Several Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development students are receiving academic awards and honors for their work in and out of the classroom.
Through academic excellence, graduate assistantships, and research projects, these students have gone above and beyond, while taking more than a full graduate course load.
Julia Neaves, an Applied Community and Economic Development (ACED) fellow in political science, received a University Club Scholarship. As part of her professional practice organized by the Stevenson Center, Neaves is developing impact and reporting strategies for the Montana and Idaho Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit that provides development-focused financing and consulting services.
Julia Neaves
“The University Club Scholarship recognizes students in the ISU community who promote leadership, stewardship, and global citizenship,” Neaves said. “Every Stevenson Center student I have met thus far is an equally excellent candidate for this award. I am personally grateful to have been selected.”
Neaves was also received the Graduate Student Civic Engagement Award from the Department of Politics and Government. To honor civically engaged graduate students, the department recognizes a student who has completed one year in the graduate program and has served with distinction in an internship, professional practice, or a substantial community experience.
Also receiving an academic award is first-year ACED Fellow Andrew Kuka. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology honored Kuka with the Charter Department Graduate Student Excellence Award.
“Sociology helps to reveal things that deeply influence our thoughts and behaviors,” Kuka said. “Understanding that people unknowingly form predispositions as a result of their physical, cultural, political, and economic environments can help the successful implementation of development practices immensely. Sociology has helped to form my community development goal of helping people to create environments that they enjoy reproducing.”
Andrew Kuka
Lauren Troxtel, a first-year Peace Corps fellow, was the winner of the Kinesiology and Recreation (KNR) Graduate Assistant Teaching Award. Troxtel’s graduate assistantship is teaching in the Active for Life Program.
“I am honored to have received the award,” Troxtel said. “The classes that I taught included Adventure Education, Indoor Cycling, Weight Training, and Aerobics. It has been an incredible learning experience, and I could not have done it without the support from my director, Dr. (Margaret) Coleman, my advisors Barb Schlatter and Tracy Mainieri, KNR faculty, and the Stevenson Center staff including James Porter, Beverly Beyer, Frank Beck, and Dawn DuBois.”
Lauren Troxtel
Stevenson Center students presented findings at the University Research Symposium on April 8. Several also presented research and facilitated sessions during the Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science on April 22nd:
- Nick Canfield, Peace Corps fellow in political science
- Caleb Griffin, Peace Corps Master’s International student in political science
- Andrew Kuka, ACED fellow in sociology
- Kirk Richardson, Peace Corps fellow in political science
- George Stanton, Peace Corps Master’s International student in political science
Also, ACED Fellow in political science Nay Petrucelli presented “Using Data to Understand the Impact of Trafficking Laws on Juveniles” at the 21st campus Women and Gender Studies Symposium on April 15.
Congratulations, Stevenson Center students!
Brad Johnson is the Stevenson Center’s public relations intern.
