student, received the first Carolyn McClain Young Leadership Fund awards. The fund was established by the Honorable Andrew Young in honor of his wife to help identify and train future international leaders.

Other scholarships and fellowships:

The E.D. (Jack) Dunn Fellowship, honoring the late Banking Commissioner E.D. Dunn, was presented to Darman Zhumadil, an M.A. student in Economics.

The George J. Malanos Economics Doctoral Scholarship, given annually in honor of the first chair of the Economics Department to a doctoral student who exemplifies scholarship, was presented to Kathleen Thomas.

The Dan Sweat Award, established last year to honor the late Atlanta civic leader, was presented to Kristy Buchanan, an M.P.A. student specializing in policy analysis, by Mrs. Tally Sweat.

The SAMA/SECAAE Scholarship, presented annually by the Southeastern Airport Manager's Association, was awarded to urban studies aviation student Brian Boerstler.

Departmental awards in Economics:

Joel Shuler, a senior majoring in economics, received the Economics Award for the undergraduate student who achieved the highest grade point average in economics courses.

Nancy Harris received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award, presented each year to an outstanding senior.

The Master of Arts in Economics Award went to Kathleen Mahoney, who achieved the highest grade point average in the M.A. in Economics program.

Teaching awards were presented to doctoral students Robert McNab (recipient of the Theodore C. Boyden Excellence in Teaching Economics Award) and Grant Black (recipient of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Teaching Award) for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Departmental awards in Public Administration and Urban Studies:

The United Airlines-Eddie Carlson Award in Aviation Administration was presented to Matthew Kirby, the undergraduate with the highest grade point average for the year.

Marialice Haufe, an undergraduate specializing in planning, and Elna Sheetz, a master's student specializing in nonprofit management, were honored with the William R. Gable Award, recognizing their academic excellence and professional promise.

Cynthia Drier received the faculty's Best Term Paper Award for her paper, "Leadership Strategies: Environmental Nonprofit Organizations."

The Public Administration Academic Achievement Award for the highest grade point average in the M.P.A. program was presented to Adolph Goldenburg and Blair Woodell. The Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor Academic Achievement Award for the highest grade point average in the M.P.A./J.D. program was presented to Jaime McMahon.

The Award for Distinguished Performance in the M.S. in Human Resource Development program went to two students who have consistently demonstrated superior academic performance in that program, Ellen Flemister and Marian Sachs.

Master's students Neelam Sharma and Jeffrey Johnson, Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Thoughtful Practice of Human Resource Development recipients, were recognized for their contributions to the field of HRD.

Doctoral students Suzanne Butterfield, James Kirley, and Robert Lahm received the faculty's Award for Distinguished Contribution to Human Resource Development research.

Other special recognitions:

Tamieka Baker, Cheryl Ballard, Nailah Banks, Michele Clendening, Cynthia Dreier, Sue Gosnell, Charles Hammonds, Jaime McMahon, Megan Mathews, Kenya Taylor and Kathleen Vogt were inducted into the Public Administration Honor Society, Pi Alpha Alpha.

William Cristman, a senior in economics, and Marialice Haufe and Norrie Mills, students in urban policy, received the GSU Faculty Scholarship Plaque.

The Dean's Scholarship Key was awarded to: Jennifer Annison, Rheta Foster, Marialice Haufe, Kelley Martin, David Oliver, Norrie Mills, William Primm and Joel Shuler.

Urban policy seniors Jarrod Hill and Chad Searcy were recognized for their achievements in the GSU basketball program.

AYSPS Service Awards were presented to Joel Shuler, president of the Economics Club, Marie Hutchison, president of the AYSPS Graduate Association, and Carol Whitcomb, president of the GSU Staff Advisory Council.