2020 Scholarship & Award Winners
Click on our scholarship recipients and award winners to learn more about them.
Scholarships
Award Winners
WADE JACOBY INSPIRING LEARNING SCHOLARSHIP
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REYNOLDS SCHOLARSHIP
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BRENT TAYLOR SCHOLARSHIP
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Stan Taylor Scholarship
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Garth Jones Scholarship
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2020 G. KEVIN JONES WRITING AWARD WINNERS
Lauren Olsen
1st Place Winner, G. Kevin Jones Writing Award
Lauren Olsen is a graduate of Brigham Young University. She received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. After graduating, Lauren worked as a political analyst for Fundación para el Análisis y los Estudios Sociales, a think tank in Madrid run by the former prime minister of Spain. Lauren has been published on their website and magazine, as well as in numerous other journals and outlets. She has participated in several original research studies and was invited to present her research in 2019 at the Claremont UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union in California. She is currently working as a consultant at Beacon Group Consulting in Portland, ME. Lauren loves travel, picnics, and Post-It notes.
Lauren Olsen is a graduate of Brigham Young University. She received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. After graduating, Lauren worked as a political analyst for Fundación para el Análisis y los Estudios Sociales, a think tank in Madrid run by the former prime minister of Spain. Lauren has been published on their website and magazine, as well as in numerous other journals and outlets. She has participated in several original research studies and was invited to present her research in 2019 at the Claremont UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union in California. She is currently working as a consultant at Beacon Group Consulting in Portland, ME. Lauren loves travel, picnics, and Post-It notes.
Kayla Jackson
2nd Place Winner, G. Kevin Jones Writing Award
Kayla Jackson is from Washington D.C. and is a recent graduate from BYU, earning a BA in Political Science and a business minor. Throughout the course of her undergraduate studies, Kayla worked in the Utah state legislature, studied abroad in Jerusalem and London, and interned at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Kayla currently works as a Marketing Coordinator at FamilySearch, and in her spare time, studies for the LSAT as she plans to apply to law school this fall.
Kayla Jackson is from Washington D.C. and is a recent graduate from BYU, earning a BA in Political Science and a business minor. Throughout the course of her undergraduate studies, Kayla worked in the Utah state legislature, studied abroad in Jerusalem and London, and interned at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Kayla currently works as a Marketing Coordinator at FamilySearch, and in her spare time, studies for the LSAT as she plans to apply to law school this fall.
Matthew Easton
3rd Place G. Kevin Jones Writing Award
Matthew Easton graduated as the 2019 Political Science valedictorian with a major in Political Science and a minor in Professional Writing and Rhetoric. He previously served as the President of the Political Affairs Society and Pi Sigma Alpha, and is a recipient of the Garth Jones Outstanding Scholar Award. During his time at BYU, Matt worked as a research assistant to Dr. John Holbein and as fellow to the Center of the Study of Elections and Democracy (CSED). He interned with the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and researched public policy in New Delhi, India. Matt most recently worked as a political organizer with the Pete Buttigieg presidential campaign. His interests lie in public policy and political behavior, which he plans to pursue in graduate studies next year. In his spare time, Matt enjoys skiing, playing piano, and eating ramen.
Matthew Easton graduated as the 2019 Political Science valedictorian with a major in Political Science and a minor in Professional Writing and Rhetoric. He previously served as the President of the Political Affairs Society and Pi Sigma Alpha, and is a recipient of the Garth Jones Outstanding Scholar Award. During his time at BYU, Matt worked as a research assistant to Dr. John Holbein and as fellow to the Center of the Study of Elections and Democracy (CSED). He interned with the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and researched public policy in New Delhi, India. Matt most recently worked as a political organizer with the Pete Buttigieg presidential campaign. His interests lie in public policy and political behavior, which he plans to pursue in graduate studies next year. In his spare time, Matt enjoys skiing, playing piano, and eating ramen.
Patricia Franks
3rd Place Winner G. Kevin Jones Writing Award
Patricia/Trish Franks is a graduating senior at Brigham Young University majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Development. She is passionate about public policy and education development. At BYU she enjoyed sparking new curiosity as a teaching assistant in introductory Political Science classes. She researched with Professor Hawkins’ Impact Evidence project and interned at a School of Agriculture (SAFI) in Malawi running impact evidence research for the organization. Trish also interned in Washington D.C. at the Department of Education Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs. She has accepted an offer with Teach for America and this fall will be teaching 6th grade history in Boston for the next two years. She is excited and nervous for this opportunity to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. After her classroom experience, she plans on pursuing a MPA/MPP and working for international educational equity. She is so thankful for the many good things BYU has brought in her life and cannot begin to express her gratitude.
Patricia/Trish Franks is a graduating senior at Brigham Young University majoring in Political Science with a minor in International Development. She is passionate about public policy and education development. At BYU she enjoyed sparking new curiosity as a teaching assistant in introductory Political Science classes. She researched with Professor Hawkins’ Impact Evidence project and interned at a School of Agriculture (SAFI) in Malawi running impact evidence research for the organization. Trish also interned in Washington D.C. at the Department of Education Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs. She has accepted an offer with Teach for America and this fall will be teaching 6th grade history in Boston for the next two years. She is excited and nervous for this opportunity to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. After her classroom experience, she plans on pursuing a MPA/MPP and working for international educational equity. She is so thankful for the many good things BYU has brought in her life and cannot begin to express her gratitude.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AWARDS
Our Political Science and International Relations Journal, Sigma, Volume 37, 2020, was published in April 2020 with articles from Matt Easton and Patricia Franks, Lillie Haggard, Lauren Olsen, Pearce Solomon and Sean Peterson, and Kayla Jackson. Congratulations to all our authors!
Sigma, the undergraduate student journal for Political Science and International Relations, is published every April and is edited entirely by students. We publish approximately 5-10 articles every year and encourage any student in Political Science, International Relations, or related fields to submit their papers. We usually select papers in September and December but new submissions are accepted all year long. Being published in Sigma looks great on a resume or graduate school application, and every published paper is awarded at least $100. The three best papers in Sigma are selected for the Political Science department’s G. Kevin Jones Writing Award and receive prizes of $1000, $750, and $500, respectively.