Category: Biden School
Online program: 2026 Biden School Celebration of Scholarship
May 01, 2026 Written by Biden School Staff
This event recognizes this year's many achievements of our School community, including awardee accomplishments, as well as the generous donors and friends of our school who support our work.
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BIDEN SCHOOL HONORS听
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Presented to: Raymond Kalmanowitz
The Jerome Lewis Director's Scholarship is awarded in memory of the Institute for Public Administration's founding director, Jerome Lewis. This tuition scholarship honors his legacy by supporting the educational goals of the next generation of public servants.
Presented to: Crista Acquavella
The Lynda D. Woolard Scholarship was established in March 2020 to support undergraduate students enrolled in the Biden School of Public Policy, specifically those whose research focuses on climate change and/or disaster science and management.
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Presented to: Ashley Wilkinson
The Allen Fund for Urban Education, through the Institute for Public Administration, supports the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission.
Presented to: Isabelle Kornas,听An Nguyen
The Frey Family Scholarship was established to support undergraduate students enrolled in the Biden School, specifically those whose research focuses on refugee issues and/or disaster management.
Presented to: Estelle Smith
The Lloyd and Grace Goettler Student Enrichment Fund was established in May 2021 to support initiatives that enhance the academic experience of undergraduate students enrolled in the Energy and Environmental Policy Program at the Biden School. Support may include, but is not limited to, conference attendance and experiences, participation in undergraduate research opportunities, student-led initiatives, or school initiatives designed to enhance the student experience.
Presented to:听Gema Otheliansyah
The Peter A. Larson Prize (Sister Cities) is awarded to a Biden School graduate student whose paper is judged to be a significant contribution to fostering international understanding in the fields of urban affairs, public policy or public administration.
Presented to: Chelsia Douglas, Gulrukh Kakar
The Littleton and Jane Mitchell Fellows Program for Civil Rights and Social Justice was established in June 2011 by friends and family of Littleton P. Mitchell and Jane Watson Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was a trailblazer in Delaware's civil rights movement, serving as president of the Delaware State Branch of the NAACP from 1961 to 1991.
This award supports two graduate students in public policy pursuing careers in social justice advocacy.听
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Presented to: Irene Rodriguez
The Pauline E. Loessner Memorial Award was established in November 2000 by Arno Loessner III in memory of his mother. Pauline cared deeply about and worked ceaselessly to create opportunities to provide social services to disadvantaged Delawareans. The purpose of this fund is to provide the opportunity for her good works to continue in perpetuity. Dr. Loessner's career in higher education includes 15 years as Vice President and University Secretary at 91原创, and service as Secretary/Treasurer of the Unidel Foundation, Inc., a private foundation that supports higher education. Dr. Loessner retired as Associate Professor Emeritus of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at 91原创 in 2006.
This award is used to support excellent students for tuition assistance, travel opportunities and/or enhance education in the areas of human services, community development and related fields.
Presented to: Kristie Marmo
The Barry P. Morstain MPA Mid-Career Prize is awarded to the mid-career MPA student who best demonstrates the value of academic excellence and a commitment to public service and diversity. Dr. Morstain, an active faculty member and participant in the Master of Public Administration program for 20 years, was committed to equal rights, diversity and helping non-traditional students.
Presented to:听Benedicta Agyare-Aggrey, Ojooluwa Ibiloye
This award was established in October 2000 by Jeffrey A. and Joanne T. Raffel in honor of Jeff's parents, who had a lifelong commitment to excellence in education and educational opportunity for all. Jeff was the Director of the School of Urban Affairs '97-'07.听
Presented to: Suhani Mehta,听Dilana Grace Winter
The Daniel Rich Scholarship in Public Policy is awarded based on academic merit to undergraduate students enrolled in the Biden School.
Presented to: Marykate Sharkey
The Daniel and Nancy Rich Excellence in Community Engagement Award is given to a student who demonstrates excellence in community engagement and the potential to be a leader in a career of public and community service.
Presented to: Isaiah Gangadeen,听John Oluwadero
Awarded to a Ph.D. graduate of the Biden School whose dissertation, completed in the previous year, is judged to be the most outstanding in its theoretical formulation or empiricism.
