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Your Gifts at Work

Your generous donations have a substantial impact on our student and faculty scholarship success. Read on to learn how past awards and donations from generous friends of the Social Sciences have positively impacted our school community.

For further information on how you can make a difference through a gift to the Social Sciences, please contact Carol Spencer or Rosemarie Swatez in the Social Sciences Development Office.

 

School Awards & Scholarships

Department Awards & Scholarships

Center Awards & Scholarships

Academic Program Awards & Scholarships

 

All Social Sciences Undergraduates

Social Sciences Alumni Excellence Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes students for outstanding academic performance and service to the School, campus and community. Minimum GPA requirement is 3.5 for this scholarship. Selection criteria include academic performance, research activity, honors recognitions, and leadership/service to the campus and community. A two-page single-spaced personal statement that addresses these achievements is required. Please attach a copy of your personal statement, resume and a copy of your non-official transcript to your application. Provide your name and UCI identification number on all documents.

  • Award amount: $1000.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipients: Benjamin Bohr (political science) and Kelsey Meagher (psychology)

 

Social Sciences Outstanding Honors Thesis Award

This award recognizes a student for their outstanding undergraduate honors thesis. Selection criteria include originality of research and demonstrated knowledge in the field of research. Submission of a draft thesis is permissible. A prize-winning thesis is well-written, well-organized, properly documented and theoretically sound. Attach one copy of your thesis to your application. Provide your name and UCI identification number on all documents.

  • Award amount: $300.00
  • Deadline (application): TBA Spring 2010
  • Deadline (paper): TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipient: Sabrina Talukder (international studies)

 

Charles Lave Paper Prize

Named in honor of Charles Lave, an economics professor who served on the UCI faculty for more than 30 years who valued creative thinking, clear writing, and innovative uses of empirical data. He helped shape social science modeling through his teaching and through his classic book, An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences (written with James March). The prize will be awarded to papers that display clear exposition of creative models (theories) and point to, or include, data that permit evaluation of the models. Any UCI undergraduate or graduate student is eligible for the prize. The paper may be in any social or behavioral science discipline, or interdisciplinary in nature. It may be qualitative (with words only) or quantitative (with mathematical expressions) and may range from a scholarly article (including papers done as class assignments or dissertation chapters) to an op-ed piece. In keeping with Charles Lave's values, clear and concise writing will be appreciated.

  • Award amount: $1250.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipient: Laura Bonja (mathematics)

 

Alice B. Macy Outstanding Undergraduate Paper Award

This award recognizes a student for a paper that demonstrates original research. Submissions can be course papers or research papers, including those sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Honors theses will not be accepted for this paper competition - please submit honors theses for the School of Social Sciences Outstanding Honors Thesis Award. Only work completed since spring 2008 is eligible. Papers cannot be co-authored with other students or faculty. Attach one copy of your course or research paper to your application. Provide your name and UCI identification number on all documents.

  • Award amount: $300.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipient: Brenda Andalon (social science)

 

David and Kristin Rosten International & Community Service Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students who are planning a career in public service. The applicants are required to write a 2 page personal essay on how the scholarship would be used to support an international or domestic service experience. Scholarship funds are to be used for travel and expenses.

  • Award amount: $1000.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipients: Nathan Tumazi (international studies), Crystal Le (international studies), and Brenda Andalon (social science)

 

Elena B. and William R. Schonfeld Scholarship

The Elena B. and William R. Schonfeld Scholarship is awarded annually in the School of Social Sciences to the outstanding undergraduate in the next to graduating class who combines excellence in scholarship with dedication to the university community and the highest level of achievement in other fields.

  • Award amount: varies
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: Nominations are made by department chairs in the early Spring and selection is made by the School's Executive Committee.
  • 2009 Recipient: Chris Cialeo (sociology)

 

 

All Social Sciences Graduate Students

Dean's Endowed Fellowship for Excellence

The fellowship, established by retired Northrop Grumman Vice-Chairman, President and COO and Social Science alumni, Frank Lynch is awarded each year to a graduate student who exemplifies academic excellence.

  • Award amount:
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipient:

 

Charles Lave Paper Prize

Named in honor of Charles Lave, an economics professor who served on the UCI faculty for more than 30 years who valued creative thinking, clear writing, and innovative uses of empirical data. He helped shape social science modeling through his teaching and through his classic book, An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences (written with James March). The prize will be awarded to papers that display clear exposition of creative models (theories) and point to, or include, data that permit evaluation of the models. Any UCI undergraduate or graduate student is eligible for the prize. The paper may be in any social or behavioral science discipline, or interdisciplinary in nature. It may be qualitative (with words only) or quantitative (with mathematical expressions) and may range from a scholarly article (including papers done as class assignments or dissertation chapters) to an op-ed piece. In keeping with Charles Lave's values, clear and concise writing will be appreciated.

