Van Ek Award

CU Undergrads at MPSA

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:32:47 +0000

CU Undergrads at MPSA Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/12/2018 - 09:32

On April 5th-8th three CU Boulder students presented at the 76th annual Midwest Political Science Association conference. The conference took place in Chicago, Illinois, and gives students an opportunity to show off their own research. To present their research each student made posters jam packed with information. In order to participate, each applicant must submit a proposal to the heads of the 2018 program committee. Danilo Gjukovikj, Corrinne McKenna, and Emily Schweitzberger each made the cut! Come check out the students' research posters in the first floor lobby of Ketchum.

Danilo Gjukovikj

"Taxes and Welfare: Post-Communist Experiences with Market Transition in Macedonia and Croatia"

He's on a full scholarship from the Macedonian government and was recently notified that he's getting the Arts & Sciences Van Ek award. He had PACE funding from the University of Colorado to attend the conference. This is a project that he's been working with Dr. Sarah Sokhey on about institutional quality and social policy (how corruption influences healthcare and education policy).

Corrinne McKenna

"The Possibility of Reunification of Ireland and Northern Ireland as a Result of Brexit"

Had UROP funding to travel to Ireland and research the possibility of Irish unification in the context of Brexit with mentorship from Dr. Sarah Sokhey. She also received PACE funding to attend the conference.

Emily Schweitzberger

"Democratic Backsliding in Europe"

She received UROP and PACE funding to attend the conference, worked with Dr. Sarah Sokhey on coding news articles about parties' positions in countries like Hungary and Turkey which have been thought to be backsliding on democracy.

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PSCI Van Ek Award Winner 2017

Anonymous — Wed, 10 May 2017 20:03:17 +0000

PSCI Van Ek Award Winner 2017 Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/10/2017 - 14:03

Congratulations to Louis Vazquez on winning the PSCI Van Ek Award. Here is a little bit of information on this award winning student!

As a political science major, I have a passion for the mechanisms that shape the world we live in. I have devoted my time and efforts to alleviating the injustices of our broken system and believe in the power of change. Humans are capable and powerful beings, and feats of change are fully within our grasp. I hope to eventually harness this power and guide the people of the world towards a more meaningful way of living in which those who lead nurture and protect their nations and the environment. I have already begun this journey through my studies at CU and around the world. Law school is my next step and I later hope to enter congress and possibly obtain the highest seat in the state. The world needs game changers. I intend to be one.

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Jacob Van Ek Award Winners

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 17:03:15 +0000

Jacob Van Ek Award Winners Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/14/2016 - 10:03

Casey Van Divier

From left to right: Sasha Strong, Dr. David Brown, Geneiveve Schneider

CU transfer students receive prestigious Arts & Sciences award

When Geneiveve Schneider and Sasha Strong graduated from Front Range Community College, the two of them were just strangers in the same graduating class. Years later, however, the CU transfer students met and realized just how much they hold in common. Both women are mothers, political science majors, and as of May 2016, recipients of the Jacob Van Ek Award.

The Jacob Van Ek Award recognizes students with a high academic standing who have contributed to the CU campus and their community. For the 2015 – 2016 academic year, Strong and Schneider were the two award recipients chosen from the political science department. Today, they still do their best to keep in touch.

“Whenever we see each other, we sit down and catch up,” Schneider said. Schneider was recognized for making a difference and getting involved in local politics.

“I was a city council member for Dacono,” she said. “I didn’t run for reelection, mainly because I wanted to give more to school, but I am still involved with the city.”

She is currently on the city’s police committee, where her job is to resolve potential conflicts between officers and citizens. She also ran a campaign in the last election cycle for the city to pass a lodging tax.

Schneider didn’t even know she was in the running for the award until she received an email notifying her that she’d won.

“The first thing I did was call my husband and my mother,” she said. “Without [their] help, I couldn’t even be active in school or politics.”

Co-recipient Sasha Strong had a similar experience when she first heard the good news.

“I immediately told my mother and my boyfriend,” said Strong. “It was actually my birthday when I received the email, so I was so happy! It was the best birthday gift I could have asked for.”

Strong won the award after joining the Dean of Arts & Sciences Advisory Board, where she serves as a voice for minority students. In the community, she is a member of the Boulder County Head Start Policy Council and plays a role on the organization’s budget committee.

“[This award] solidified that my hard work was recognized on a campus-wide level,” she said. “It’s motivating to continue to succeed academically and personally.”

As she looks to the future, Strong hopes to represent Native American families through litigation and run for public office.

“I am an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in northern Minnesota,” she said. “Having seen a lot of the social injustices that occur on my reservation, I want to use my education to help marginalized communities.”

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