2019 Vandenbosch (Political Science) Awards Banquet | University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences

2019 Vandenbosch (Political Science) Awards Banquet

Helen Kras with Director of Graduate Studies Justin Wedeking

Undergraduate Duncan Barron won Finalist for the outstanding graduating senior award.

Director of Undergraduate Studies wows the audience with Duncan Barron's already-extensive experiences in electoral politics.

Director of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Morey recognized Duncan Barron as the sole Finalist for the department's outstanding graduating senior in Political Science

Director of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Morey recognizes Sierra Hatfield of Harlan, Kentucky, as this year's outstanding graduating senior in Political Science

Sierra Hatfield, the outstanding graduating senior in Political Science for 2019.

Director of Graduate Studies Justin Wedeking gives the Crum Emerging Scholar award in American Politics to graduate student Travis Taylor

Director of International Studies Emily Beaulieu gives the Crum Emerging Scholar award in Comparative Politics to Greg Saxton, who recently defended his dissertation and has had a coauthored paper accepted in Political Research Quarterly.

Prof. Jesse Johnson gives the Crum Emerging Scholar award in International Relations to graduate student Gargi Vyas

Director of Graduate Studies Justin Wedeking introduces Helen Kras, the first recipient of the Ashley Judd fellowship for research on violence against women.

The Gorman family, seated with Department Chair Clayton Thyne, watches as Prof. Morey announces that undergraduate Mikayla Spencer has won the F. Chris Gorman Pre-Law Scholarship. Mr. Gorman, seated at left, once served as Kentucky's Attorney General (among many other accomplishments).

Helen Kras had to stay standing for a second award, this time given by Director of International Studies Emily Beaulieu

Political Science Department Chair Clayton Thyne introduces Lexington's Vice Mayor Steve Kay as the night's keynote speaker.

The Political Science award banquet's keynote speaker, Vice Mayor Steve Kay, spoke of the University of Kentucky's role as the heart of the Lexington economy

Outstanding Senior and Crum Paper Award winner Sierra Hatfield, celebrating with Jill & Michael Hatfield.

Prof. Stephen Voss stepped out from behind the camera for long enough to take a photo with Sierra Hatfield. Several of the honors theses that Prof. Voss advised, including Sierra's, have gone on to win awards and/or be presented at prestigious disciplinary conferences.

Graduate students socializing after the banquet. — with Gargi Vyas and Helen Rabello Kras

The Political Science Department's proud, and close-knit, cohort of first-year graduate students (from left): Tasnia Symoom, Baylee Eden Harrell, Matthew Cain, Katie Elizabeth, Rachael Blandau and Sherelle Roberts Pierre

Graduate student Stephen Joiner (at left) breaks bread with the Peace Studies undergraduates he mentored this year.

Department Chair Clayton Thyne opens the festivities.

Eva Hicks (at left), who did the lion's share of the work organizing the department's banquet, sits with undergraduate Lauren Greene and her guests.

Two of the department's first-year teaching assistants, Tasnia Symoon (left) and Baylee Harrell (right).

Two of the department's advanced graduate students: Helen Kras, first recipient of the Ashley Judd fellowship for research on violence against women, and Greg Saxton, recently hired by Texas Tech.

Undergraduate awardee Sierra Hatfield with family and friends.

Undergraduate awardees Payton Sinkbeil (second from left) and (at right) Sydney Blocker, with guests.

Undergraduate awardee Duncan Barron (at center) and graduate awardee Travis Taylor (second from right) ... likely discussing their musual interest in election campaigning.

Introducing this year's Outstanding Graduating Senior in Political Science: Sierra Hatfield of Harlan, Kentucky. Sierra also won the department's Crum Award for best research paper by an undergraduate. She's shown here presenting her poster version of that research -- a survey experiment testing the political impact of campaign memes -- at the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars, as well as at our awards banquet with the advisor for her senior thesis, Prof. Stephen Voss

One of the faculty tables at the banquet, including Prof. Mike Zilis at right.

American Politics Prof. Mark Peffley shares a moment of mirth with International Relations professors Jesse Johnson (second from left) and Jillienne Haglund.

The award ceremony is about to begin

The audience watches as Prof. Thyne starts the award ceremony.

Sydney Blocker receives from Director of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Morey the Vandenbosch Award for best paper on law and courts by an undergraduate.

Lauren Greene receives from Director of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Morey the Schwarte Award, for a top undergraduate focused on writing.

Sierra Hatfield receives from Director of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Morey the Crum Award for best research paper by an undergraduate. Morey teased the first-year graduate students by telling them Sierra employed a statistical model that they were only just learning in their methods courses.

Payton Sinkbeil receives from Director of Undergraduate Studies Daniel Morey the Malcolm Jewell Scholarship, intended to encourage undergraduates from diverse backgrounds to pursue internships.

The Political Science Department held its annual awards banquet on Thursday, 25 April 2019 -- with a greatly expanded set of awards thanks to the generosity of our program's alumni. Held in the President's Room of the Boone Center (i.e., the faculty club), it drew a large crowd of students, faculty, staff, and guests, who ended the evening listening to a keynote address by Lexington Vice Mayor Steve Kay

For more on the awards, see:

https://polisci.as.uky.edu/polisci-undergrad-honors-awards

https://polisci.as.uky.edu/political-science-honors-awards