Scholarships and Awards

Alice Ebel New Student Scholarship

The Alice Ebel New Student scholarship was established in honor of the first chair of the Department of Political Science, Dr. Alice Ebel. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide a $1,000 award to 25 incoming students who are declared political science or legal studies majors. Student must be newly admitted to ISU starting each fall semester.

Alice Ebel Awards (Graduate & Undergraduate)

Political Science majors/minors must demonstrate a high level of accomplishment in the discipline and the promise of an exceptional professional contribution after graduation. These factors shall be measured by GPA (overall and in the major), faculty recommendations, professional activities, achievements, and career aspirations. Award is typically given to one junior, sophomore, freshman, and graduate student.

Alice Ebel Outstanding Graduating Senior Award

Political Science majors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (both overall and within the department), who can reasonably expect to graduate in May, August, or December of the year of the award are eligible to apply.  Outstanding scholarly achievement in and out of the classroom and faculty recommendations are the major criteria governing who will receive the award. 

Hibbert R. Roberts Outstanding Senior Award

Political Science majors with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (both overall and within the department), who can reasonably expect to graduate in May, August, or December of the year of the award are eligible to apply.  Outstanding scholarly achievement in and out of the classroom and faculty recommendations are the major criteria governing who will receive the award.

Thomas D. Wilson Internship Award

This award will be given to students that have shown outstanding ability in their current or completed internship. Preference is given to those students whose internships take them out of the local community.

Dr. Frederick & Carlene Roberts Memorial Internship Award

The Dr. Frederick and Carlene Roberts Memorial Internship Award was established in 2020 by Charlotte M. Roberts in memory of her brother Dr. Frederick Roberts and his wife, Carlene Roberts. The scholarship supports students participating in an internship or civic engagement activity. Student must be a pursuing a major or minor in Politics and Government. Preference given to students with demonstrated financial need.

Equity and Inclusion Advocacy Award

This award recognizes a student who furthers the goals of equity and inclusion in the department, the discipline and the University. Criteria for selection include demonstrated leadership on behalf of minority students, GPA, participation in relevant public service activities, and recommendations from members of the department.

Thomas More Scholarship in Political Philosophy

This scholarship will be awarded to a sophomore or junior Political Science major who has demonstrated special interest and ability in the study of political philosophy through courses taken in the field. To be considered, a student should anticipate a career in teaching law or some other form of public service. Course grades, extracurricular activities, and financial need will be considered in awarding this scholarship.

Frank M. and Hermina R. Giordano Scholarship Award

This scholarship was established in their honor by their son Gerald to help and encourage those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend Illinois State University. Must be a student in good standing, majoring in Political Science with a 3.0 GPA or higher and be a junior, senior, or graduate student.

Jamal R. Nassar Scholarship

This scholarship was established by colleagues and friends of emeritus faculty Jamal R. Nassar in his honor. Dr. Nassar was a faculty member at Illinois State University from 1978-2007 and served as Chair of the Department from 1998 to 2007. In July 2007, Dr. Nassar retired and became Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at California State University at San Bernardino. The purpose of the Jamal R. Nassar Scholarship is to provide student support for scholarship, overseas travel, independent research, teaching or research assistantships, travel to professional conferences or academic meetings. Each candidate for a Jamal R. Nassar Scholarship must: (a) Be enrolled in good standing at Illinois State University, having completed at least one semester as a full-time undergraduate student at ISU immediately prior to application for the Jamal R. Nassar Scholarship in Politics and Government; (b) Demonstrate strong academic achievement, as evidenced by a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; and (c). Be a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum of 60 earned credit hours with a declared major or minor within the Department of Politics and Government.

John P. Freese Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the family and friends of distinguished alum, Judge John P. Freese. The purpose of this scholarship is to support an undergraduate student with a declared major in Politics and Government. Preference will be given to a student interested in pursuing a career in law. Requirements include showing demonstrated academic achievement, as evidenced by accumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in academic coursework at this or their previous institution of higher education. Students must also demonstrate involvement in campus and/or community volunteer organizations. The scholarship will apply to the academic semester following selection. Graduating seniors in their final semester at Illinois State University are not eligible.

George J. Gordon Scholarship in U.S. Public Affairs

This award was created to recognize outstanding undergraduate students in the area of United States Public Affairs in the Department of Politics and Government. Two scholarships will be awarded, one for a student who has attained sophomore year status, and one who has attained junior year status. The student who has attained sophomore year status may apply to renew the scholarship at the end of their junior year. The full award will be applied to each winning student in the fall.

Dr. Robert Bradley Scholarship

This scholarship was created to recognize the 25 years of distinguished service provided by Dr. Robert Bradley. Each candidate for the Dr. Robert Bradley Scholarship must be or have: achieved a minimum GPA of 3.8 or an ACT score of 28 in their high school or college experience, participated in civic engagement and/or public service while in High School and/or at a prior higher education institution.

POL Subfield Achievement Awards

Political Science majors or minors nominated by Department faculty who intend to graduate in the year of the award with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major/minor and at least three courses in the Subfield are eligible for these awards. The Hibbert R. Roberts Outstanding Senior Award winner will not be eligible for consideration for this award unless she/he is the only student eligible within the Subfield. In addition to GPA, the number and level of courses taken within the Subfield and other academic activities undertaken (especially those related to the Subfield) will also be considered. The Subfields are American Government, Comparative Politics/International Relations, Public Administration and Public Law.

Outstanding Legal Studies Student Award

Legal Studies minors and contact majors with at least a 3.0 GPA (both overall and in legal studies classes) and who intend to graduate in the year of the award are eligible for consideration for this award. Criteria for selection include GPA, number of courses taken within the program and performance of internships (if one is taken).

Carl Kasten Pre-Law Leadership Award

This award is given to a graduating pre-law student who has exhibited strong leadership skills and made significant contributions to extracurricular law-related activities at Illinois State University (e.g., student judicial board, law club, legal internships).

Tom Eimermann Outstanding Pre-Law Student Award

This award is given to the graduating pre-law student who combined the highest level of academic performance with the most significant participation in extracurricular university activities and community service.

Walter S.G. Kohn Award (Graduate & Undergraduate)

Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Graduate students in the department who have graduated in December of the preceding year, or who intend to graduate in May or August of the year of the award are eligible for this award. Ordinarily, students under consideration should have completed or have in progress all of their course work for the graduate degree. Criteria to be considered in determining the winner of this award include GPA, professional activities (such as presenting a paper at a conference) and activities within the graduate college.

Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award

The Department of Politics and Government will grant this annual award to one graduate student who has distinguished herself/himself in service contributions to the Department beyond the regular duties of a graduate assistant.

Graduate Student Civic Engagement Award

The Department of Politics and Government may grant an annual award to one graduate student who has distinguished herself/himself in civic engagement. Graduate students who have completed one year (18hrs. minimum) in the departments graduate program, have participated in an internship, professional practice or a substantial community service related experience will be considered for the award. In addition, the student will be required to have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA to be considered.

Ali Riaz Graduate Student Award

The award was established by Dr. Ali Riaz in 2021 to recognize a graduate student in the Department of Politics and Government studying either Comparative Politics and/or International Relations. The recipient of this award should not be excluded from being considered for the outstanding graduate award, the outstanding graduate student service award or the graduate student civic engagement award.

Barry S. Tolchin Mock Trial Leadership Award

This award, named for an ISU competitor who also served as assistant coach, is given to a team member who exhibited strong leadership skills and made significant contributions to team spirit and unity.

Mock Trial Outstanding Witness Award

This award is given to a mock trial team member who exhibited strong leadership skills and made significant contributions to team spirit and unity.

Michael A. Hall Mock Trial Outstanding Attorney Award

This award, named for the ISU mock trial alumnus who coached the Illinois State University team that won the American Mock Trial Association's Silver National Championship Tournament, is given to the mock trial team member who was the most outstanding attorney in the intercollegiate mock trial program.