  • Award amount: $1250.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipient: Laura Bonja (mathematics)

 

Social Sciences Undergraduate Transfer Students

Outstanding Transfer Student Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes outstanding transfer students. Eligibility for the Outstanding Transfer Student Scholarship is limited to community college transfer students. The student must have completed a minimum of two quarters at UCI as a Social Science major. Minimum GPA requirement is 3.0 for this scholarship. The scholarship supports research, travel and related educational expenses during summer 2009. Applicants are to submit a personal statement that will describe how the scholarship funds will be used in pursuit of their educational goals. Attach one copy of your personal statement to your application. Provide your name and UCI identification number on all documents.

  • Award amount: $300.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient: Montrischa Williams (political science), Andrew Zaldivar (psychology)

 

Social Sciences Undergraduate Athletes

Steven Borowski Scholarship

Established in 2006 in the School of Social Sciences through a generous gift from Steven Borowski, a '79 economics graduate and co-founder of Metropolitan West Capital Management, LLC, the scholarship in his name will be awarded through 2011 to an exemplary School of Social Sciences student athlete. For further questions regarding this award, please contact Dedra Butler, 949-824-3829 or dmbutler@uci.edu.

  • Award amount: varies
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: Award winner is selected from among pool of Social Sciences student athletes based on academic merit and extracurricular involvement. Coaches may also nominate outstanding Social Sciences student athletes. Athletes interested in being considered should contact their coaches.
  • 2009 recipient: Francis Larson (philosophy)

 

Gary J. Singer Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a student athlete who has outstanding academic achievements as well as contributions to their sport.

  • Award amount: $5,000
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: Award winner is selected from among pool of Social Sciences student athletes based on academic merit and extracurricular involvement. Coaches may also nominate outstanding Social Sciences student athletes. Athletes interested in being considered should contact their coaches. For further questions regarding this award, please contact Dedra Butler, 949-824-3829 or dmbutler@uci.edu.
  • 2009 recipient: Bryan Harris (international studies)

 

Anthropology Undergraduates

Ruth Fulton Benedict Paper Prize

undergraduates are eligible. Students may submit only one paper for consideration for this prize. The prize will recognize the author of an outstanding paper written for an anthropology class taken at UC Irvine. Papers from any anthropology class at UC Irvine may be submitted. Papers should be between 10 and 30 pages in length. Honor's theses may not be submitted. The paper need not report on original research, but must demonstrate analytical acuity, creativity, and dexterity with the conventions of anthropological writing. The winning paper will be posted and archived on the Departmental website, and the recipient of the prize will receive an award at the Department's Spring awards ceremony. Further information may be found online at http://www.anthro.uci.edu/undergrad_honors.html.

  • Award amount:
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Malinowski Prize for Undergraduate Research

The Malinowski Prize recognizes outstanding original research. Anthropology majors who conduct original research as part of regular coursework, an honor's thesis, UROP, SURP, EAP, or other such programs are eligible. Original research is defined as involving independent data collection based on any combination of the following methods: fieldwork, participant observation, interviews, surveys, documentary research, collection of images or texts from popular culture, and/or formal data collection and analysis. Papers written in collaboration with faculty members may not be submitted. Students may submit only one paper for consideration for this prize. Papers should be between 20 and 40 pages in length. Honor's theses may be submitted, but if they exceed the page limit must be shortened to adhere to the length requirement. The winning research paper will be posted and archived on the Departmental website, and the recipient of the prize will receive an award at the Department's Spring awards ceremony. Further information may be found online at http://www.anthro.uci.edu/undergrad_honors.html.

  • Award amount:
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Reza Zarif and Rufina Paniego School of Social Sciences Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Anthropology

Funded by a generous gift to the University from donors Reza Zariff and Rufina Paniego, this award will recognize an outstanding junior (or third year) anthropology major of great academic promise. The award comes with a cash prize of $1,000 and a certificate. The winner of the award will be expected to attend a luncheon with the donors in November and to provide updates on your progress. To apply, please complete application found at www.socisci.uci.edu and send your resume and an unofficial transcript, along with a letter of no more than 2 single-spaced pages describing your interest in anthropology, your research experience (past projects and/or future research plans), your service to the community and the university, and your plans for your future career to Teresa Neighbors, Social Sciences Undergraduate Office teresa.neighbors@uci.edu.

