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

Honors Day

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies held its Eighth Annual Honors Day Ceremony at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel on April 20, 2004, to recognize the academic excellence and service achievements of its students.

The following students were recognized this year:

Scholarships and fellowships:

Edward B. Sennoga (Ph.D. in Economics) received the Jack Blicksilver Scholarship in Economics. Established in honor of Dr. Jack Blicksilver, late professor of economics emeritus, this scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate or undergraduate student who excels in economics.

Mercy Mvundura (Ph.D. in Economics) received the Carole Keels Scholarship in Economics, established in honor of the late Carole Y. Keels, a GSU alumna. This scholarship recognizes a student with significant career experience who is pursuing a degree in economics. At the age of 38, Dr. Keels returned to college to complete both a master's and Ph.D. degree in economics at Georgia State.

Asmaa El-Ganainy (Ph.D. in Economics) received the George Malanos Scholarship in Economics, which is given in honor of Dr. George Malanos, late professor of economics and first chair of the department, to the Ph.D. student selected by the faculty as best exemplifying a commitment to the exchange of ideas and the creation of a community of scholars.

Eunice Heredia (Ph.D. in Economics) received the E.D. (Jack) Dunn Fellowship, established to honor the late Banking Commissioner E.D. Dunn, a Georgia State alumnus. This fellowship is awarded annually to a deserving graduate student in the Andrew Young School with academic and research interest in public finance, financial regulatory policy impact on national, regional and local economics, or public management.

Sonali S. Ballal (M.P.A.) and Derrick L. Wright (M.P.A.) received the Governor Joe Frank Harris Award, which is given annually to a student in the school based on academic merit. The scholarship honors Georgia’s former governor, whose administration was noted for improvements in education. Governor Harris has also served as a Distinguished Executive Fellow in the Andrew Young School.

Kwaw S. Andam (Joint Ph.D. in Public Policy), Abdu Muwonge (Ph.D. in Economics), Mercy Mvundura (Ph.D. in Economics) and Grace L. Chikoto (Joint Ph.D. in Public Policy) received the Carolyn McClain Young Leadership Fund Award. The award was established to provide training opportunities for government officials, junior executives in national finance ministries, and for young people who may be the leaders of tomorrow in countries with emerging economies, especially in Africa and the Caribbean. Recipients of leadership fund awards are chosen by a committee appointed by the Dean.

Shena R. Ashley (Joint Ph.D. in Public Policy) and Kwame N. Donaldson (Ph.D. in Economics) received the Andrew Young Fellowship. Established in honor of Ambassador Andrew Young through the generosity of many supporters, two fellowships are awarded annually to outstanding students pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics or Public Policy. Each fellowship provides support for a period of three years of doctoral study.

Monica C. LaBelle (Joint Ph.D. in Public Policy), William O. Perry (Ph.D. in Economics) and Mike T. Tasto (Ph.D. in Economics) received the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Dean's Fellowship. Established through the generosity of the Coca-Cola Foundation in honor of Ambassador Andrew Young, the Dean's Fellowship is awarded annually to an outstanding student or students pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics or Public Policy. Each fellowship provides support for a period of three years of doctoral study.

Christina E. Lennon (M.S.-UPS) received the Amanda G. Hyatt Fellowship. The award was established in honor of the late Amanda Hyatt and her legacy of commitment to public service and education. This award recognizes a graduate student in Urban Policy Studies who has demonstrated leadership and a proven commitment to compassionate public service.

Kimberly H. Amos (M.S.-UPS) received the Dan Sweat Award. Established to honor the late Dan E. Sweat, a Georgia State alumnus and long time Atlanta civic leader, this assistantship is awarded annually to one or more deserving graduate students with career interests in public service.

LaKenzise C. Mayberry (M.P.A.) received the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Award. The award is presented by the Federal Home Loan Bank to a graduate student in Public Administration and Urban Studies in recognition of excellent academic achievement in the fields of public policy or planning and economic development.

Awards in Economics:

Trevor I. Balmer (B.A. in Economics) and Whitney J. Rusert (B.A. in Economics) received the Economics Award, presented to the undergraduate students who achieve the highest grade point average in economics courses above the 2000 level.

Whitney J. Rusert (B.A. in Economics) received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award, which is presented to the outstanding graduating senior majoring in economics, selected by a committee of the faculty in the department.

Armando A. Castro (B.S. in Economics) received the Excellence in Microeconomics Award. The award is given by the faculty to the best economics major in Intermediate Microeconomics during the previous calendar year. The student earning this award has shown a deep interest in the subject, demonstrated a thorough understanding of the material and its applications, and attained a high level of academic achievement in the course.

Yuqing Sheri Zeng (M.A. in Economics) received the Master of Arts in Economics Award, which is given annually in recognition of outstanding academic achievement to the student with the highest grade point average in the Master of Arts in Economics program.

Mercy Mvundura (Ph.D. in Economics) received the SRI Analytics Award. The award, established by Dr. Harold Ball, a Ph.D. in Economics alumnus, is given annually to recognize distinguished performance in quantitative economics by a graduate student.

Paul Kagundu (Ph.D in Economics) received the Theodore C. Boyden Excellence in Teaching Economics Award, which is given annually to the graduate student in economics who best displays excellence in teaching economics and in improving economic understanding, primarily in the Economics 2105 and 2106 courses.

Awards in Public Administration and Urban Studies:

Bonnie L. Britt (B.S.-UPS) received the United Airlines-Eddie Carlson Award in Aviation Administration, which is presented to the Aviation and Transportation student who has the highest grade point average for the calendar year.

Matthew D. Williamson (B.S.-UPS), Richard W. Ferry (M.S.-UPS), and Lauren Hollingsworth (M.S.-UPS) received the William R. Gable Award. Given in honor of the Dean of the College of Urban Life from 1973 to 1975, this award is presented to an undergraduate student and a graduate student or students majoring in urban policy studies who have demonstrated high academic standing and professional promise.

Richard W. Ferry (M.S.-UPS) and Dionne D. Hill (M.P.A.) received the Best Term Paper Award. Presented annually to an undergraduate or graduate student in the Public Administration and Urban Studies program, awardees are selected by a faculty committee after reviews of term papers submitted by students or recommended by professors. The topic of Ms. Hill and Mr. Ferry's paper was "Fulton County, Georgia: A Financial Capacity Analysis."

James D. Cook, Teresha Freckleton-Petite, Craig A. Hardesty, Robert F. Holbrook, Megan C. Jones, Brandee D. Krug, Clare S. Richie, Christine L. Smith, and Marcia R. Valentine (all M.P.A.) received the Public Administration Academic Achievement Award, which is presented to the student or students who have the highest grade point average for the calendar year in the Master of Public Administration program.

Steven R. Johnston (M.P.A./J.D.) received the Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor Academic Achievement Award, which is presented to the student who has the highest grade point average for the academic year in the joint M.P.A./J.D. program.

Megan D. Fraley, Kelley A. Martin, Katie L. Miller, Mark E. Roberts, Shateecia N. Smith, Stacy L. Walsh and Rebecca J. Velez (B.S.-HRP) received the Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement in the Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Policy and Development, which is awarded to students who have consistently demonstrated superior academic performance in the B.S.-HRP program.

Varda E. Lobanov and Suneeta Mishra (M.S.-HRD) received the Award for Distinguished Performance in the M.S. in Human Resource Development Program, awarded to students who have consistently demonstrated superior academic performance and made significant contributions to the learning outcomes of fellow students in the Human Resource Development program.

Kathryn S. Adams and Kimberly C. Harper (M.S.-HRD) received the Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Application of Human Resource Development in the Workplace. This award goes to the student or students who have demonstrated consistently superior academic performance in the M.S. in Human Resource Development program, and have applied this learning to make a significant contribution to the development of human resources in the field.

Kathryn S. O'Neill (Ph.D. in HRD) received the Award for Distinguished Contribution to Human Resource Development Research, presented to the student who has made or holds a clear promise for making a significant contribution to the knowledge base of the Human Resource Development profession through original research.

S. Nicole Fehrenbach (Ph.D. in Public Policy) received the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Excellence in Teaching Award. This award recognizes a graduate student who, in the judgment of the faculty, has performed exceptionally well in the classroom as a graduate teaching assistant.

Christopher S. Horne (Ph.D. in Public Policy) received the Outstanding Doctoral Student in Public Policy Award. This award is given by the faculty to the joint Ph.D. in Public Policy student who best exemplifies academic excellence and an ongoing commitment to scholarship in the field of public policy.

Other 2004 recognitions:

Bonnie L. Britt, Glenda D. Crunk, Binh D. Le, Whitney J. Rusert and Kim J. Vanderlinden received the Faculty Scholarship Plaque, awarded for outstanding academic achievement to students who maintain a 4.0 grade point average while earning a prescribed number of credit hours at GSU.

Yamilette Y. Bonilla, Bonnie L. Britt, Jason F. Crane, Glenda D. Crunk, Theresa A. James, Steven K. Mitchell, Gary S. Monk, Stephanie A. Monson, Andrew J. Rast, Mark E. Roberts, Whitney J. Rusert, Rebecca J. Velez and William K. Ward received the Dean's Scholarship Key, awarded for outstanding academic achievement at GSU. The award is determined by either a 4.0 grade point average for 30 hours in residence, a 3.8 for 60 hours, a 3.65 for 90 hours, or a 3.5 grade point average for 120 hours in residence.

Service Awards are given to recognize special service to the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and Georgia State University. Dominique R. Huff and Jamaal Schoby were honored for service as AYSPS Senators in the Student Government Association; Jared D. Adams was honored for service as President of the GSU Chapter of Alpha Eta Rho national aviation fraternity; Armando A. Castro was honored for service as President of the GSU Economics Club; Edward Sennoga was honored for service as President of the AYSPS Graduate Student Association; and Joseph E. Winter was honored for service as Director of Rampway.

AYSPS International Scholars. This year, the Andrew Young School was pleased to host international scholars supported by the Edmund S. Muskie and Freedom Support Act Fellowship Program of American Councils for International Education (AACTR/AACELS), the Russian-U.S. Young Leadership Fellows for Public Service Program of the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), the Fulbright program of the Institute of International Education (IIE), and LASPAU: Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas (formerly the Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities). In Fall 2003, the AYSPS had more sponsored students than any other college at the university. These honorees include: Djatugbe D. Amendah, Nataliya V. Bayda, Rochelle P. Clarke, Poullang Doung, Roman M. Dyachkovskiy, Anika I. Keens-Douglas, Asif Mahmudov, Mercy Mvundura, Olga Pestova, Muhammad A. Pulungan, Nizameddin T. Rzayev, Alvaro J. Solares Munoz, Viktor Stetskevych and Nirmala Trisna.

Georgia State Chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon inductees: Trevor I. Balmer, Yamilette Y. Bonilla, Zakiya D. Daniel, Kevin J. Dunn, Yavonne S. Glenn, Patricia D. Haigler, Wendy H. Homerding, Ronald J. Hooker, Tara M. Johnson, Joseph D. Kalamaro, J. Tyler Kirk, Binh D. Le, Huubinh B. Le, Helen H. Lee, Steven L. Mayerhoefer, Eric R. Morrisey, Lauren A. Pugh, David M. Rath, John D. Stavick, Evgenia Stroeva and Joshua A. Wood. ODE is the national honor society for students of economics. Selection is based on academic merit and requires a minimum number of economics credit hours.

Pi Alpha Alpha inductees: Dominique M. Anglade, Sonali S. Ballal, Grace L. Chikoto, Madden E. DeGarmo, Barbara M. Dorio, Jeffrey Q. Durrah, S. Nicole Fehrenbach, Sarah J. Fonder, Elsa F. Gebremedhin, Craig A. Hardesty, Heather L. Hedrick, Cassandra A. Heslin, Dionne D. Hill, John H. Hoertz, Robert F. Holbrook, Steven R. Johnston, Gregory T. Jones, Darlene S. Joseph, Tamrat Kassa, Suzanne Kinnick, Nilgun Kutay, Sarah L. McCrea, Pratik C. Mhatre, Lemuel H. Miller, Michael E. Morris, Bonnie L. Naugle, Robert D. Olson, Chaital N. Patel, Michael F. Permenter, Juanita Phillips, Shannon L. Singleton, Monica J. Smith, Kenneth J. Taylor, Amanda C. Thompson, Amy M. Tidwell, Nikki J. Tucker, Marcia R. Valentine, Chivonne J. West, Derrick L. Wright and Lei Zhang. PAA is the national honor society for the field of public affairs and public administration. Membership recognizes those students with the highest performance levels in academic programs preparing them for public service careers.