Below: Amry and Mary Belle Vandenbosch Award Winner, Rosa Ramsey Groves

In order to graduate with honors in political science, a student must obtain at least a 3.5 GPA in the major and at least a 3.25 overall GPA. Additionally, honor students must complete during their senior year PS 490, Honors in Political Science. In this course, students will be expected to carry out a major research project. Normally this course is offered during the spring semester, however it can be completed by special arrangement if it is not offered during the spring.
 

Vandenbosh Outstanding Senior Political Science Maior Award

Each year the Political Science Department gives the Vandenbosch Award to the Outstanding Senior Political Science major. The Award is given in honor of Professor Amry Vandenbosch, who was chairman of the department from 1935 to 1958 and who retired from active service in 1965. Dr. Vandenbosch passed away in 1990. The award consists of a gold medal and a cash prize. In addition, two or three runners-up receive certificates and a cash prize. The winners are those majors whose overall performance at the University of Kentucky best exemplifies the qualities associated with Dr. Vandenbosch's long service on campus. Nominees for the award must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better, and they must exhibit good moral character and service to the University or to the larger community. They must have graduated or plan to graduate no later than August of the application year.

In order to be considered as a candidate for this award, the Department of Political Science needs a brief statement or resume for each student. Topics which a statement or resume might cover are:

• Basic biographical and educational data
• Career goals and plans for the future
• Activity in student organizations; offices held; service to the University of Kentucky or the university community
• Academic, service or other honors won as an undergraduate
• Activities or service in the community (Lexington or your hometown) during the period while an undergraduate
• Employment while an undergraduate
• Other achievements or activities of interest while an undergraduate, e.g., internships, special courses, papers or creative works, athletic accomplishments, religious activity, or other special circumstances in your life

Students willing to be considered for this award need to turn in their resume or statement to the departmental chair, Professor Donald Gross (1621 POT). Following the receipt of resumes, a departmental committee will select the nominees to be interviewed by the full professors in the department. The interviews last from 15 to 20 minutes and will take place the week before Spring break of the application year. On the basis of the interviews, the Award winner and runners-up will be selected. The winners will be honored at the department's annual Vandenbosch Award Dinner while will be held in the Spring of the application year.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact the departmental Chair, Professor Donald Gross at 1621 POT, 257-8581.

Pi Sigma Alpha

How to Join, Requirements for Membership, Dues and Initiation

Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Undergraduate Honorary Fraternity, is always on the lookout for students interested in becoming members of its nationally-recognized organization. The Delta chapter was the third chapter instituted by Pi Sigma Alpha and has a long and time-honored tradition at the University of Kentucky going back to the early1920's.

To be eligible, an undergraduate majoring in political science must have at least a B average in 12 credit-hours of political science courses (one of which must be at the 300-level or above) and must have a GPA which places the candidate in the top third of his or her class. At the University of Kentucky, these qualifications mean that if you have at least a 3.0 GPA in political science and an overall GPA of 3.0 with at least one upper-division course, you should consider applying.

The local chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha has organized a number of exciting projects. Two of the most current were a series of brown bag lunches with political figures, and career planning seminars.

If you might be interested in joining, an application form may be obtained from Dr. Christopher Rice, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Political Science, 1649 POT, UK Campus 40506-0027 (257-7030). A one-time national initiation fee of $25.00, along with a local fee of $15.00, are required when you hand in your application. This national fee goes to purchase an attractive certificate suitable for framing. The local fee helps fund Pi Sigma Alpha projects and events. 

Truman Fellowships

The Department of Political Science is interested in identifying promising juniors as nominees for the Harry S. Truman Fellowship Program.

Under this program, the Harry S. Truman Foundation will award at least 90 scholarships to juniors at four-year institutions. Students will receive $30,000 to be used during their senior year of undergraduate education and during their graduate or professional studies.

Eligible students must:

• be a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree on a full-time basis who will graduate between December and August in the year which they apply.
• have a grade point of at least 3.5 and be in the upper fourth of his or her class.
• be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national.
• have selected a major that will permit admission to a graduate program leading to a career in public service.
• have demonstrated interest in a career in government and related public service at the federal, state, or local level.
• be nominated by his or her college or university on the official nominating materials provided by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Fund.

Applications for the Truman Scholarship are available in the Political Science Office, 1615 Patterson Office Tower. Dr. Christopher Rice (1649 POT, 257- 7030) is UK's faculty advisor for Truman Fellowships.

Political Science Undergraduate Research Paper Competition

The Political Science Department has two paper competitions: The Crum Award and the Amry and Mary Belle Vandenbosch Award. Listed below are the requirements for each competition respectively.

Crum Award Entry Criteria:

1) You must be (or have been when the paper was written) an undergraduate student at UK. You do not need to be a political science major.

2) The paper must be the original or revised version of a paper you submitted for a course, seminar or independent study in the calendar year in which you apply. It must have been written only by you.

3) Four (4) copies (original ribbon copy and three (3) photocopies) must be submitted. There should be no reference to you or other indication of who the author is except on the title page.

4) All papers must be typed, double-spaced with footnotes and bibliography.

5) Acceptable subjects include: political issues, political structures (including courts) and process, political norms, beliefs and thoughts, political philosophy, politics in other nations, international politics, and other matters taught in UK political science courses over the last three semesters.

The Crum Award entries will be judged by the Undergraduate Program Committee of the Political Science Department. The monetary award will be presented at the Political Science Department's annual dinner. In addition to substance, criteria for evaluation are clarity and style of expository prose, analytical sophistication, conceptual innovativeness, logical structure of argumentation, and use of available evidence. 

Amry and Mary Belle Vandenbosch Award Criteria:

1) You must be (or have been during the calendar year in which you apply) an undergraduate political science major or minor at UK.

2) The paper must be an original piece of work written entirely by you. It can be a paper submitted for a political science course (or HIS 572 or 573) or a revision of such a paper. However, the paper can be written expressly for the award competition.

3) Four (4) copies (an original copy and three (3) photocopies) must be submitted. They should contain no reference to you or other indication of who the author is except on the title page.

4) All papers must be typed, double spaced, with footnotes and bibliography.

5) Acceptable subjects include: constitutional law decisions, constitutional doctrines, the historical development of constitutional law, philosophies of constitutional interpretation, Supreme Court decision-making, the impact of constitutional decisions, the nature of civil liberties, modern civil liberties issues, civil liberties and police, lower court or lawyers, the enforcement of civil liberties guarantees, philosophical issues in civil liberties.

The Amry and Mary Belle Vandenbosch Award entries will be judged by a committee of professors in the areas of constitutional law and civil liberties. The monetary award will be presented at the Political Science Department annual dinner. In addition to substance, the criteria for judgment include clarity and style of expository prose, analytical sophistication, conceptual innovativeness, logical structure of argumentation, and use of available evidence.

When appropriate, the same paper may be submitted for both The Crum Award and The Amry and Mary Belle Vandenbosch Award.