Application to Name or Create an MPSA Award or Scholarship

MPSA awards and scholarships should be named after highly distinguished scholars who have made significant contributions to the discipline. It is also in the interest of the MPSA, and the profession, to consider the diversity of profiles represented in the MPSA's set of awards and scholarships. Those considered for a naming honor should have sound reputations with respect to their character and research.

Awards shall be named for retired/emeritus/non-living scholars only, although pre-approval can, upon favorable review of the Committee on Awards, be given in cases of pending retirement, for example, for purposes of promoting donations in honor of the distinguished pending retirement. New Flagship Awards could potentially also be created, with the same criteria. Please contact the MPSA Executive Office at executiveoffice@mpsanet.org if you would like to explore the option of creating a new Flagship Award. View current MPSA awards here.

Graduate Student Travel Scholarships may be created and should be named for scholars with sound reputation and character. View current Graduate Student Travel Scholarships here.

The funding level recipients receive for Field and Subfield (“Best Paper”) Awards is $250 and for Conference Travel Scholarships is $500. Career Stage Awards vary in funding levels.

One award or travel scholarship will be granted each year, unless otherwise indicated on the form below. Please note this will impact the funding commitment levels of donations required to establish the award.

Prior to submitting the required funding (see breakdown in application below), the five-person Committee on Awards will conduct a review and may provide preliminary approval to re-name or create an award. If the committee recommends preliminary approval, the required initial donation and pledges will be submitted at that time and the application will be forwarded to the MPSA Council for final approval. The Council will vote on the committee recommendation at the next upcoming MPSA Council meeting (either in the spring or fall).”

Select the Category of Award or Scholarship

$250 Field Award$250 Subfield Award$250 Career Stage Award$500 Graduate Student Travel Scholarship

Name of proposed award (example: "J. Jones Award for the Best Paper on American Politics")

Will this replace or rename a current award? If so, please indicate the award to be renamed.

For new awards or travel scholarships, who are the intended recipients of the award/scholarship? Please outline any preferred eligibility requirements.

Please include a brief statement that discusses why this person should be honored with the naming of the award.

Upload a .PDF of the CV or Bio for the person that the award will be named after

Submitter's First and Last Name

Submitter's Affiliation

Submitter's Email Address

Submitter's Phone Number

Funding: One award or travel scholarship will be granted each year, unless otherwise indicated above. Once pre-approved by the Committee on Awards, the MPSA will reach out for the required funding that must be submitted within 2-3 weeks of pre-approval:

•Initial $5,000 currently raised for each award/scholarship. This payment can be made by credit card or check.

•A final list of pledges for an additional $5,000 per new award or travel scholarship granted (for example: for two travel scholarships granted in a year, the total commitment would be $20,000). An Excel list of pledges should include the individual’s name, affiliation, email address, full mailing address and amount pledged or donated.

Initial below: I understand that, after preliminary approval, I will be required to submit an initial payment of $5,000 and an additional commitment of $5,000 in pledges in order for the award or scholarship to be established.

Contact Information