Presented to: Caleb Mathis
Established in 2017 to support graduate students working within the Biden Institute, to provide them with a stipend for educational and living expenses as they endeavor to carry out the mission of the Institute.
Presented to:听Kel Marquez-Henriquez,听Maria Paula Mendoza
The Julie Mapes Wilgen Award honors Dr. Julie Mapes Wilgen鈥檚 lifelong work and dedication to the field of sexuality education and family studies by providing a student with a $1,000 stipend. The award is given to an outstanding 91原创 undergraduate or graduate student who has demonstrated a commitment to the field of human sexuality and/or gender studies and who has shown an appreciation for diversity and for the betterment of society.
Presented to:听Mackenzie Partridge, James Traynor
The Michael C. Wilgen Award honors the life of Lt. Col. Michael C. Wilgen for his dedication to his country and to his fellow military veterans. Michael served twenty-five years of active-duty military service (1968-1993), followed by working as a Region III Commander of the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW). The award will support student veterans selected to participate in experiential learning opportunities at the Biden School to research and develop policies that benefit active-duty military and their families, as well as veterans.
Presented to: Andrea Pierce
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Presented to: James Bell
Presented to: Casey Schaeffer
The Outstanding Undergraduate Award is presented to recognize the hard work, discipline and academic excellence exemplified by a graduating senior in the Biden School.
Presented to:听Keihan Hassanzadehkermanshahi, Idowu Kunlere
The Biden School Dean's Excellence fellowship recognizes a Biden School graduate student for their contributions to the School community through their service, engagement, leadership, teaching and scholarship.
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ST91原创ENT recognition
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Nu Lambda Mu (Nonprofit) New Members:
Presley Beck
Zoe Peters
Casey Schaeffer听
Andrew Wenger
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Pi Alpha Alpha (Public Affairs) New Members:
Sabrina Finegold
Josh Koppel
Kerry Mullins
Ella Stubbs
Matthew Willmes
Biden Institute Graduate Assistant:
Alejandro Trujillo-Reyes
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Biden Institute Interns:
Crista Acquavella
Pablo Charriez
Emily Helm
Josh Koppel
Mario Nandalal
Jackson O'Brien
Nyasha Rutanhira
Jahnese Session
Kelly VanLiew
Patrick Williams
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*Biden Institute Summer (2025) of Service Internship Program:
Isabelle Andres
Crista Acquavella
Alma Balderas
Connor Borrelli
Pablo Charriez
Alani Davila
Jadyn Gross
Olivia Hayes
Chase O'Neal
Adrianna Mazzio
Kennedy Perry
Bernice Petit
Maxine Tattoli
Ella Truitt
Paul Santo
*Supported by the Biden Institute Summer Internship Fund
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Biden Institute Student Advisory Council:
Vatsala Bais
Danielle Blachar
Alex Dewey
Michael DiPascale
Whitney Dransfield
Angel Finney
Anthony Fiore
Molly Freel
Samantha Gearghty
Allison Koopman
Carson McClung
Annie McTaggart
Elizabeth Ohakah
Alicia Pembroke
Angelina Ponenti
Mona Redder
Faiza Saeedi
Tim Schugsta
Ethan Speerli
River Spiece
Avrey Stallman
Sarah Szeto
Zachary听Tapper
Jeraly听Tejada
Lydia听Tesfaye
Scarlet听Wohlman
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Biden School Student Association Executive Officers:
Donatus Doe,听Doctoral Education and Social Policy Representative
Morgan Goettel, Vice President
Ojooluwa Ibiloye, President
Alexandria McClellan, MPA Representative
Joe Oleksak, Doctoral Public Policy Representative
Meghan Rydell, Secretary
Chloe Shader, MEEP Representative
Maryshate Sharkey, Undergraduate Leadership Representative
Zachary Tapper, Treasurer
Amanda Kelly Thompson, Doctoral ENEP Representative
Kylie Tugend, MPP Representative
Kelly Vanliew, Undergraduate Public Policy Representative
Robert Voso, Undergraduate ENEP Representative
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Delaware Water Resources Center Graduate Fellows:
Cooper Feeny
Olivia Francisco
Holly Talbot听
Megan Wassil
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Delaware Water Resources Center Interns:
Abigale Britz
Caitlin Foster
Lianna Greenstein
Shayla Kapoor
Ryan Knott
Josh Koppel
Faith Moen
Helena Owen
Owen Rader
Dmitriy Rybin
John Vuillemot
Michele Wassil听
Sienna Wong
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IPA Graduate Public Administration Fellows:
Alex Dewey
Bec Kelleher
Madison Majors
Alex McClellan
Gema Otheliansyah
Irene Rodriguez
Bailey Singer
Alex Townsend
Reidel Vichot
Ashley Wilkinson
Ashlee Woods
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IPA Undergraduate Public Administration Fellows:听
Ally Adelman
Vatsala Bais
Sahasra Chilakapati
