Kenneth F. Janda Prize for Distinguished Honors Thesis in Political Science

Julian Fefer

"We are the Union": A Case Study of UNITE HERE Local 1's Internal Structure

Advised by Professor Chloe Thurston, Associate Professor of Political Science; Faculty Fellow, Institue for Policy Research

Ben Hempker

Manipulated Maps, Mainpulated Participation: How Partisan Gerrymandering Influences Conventional and Unconventional Political Engagement 

Advised by Professor Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Professor of Political Science

William M. McGovern Award for Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Citizenship

The McGovern Prize is in honor of William M. McGovern, who taught comparative politics and political theory in political science at Northwestern from 1929 until his death in 1964. In recognition for his devotion to his students and for making significant strides to enhance academic life in the Political Science Department, the McGovern Prize is awarded to an outstanding graduating political science major who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, and University citizenship.

Grace Kathryn Coolidge

Grace graduates with a double major in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Legal Studies. While at Northwestern, Coolidge was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha and Phi Beta Kappa honors societies. Coolidge was a Farrell Fellow research assistant under the supervision of Prof. Chloe N. Thurston. Coolidge served as President of NU Swing Left, mobilizing voters in swing states, as the Journal Editor for the Northwestern Undergraduate Law Journal, and as a leader with Dance Marathon, raising funds for Little Heroes League. Coolidge interned at the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, volunteered weekly at Evanston’s YWCA, and, through Books and Breakfast, supported efforts to strengthen literacy and math skills at Dewey Elementary School.  

Kurtis Nelson

Kurtis graduates with a double major in Political Science and Data Science. While at Northwestern, Nelson was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Mortar Board honors societies.  Nelson was a Farrell Fellow research assistant and IPR Summer research assistant under the supervision of Prof. Brian Libgober. Nelson was the Chair of External Research for the Policy Research Committee and Chair of Academics for Northwestern’s Associated Student Government (ASG), as well as Chair of Public Relations for UNICEF Northwestern. Beyond Northwestern, Nelson worked as a research intern at the Brookings Institution, where he co-authored two articles.  

R. Barry Farrell Prize for Academic Achievement in Political Science

Jessica Zeng

Jessica Zeng, Framing the Fires Across Time:  Racial Capitalism in Political Responses to the 1965 Watts Uprising and the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising 

Submitted to Professor Reuel Rogers for Winter 2025’s Racial Politics in American Cities 

Aby James

Aby James, ¡Speak English! Examining the factors that affect bilingual education policy in the United States

Submitted to Professor Danielle Gilbert for Spring 2024’s Nationalism and Ethnicity 

Senior Marshal

The Department of Political Science chooses one graduating senior to carry the Department’s banner at the Weinberg College Convocation. Nominations are submitted by graduating students and Political Science professors and chosen by the Undergraduate Program Committee.

Shanthan T. Benjamin-Webb

For his academic achievement and contributions to the Department, Weinberg College, and Northwestern community as a whole

Paloma Bushofsky

Michael Fuma 

Megija Medne 

Abe Rubin 

Alexa Camilleri 

David Gold 

Patrick O'Hara 

Connor Capoot 

Oliver Goldman 

Catherine Osborne 

Simone Spalding 

Oliva Case 

Amey Haridhas 

Anna Patten 

Nicole Tan 

Janell Contreras 

Hayden Jones 

Kayla Payvar 

Max Weldon 

Maggie Farina 

Samir Khatri 

Mahima Ramesh 

Jenna Wiseltier 

Dylan Fox 

Nicole Markus 

Fiona Roach