On Friday, June 14, the Political Science Department gathered to recognize students within the department who participated in the department’s honors program and those who received department and campus awards.

The morning began with presentations given by the four department honors students.  The political science honors program offers an intensive, individualized educational experience for qualifying seniors.  Through the year long process, each student in the program selects a topic to become his or her focus of in depth individual research at the graduate level.   Students are advised by a professor of their choice and by the Senior Honors Professor, Bruce Bimber.  Each student spoke eloquently and knowledgably about their topic and ably handled questions from professors, fellow students, family and friends.  The four honors students who presented were:

Kelly Trumbull
Explaining Differences in the Environmental Friendliness of Countries

Michael Zhang
Explaining Actor Behavior in the Russian-Georgia War

Ariel Rassler
Camp David Delineated: A Multi-Level Approach to Understanding the 2000 Camp David Summit

Kimberly Zilles
Opportunity to Learn: California’s Volatile History

During the second part of the morning, Professor and Department Chair Eric Smith recognized students who had received department and campus awards.   In total 34 students were recognized in thirteen categories.  Departmental Awards were given in three categories:

The Louis Lancaster Scholarship Award
For high scholastic achievement in international relations with an emphasis in political science or economics.  The award was established in 1980 to honor Louis Lancaster for his years of service to the greater Santa Barbara community. 

Anthony Duong
Neil Fasching
Santina Olney

The Reg Robinson Award for Excellence
For outstanding achievement in international relations.  The award was established by Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Robinson in 1982.  Their donation was inspired by this thought: “Because the only hope of peace in the world is through international understanding among countries.”

Joel Dickenmann
Sean Jackson
Corinne Wuest
Kimberly Zilles

The Larry Adams Scholarship in Public Policy
For students with high scholarship who are serving internships in a local government agency.  The scholarship was established by UC Alumna Marilyn Lee ’69 in honor of Larry Adams, UCSB Political Science PhD ’71 and former instructor in the department. 

Santina Olney
Evan Schwartz
Ross Zelen