Erin Demagistris
AJ Jawaharlal Nehru
Kaitlyn Pytleski
Marisa Schenkenberger
Jonas Wahl
Scarlet Wohlman
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Jerome R. Lewis Legislative Fellows:
Lisa Carter
Bront毛 Pepper-Hicks
Hailey Galbraith
Matthew Froden
Emma Abrams
Nicole Berube
Sydney Johnston
Trinity Kamami
Colin Walsh
Annie McTaggart
Kylie Tugend
Simmone Wallace
Raymond Kalmanowitz
Vivian Wiggins
Sasha Altman
Emily Simon
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Legal Interns:
Jessica Brady
Mary O鈥橳oole
Stephanie D'Elia听
Quinn Burrough
Jordan Groves
Blessing Nyameke
Brianna Sherman-Blanding
Avrey Stallman
Raheem Wicker
Kerry Mullins听
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Legislative Researcher:听
Aaron Deutsch
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Public Policy Fellow:
Anthony Fiore
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Spring Semester in Washington, D.C. Fellows:
Mia Anderson
Janelle Castro
Gianna Delaura听
Lizzy Kurz
Bella Maranda
Haley Roser
Meghan Rydell
Esme Solis-Maurer
Ella Stubbs
Philip Warnock
Leah Wentnick
Megan Zalinkanskas
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SNF Ithaca Student Leaders:
Danielle Blachar
Lauren Boyd
Pablo Charriez
Sophie Douglas
Ryan Lange
Adrianna Mazzio
Charlotte McQuillan
Suhani Mehta
James Ziereis
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Summer (2025) Undergraduate Biden School Fellows:
Allison 鈥淎lly鈥 Adelman
Vatsala Bais
Sahasra Chilakapati
Aaron Deutsch
AJ Nehru
Maxwell 鈥淢ax鈥 Rosenthal
Marisa Schenkenberger
Isaac O鈥橬eal
Faiza Saeedi
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Summer (2025) City Management Fellows:
Sasha Altman
Raymond Kalmanowitz
Gillian Klemas
Benedicta Agyare-Aggrey
Africa Studies Scholarship - International Institute鈥檚 Africa Studies Center and the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), University of Michigan
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Sasha Altman, Josselyn Reader, Irene Rodriguez, Kylie Tugend
First Place, Site Competition - Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Simulation Competition
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Biden School Student Association
91原创 Graduate Student Government Outstanding Overall Achievement Award
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Alex Dewey
ICMA Local Government Early Career Service Certificate
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Matheus de Souza
Empowering Community Resilience Award -听Mid-Atlantic听Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
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Ojooluwa Ibiloye
Student Ambassador - Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
Institute for Civically Engaged Research Fellowship - American Political Science Association
91原创 Graduate Community Engagement Scholars Award
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Calaia Jackson Franco
Founders Fellow - American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
Summer Academy Fellowship - American University
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Yubin Jang
AERA Division A Graduate Student Council Representative
David L. Clark Graduate Student Research Seminar Award - American Educational Research Association (AERA)听
Jackson Scholar Award - University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA)
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Gulrukh Kakar
91原创 Doctoral Fellowship of Excellence
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Idowu Kunlere
Environmental Fellows Leadership Program - 91原创 DENIN Environmental Institute
Fr茅d茅ric Bastiat Fellowship - Mercatus Center, George Mason University
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Kameron Manning
Siegfried Award - Horn Entrepreneurship Program, 91原创 Lerner College
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Gema Otheliansyah
Second Place, Site Competition - NASPAA Annual Simulation Competition
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Josselyn Reader, Irene Rodriguez
Members of Grand Prize-Winning Team - NASPAA Annual Simulation Competition
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Chloe Shader
Outstanding Senator Award - 91原创 Graduate Student Government
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Mirabella Troncoso
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
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91原创听International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Student Chapter听
Best Chapter Event (Speed Networking)
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Reidel Vichot
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Service to the Section Awardee, Section on Nonprofits
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Daniel Zorrilla-Vel谩zquez
David Gould Scholarship - ASPA Section on International and Comparative Administration
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听FACULTY recognition
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Maria Aristigueta
Distinguished Service Award - ASPA Section on Hispanic, Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Public Administration
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Dominique Baker
Alliance Fellowship Program - Alliance for Higher Education
(2025) Top 40 Women Making a Difference in the World of Academia - Leading Women in Higher Education, Diverse
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Dominique Baker, Gary Henry, Amy Ellen Schwartz
(2025) Top Research Scholars - EdWeek
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Federica Bianco
(2025) Mid-Career Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award - 91原创 Faculty Senate
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Jane Case
(2025) Excellence in Teaching Award (Nominated) - 91原创 Faculty Senate听
(2025) General Honors Award, Positive Impact as a Professor, Advisor, or Mentor - 91原创 Honors College听
Most Valuable Professor (MVP) Award - 91原创 Football
Most Valuable Professor (MVP) Award - 91原创 Men's Basketball
Collaborative Discussion Project Visiting Fellow - Interactivity Foundation听
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Jonathan Justice
Laverne Burchfield Award for Best Public Administration Book Review, The New Ph.D.: How to Build a Better Graduate Education by Leonard Cassuto听 - ASPA
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Kristi LeBeau
Most Valuable Professor (MVP) Award - 91原创 Women's Ice Hockey
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*Jerome Lewis听
Jerome Lewis Award for Public Service - Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (CUPSO)
*Honored posthumously as the first recipient during the CUPSO Annual Conference on May 18鈥20, 2026
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Alisa Moldavanova
Best Book Award, The Overlooked Pillar: Making a Case for Cultural Sustainability - ASPA Section on Public Administration Research
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Chandra Reedy
Research Grant, 鈥淪aving the Past with the Future: Mitigating Adverse Effects of AI Data Centers on Traditional Viewscapes and Soundscapes鈥 - United States Department of the Interior
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Timothy Shaffer
Collaborative Discussion Project Visiting Fellow - Interactivity Foundation听
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Jessica Sowa
(2025) Best Book Award for Volunteer Management: A Strategic Approach (Co-authored with Jaclyn Piatak, UNC Charlotte) -听 Academy of Management Division of Nonprofit Management听
Chester A. Newland Presidential Citation of Merit - ASPA
Mary Guy Lifetime Impact Award - ASPA听
Outstanding Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Book Award for Volunteer Management: A Strategic Approach (Co-authored with Jaclyn Piatak, UNC Charlotte) - NASPAA
Jane Case
Associate Professor (Fall 2025)
Casey Taylor
Associate Professor (Fall 2025)
Tibor T贸th
Associate Professor (Fall 2025)
Jessica Sowa
Conference Co-chair, ASPA
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Alisa Moldavanova
Conference Co-chair, ARNOVA
Board of Directors, ARNOVA
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STAFF recognition
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Center for Historic Architecture and Design (CHAD, under the direction of Cate Morrissey)
Mitchell-Biden House - National Register of Historic Places
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Delaware Center for Civics Education IPA (Under the direction of Scott Abbott and Fran O鈥橫alley, in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education)
Educational Programming Grant, Literacy for We the People - U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program
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Nicole Minni
Visionary Award - Delaware ACE Women鈥檚 Network
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Alaina Robinson
(2025) Delaware Business Times 40 Under 40 Honoree
Janice Barlow
Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Chase Barnes
Associate Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Phil Barnes
Lead Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Signe Bell
Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Yuliya Brel-Fournier
Associate Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Haley Burns
Associate Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Rebecca Gross
Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Joy Jordan
Associate Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Julia O'Hanlon
Lead Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
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Alaina Robinson
Associate Policy Scientist (Fall 2025)
Signe Bell
President-Elect - Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC)