Benefactor's Awards
The Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies has established an award fund for the Campaign Management Institute and the Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute through the generosity of friends and alumni of the Center. These awards are intended to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in the Institute.
The recipients of the Benefactors' Award will be selected on the basis of two criteria: merit and financial need. To apply, please submit a resume, transcript with your most recent GPA and a cover letter that addresses the two criteria for the award:
1. Merit: previous academic and professional accomplishments and future aspirations.
2. Financial need: including income, scholarships, loans and expenses.*
Campaign Management Institute Financial Award
This fund provides up to a $1,000 stipend to a student interested in pursuing a career in campaigning.
Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute Financial Award
This fund provides up to a $1,000 stipend to a student interested in pursuing a career in lobbying or advocacy.
European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute Financial Award
This fund provides up to a $1,000 stipend to a student interested in pursuing a career in international lobbying or advocacy.
The Benefactors' Awards are reserved for students seeking academic credit. Applications for the awards are due by November 2 for the December-January, 2010 session of CMI and PAAI and by April 15, 2010 for the May 2010 sessions of CMI and PAAI. Only successful applicants will be notified. Contact the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies for more information.
*At the end of your cover letter please include the line: “I certify that the information I have provided is complete and truthful. I am aware that the submission of false or misleading information is cause for the award to be revoked. (Signature)”
Please send your application to:
Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies
Benefactors Award
Ward 109
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016-8130
Past Award Winners:
Pat Jakopchek for CMI May 2009
Pat Jakopchek is a graduate student in the School of Communications at American University pursuing a master's degree in Public Communication. Pat graduated Magna Cum Laude from Saint Louis University, where he majored in Political Science, minored in Philosophy and Communication and received a certificate in Political Journalism. After graduating, Pat worked on, managed and consulted over a dozen campaigns in his home state of Missouri. At American University, he has been acknowledged for his contributions to a chapter on Earned Media's Role in the 2008 Election in the third edition of Campaigns and Elections American Style. The chapter was written by Professor Dotty Lynch, for whom Pat is a research assistant. Pat looks forward to a career in political communications, both on campaigns and within government.
Brad Turner for CMI January 2009
Brad Turner is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs at American University pursuing a master's degree in public administration with a concentration in campaign management. Brad graduated Suma Cum Laude from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio where he double majored in Political Science and Religion. While attending Wright State, Brad served in various student leadership positions such as the Student Government President and as the Head Delegate of Wright State University's award-winning Model United Nations Team. While originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Brad moved to the Washington, D.C. area in order to attend American University and pursue a career in campaign politics and eventually, public service.
C. Murphy Hebert for CMI May 2007
C. Murphy Hebert is an Applied Politics master’s student in the School of Public Affairs at American University. Her studies focus on campaign and media issues as well as education policy. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at Arizona State University in 2001, Murphy spent several years as a community newspaper reporter – where she was a member of election/political coverage teams. She moved to the Czech Republic in 2005, where she taught English and wrote for the Prague Post, the country’s largest circulating English newspaper. She came to Washington, D.C. from abroad to begin her studies at AU. Currently, she is completing her second semester and is a research intern at Media Matters for . Murphy looks forward to pursuing a career as a political consultant.
Jessica Heyman for PAAI May 2007
Jessica Heyman is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs at American University where she is pursuing a Mater’s degree in Political Science. Jessica graduated from American in 2002 with a Bachelor’s in political science and minor in German. She then went on to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA where she earned her Master’s degree in secondary education. Jessica’s advocacy interests developed during her time at American. As an undergraduate, she interned for Representative Patrick Toomey’s Capitol Hill office. She also interned at the Society for Women’s Health Research where she participated in the National Council of Women’s Organization’s New Faces, More Voices Leadership Institute. Jessica now enjoys teaching advanced placement government to her students in Prince William County, Virginia. While she is looking forward to a new career in advocacy, she hopes to continue teaching at the community college level.
Brian O’Laughlin for EPAAI June 2007
Brian H. O'Laughlin currently is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs at American University where he is pursuing a master's degree in public administration with a concentration in international management. Brian graduated from the University of Delaware in 2006 and obtained a bachelor of arts in both international relations and history with European and Spanish concentrations. At Delaware, Brian worked as a financial and administrative assistant for the university's Center for International Studies. While in those jobs his interest in international affairs led him to become president of the University of Delaware's Study Abroad Ambassadors. After graduating from Delaware, Brian moved to Bethesda, Maryland in order to attend graduate school at American University. Brian currently works for the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a contract specialist. In addition to work and his studies, and through the experiences of the European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute, Brian hopes to continue to gain valuable experience to prepare for a future career in advocacy.
Morgan Miller for PAAI January 2007
Morgan D. Miller is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs at American University where she is pursuing a master’s degree in political science with a concentration in applied politics. Morgan graduated from Hamilton College in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in government. Morgan’s interest in policy development and advocacy grew during her undergraduate internships. As an undergraduate, she held intern positions at the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Campaign for America’s Future, and the New York State Senate. After graduating from Hamilton, Morgan moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a paralegal. She enrolled at American University in January 2006 and spent this past summer and fall interning at the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Public Policy and Advocacy Office. In addition to her studies this year, Morgan is participating in the Young Women Leaders Board Political Leadership Training Program that is sponsored by the Women & Politics Institute at American University. She looks forward to a career in advocacy.
Michael Barnard for CMI January 2007
Michael Barnard is a first year master’s student at American University’s School of Public Affairs, focusing his studies on Applied Politics and American Government. He received a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Political-Economics and Latin American Affairs from the Evergreen State College and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Oregon. His interests in politics and the political process stem from his time living in South America during the 1998 presidential campaign of Hugo Chávez and the 2001 economic and political crisis in Argentina, where he witnessed first-hand the powerful role politics can play in everyday life. During the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign, Michael worked as the university organizer for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Oregon, managing a group of more than 1,000 University of Oregon student volunteers. Soon after the campaign, Michael relocated from the West Coast to Washington, D.C., where he continues to study and participate in politics. In the fall of 2006, he interned in the leadership office of then-Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, helping in the campaign that resulted in Mr. Hoyer’s selection as the 110th Congress’s House Majority Leader. Michael will graduate from American University in the fall of 2007, after which he plans on working on the Democratic presidential campaign.
Kristina M. Blair for CMI May 2006
Kristina M. Blair is a graduate student majoring in political science with a concentration in applied politics at the School of Public Affairs at American University. She graduated with a BS, summa cum laude, from Northeastern University in 2004. Kristina received the distinct honor of being ranked first in her class of approximately 2,000 students in the School of Arts & Sciences. As an undergraduate, she interned for Massachusetts state senator, Richard Tisei, and served as Press Secretary for her hometown’s Republican City Committee. Currently, Kristina is interning as a research assistant in the Office of Lynne V. Cheney at the American Enterprise Institute, and serves as Community Service Chair for the School of Public Affairs Graduate Student Council. In the future, Kristina aspires to work as a Republican political campaign consultant at the state and local levels. The political figure she most admires is Newt Gingrich. In her free time, Kristina enjoys long distance running and swimming and is preparing to compete in an ultramarathon in July 2006.
Angela Guyadeen for CMI January 2006
Angela Guyadeen is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs at American University concentrating in Applied Politics. Angela received her BA degree, with honors, from Eckerd College, where she majored in Political Science and was the president of the Student Government Association. After graduating from Eckerd, Angela worked for two years as a Communications Specialist at Mote Marine Laboratory, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science of the sea. While at Mote, Angela was responsible for media relations, including handling crisis communications such as reporting on hurricanes, shark attacks, and mass dolphin strandings. During the spring semester, Angela will be working in Senator Bill Nelson’s office (D-FL) as an intern. While she anxiously watches Senator Nelson’s campaign unfold against challenger Katherine Harris, Angela is pursuing her Master’s degree in hopes of combining her professional experience in communications with her undergraduate background in political science to transition into a career in political communications and government.
Christopher Williamson for CMI January 2006
Christopher Williamson is a first year Master’s in Public Policy student from rural southern West Virginia where he graduated magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics degree, from West Virginia University (WVU). At WVU, he was active in Student Government Association as an elected student representative on the WVU Athletic Council, President and Founder of the Southern and Rural West Virginia Organization, a Truman Scholarship finalist, and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. Christopher helped found a Young Democrats organization and ran in 2004 as a John Edwards delegate for the Democratic National Convention. Since moving to Washington, DC, he has completed an internship in the Office of U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), worked as a graduate student assistant at American University, and is currently working as a graduate research assistant/consultant at The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. After graduating from AU, Christopher hopes to attend Law School at WVU. Ultimately, he hopes to work his way through the political ranks and eventually run for Governor or U.S. Senator from West Virginia. He would like to follow in the footsteps of his favorite political figure and role model Sen. Robert C. Byrd.
Sarah Woodbury for PAAI May 2006
Sarah Woodbury graduated from Portland State University with a BS in political science. After graduating she worked for the Clackamas County Elections office for a little over two years where she did everything from processing ballots and handling candidate filings to proofing voter pamphlet submissions and imputing voter registration information. During that time period Sarah was elected as a precinct committee person for the Multnomah County Democrats and volunteered for the Dean for America campaign and the Kerry/Edwards campaign. She is currently working on getting her Master’s in Political Science and a certificate from the Women and Public Policy Institute at American University. Her focus is on gender, GLBTA, and civil rights policy issues and Sarah hopes to find work with a progressive organization or elected official that would allow me to work in the policy arena on these issues.
Shane Mayer for PAAI January 2006
Shane Mayer was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Shane came to AU in 2001 and received his BA in 2005, Magna Cum Laude. He is currently a Master's degree candidate and expects to graduate in May of 2006 specializing in Applied Politics. Shane has worked for Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico and plans to continue to work in politics. He is most interested in working in the field of Gender issues, including gay rights and women's rights.