  • Award amount: $1000.00
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient: Elizabeth McDowell (international studies)

 

 

Anthropology Graduates

Dr. Dard Magnus Rossell Memorial Award for Merit for Graduate Research in Anthropology

Supported by an anonymous donor, this award recognizes UCI Anthropology graduate students who are either non-traditional students and/or parents. Two $500 awards will be granted annually and will be announced in the spring quarter

  • Award amount: $500.00 (2)
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipients: Lydia Catherine Zacher and Khaldun Bshara

 

Chicano/Latino Studies Undergraduates

Jeff Garcilazo Paper Prize

The Jeff Garcilazo Fellowship/Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for students to examine the historical and contemporary experiences Chicano/Latino communities. The Jeff Garcilazo Prize is awarded annually to undergraduate student author(s) of the best research paper(s) in Chicano/Latino studies.

  • Award amount: Amounts vary; past awards have been $500, $300 and $100
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: Candidates for this award are instructor-selected from among top papers in Chicano/Latino Studies research seminar course.
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Economics

Sanli Pastore & Hill Paper Prize (graduate) and Internship (undergraduate)

The Sanli Pastore & Hill Excellence in Writing Award, established in 2006 through a generous donation from Nevin Sanli, President of the firm Sanli Pastore and Hill in Los Angeles, is awarded each year to an economics graduate student.  In addition to the Writing Award, the firm of Sanli Pastore & Hill awards an internship each summer to a qualified undergraduate student.

  • Award amount: Amounts vary; past awards have been $500, $300 and $100
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 Recipients: Tammy Smith Williams (first place); Yo-Long Lin (second place); Jay Simon (third place); Jonathan Hsieh (summer intern)

  

Sheen T. Kassouf Endowed Fellowship

The Sheen T. Kassouf Endowed Fellowship was established in 2006 in the department of economics with a generous gift from Ned and Joyce Kassouf of The Kassouf Foundation. Honoring the legacy of Professor Sheen Kassouf, a pioneer of modern finance and a highly respected economics scholar and academician, the fellowship will be awarded each year to an economics graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in coursework and research.

  • Award amount:
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient: Ana Pesic

 

Political Science Undergraduates

Harry Eckstein Award for Outstanding Honors Thesis

This annual award recognizes the top political science honors thesis. Honors thesis faculty advisors nominate student theses in late May, winners are announced the last Friday of the quarter.

  • Award amount: no monetary award
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: Selected from among honors program papers submitted by honor thesis faculty advisors.
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Jack and Suzanne Peltason Scholarship

Awarded throughout the year (usually for research), these merit-based scholarships help undergraduate students enhance their educational careers at UCI.

  • Award amount: varies
  • Deadline: Throughout the year
  • Application: To be considered for this award, students must obtain and fill out a hard copy application form available from Casey Sakasegawa, political science department assistant, SSPB 5229.
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Pi Omicron Chapter Founders' Award for Outstanding Senior

This award is given annually to the Pi Omicron member who has best merged the goals of academic excellence and a commitment to public service during their undergraduate career. The recipient must be a graduating senior.

  • Award amount: no monetary award
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Sociology Undergraduates

Carole Creek Bailey School of Social Sciences Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Sociology

This is award recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate academic excellence and promise as community leaders. Qualifications: full time (junior or senior) UCI student during the 2008-09 Academic Year; 3.5 GPA; declared major in sociology; completed application package including a personal statement and current unofficial transcript. Recipients must write a thank you note and meet with donor at a stewardship luncheon. Please complete and send the attached application package to Teresa Neighbors, Social Sciences Undergraduate Office teresa.neighbors@uci.edu.

 

Robin M. Williams, Jr. Student Paper Competition

One or more awards will be made to the best empirical research paper(s) on a topic of sociological interest by a UCI undergraduate sociology major or by a graduate student in the sociology program. This award honors the late Professor Robin M. Williams Jr., who served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Sociology here at UCI for more than fifteen years.

  • Award amount: Graduate ($1,000) and Undergraduate ($100-$250)
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipient:

 

Center for the Study of Democracy Graduate Students

William F. Podlich Fellowship

The William F. Podlich Fellowship on Democracy, established in 1999, offers support to incoming graduate students who participate in the Center's graduate training program on democracy. The fellowship is a gift from William F. Podlich, a nationally respected finance expert and one of the co-founders of Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) in Newport Beach. The Podlich Fellowship translates his interest and involvement in American politics into direct support for students who will study the foundations of democracy in their research and graduate studeies. Podlich has provided support and guidance for the development of UC Irvine's Center for the Study of Democracy. Podlich also is a recipient of the UCI Medal and a member of the UCI Foundation.

  • Award amount:
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: TBA Spring 2010
  • 2009 recipients:

 

Law Forum

Outstanding Legal Scholar Award

The Law Forum's Oustanding Legal Scholar Award is given annually to the Law Forum member who has best merged service to the Forum with academic excellence.

  • Award amount: varies
  • Deadline: TBA Spring 2010
  • Application: All undergraduate members of the Law Forum receive faculty consideration for this award; applications are not accepted.
  • 2009 recipient: