At each year's commencement ceremony, the Humphrey School recognizes students from each master's degree program for their academic excellence. Instructors and teaching assistants are also recognized for their contributions to the Humphrey School learning community.
To nominate a student, instructor, or group for an end-of-year award, view the full list of awards, which includes application criteria and deadlines, voting instructions, and contact information.
The 2023 end-of-year awards were presented at an awards brunch in advance of the commencement ceremony on May 13.
2023 End-of-Year Awardees
Linnea Goderstad, American Institute of Certified Planners Award
Rumyana Hulmequist, Award for Excellence in Global Policy
Edward Verrar, Richard S. Bolan Urban and Regional Planning Fellowship
Abdirizak Diis and Sarah Ladd, Gary M. DeCramer Public Leadership Award
Joy Musyimi, Diversity Paper Award
Noelle Bakken, Laura Bretheim, George Drometer, Revee Needham, Katlyn Flannery, Kevin Phan, Maya Sheikh, and Anna Turner, Robert Einsweiler Award
Kyla Rathjen, Gross Family Management and Leadership Award
Planning Student Organization, Jernberg Award for Student Life
Gustave Stewart, Lukermann Award
Rebecca Allen, Master of Public Affairs Leadership Paper Award
Elizabeth Moncrief, Master of Public Affairs Research Award
Antara Mandal, Lloyd B. Short Award for Best Master's Paper
Anna Giesting, STEP Impact Award
Sarah LaVallie, STEP Professional Paper Award
Carl Knetsch, Cory Hetchler, Conor McKenzie, and Sarah Komoroski, STEP Capstone Award
Libby Logsden, Student Leadership Award
Ruby DeBellis, Student Commencement Speaker
Bonnie Keeler, Core Course Instructor of the Year
Fernando Burga, Instructor of the Year
Angie Fertig, Faculty Advisor of the Year
Angie Fertig, Faculty Career Champion of the Year
Joseph Lehman, Teaching Assistant of the Year
2022 End-of-Year Awardees
End-of-year awards were presented at an awards brunch in advance of the commencement ceremony on May 14, 2022. See photos from the brunch.
Ben Harrington, American Institute of Certified Planners Award
Ren Bin Lee Dixon and Victor Molina, Award for Excellence in Global Policy
Kribashini Narayana Moorthy, Richard S. Bolan Urban and Regional Planning Fellowship
Katie Murphy and Eric Barry, Edward A. Burdick Legislative Award
Thulani Jwacu, Gary M. DeCramer Public Leadership Award
Trupti Storlie, Diversity Paper Award
Alice Rutter, Gross Family Management and Leadership Award
Planning Student Organization, Jernberg Award for Student Life
Dakota Crowell, Lukermann Award
Sandra Filardo, Master of Public Affairs Leadership Paper Award
Daniel Tikk, Master of Public Affairs Research Paper Award
Julia Quanrud, Lloyd B. Short Award for Best Master's Paper
Katie Murphy, STEP Impact Award
Sean Cullen, Hannah Dunn, Noah Fribley, Kayla Kirtz, and Madeline Lydon, STEP Capstone Award
Alice Rutter, Student Leadership Award
Audrianna Goodwin, Student Commencement Speaker
Fayola Jacobs, Instructor of the Year
Colette Baumgardner, Teaching Assistant of the Year
2021 End-of-Year Awardees
End-of-year awards were presented as part of virtual commencement ceremonies on May 15, 2021.
Erika Shepard, American Institute of Certified Planners Award
Trenton Schoenborn, Award for Excellence in Global Policy
Timothy Shebesta, Richard S. Bolan Urban and Regional Planning Fellowship
Aaron S. Williamson, Edward A. Burdick Legislative Award
Eric Howard, Gary M. DeCramer Public Leadership Award
Amy Dorman, Diversity Paper Award
Douglas Benton, Addison Coley, Cody Flannery, Benny Manibog Jr., and Sarah Paulus, Diversity Capstone Award
Robbie Seltzer, Robert Einsweiler Award
Laura Paynter, Gross Family Management and Leadership Award: Individual Paper
David Gottfried, Kate Ingersoll, and Bailey Sutter, Gross Family Management and Leadership Award: Group Paper
Planning Student Organization, Jernberg Award for Student Life
Anna Crouch, Lukermann Award
Ashley Dzuik, Master of Public Affairs Research Paper Award
Corey Dawson, Master of Public Affairs Leadership Paper Award
Elika Beck, Mardi Crean, Samuel Estes, Madeline Geitz, and Emilio Vega, Lloyd B. Short Award for Best Master's Paper
Jamison Stallman and Lauren Fisher, STEP Impact Award
Dillon Taber Cummins, Jed Hanson, Caroline Ketcham, and Erika Shepard, STEP Capstone Award
Kania Mae Johnson, Student Leadership Award
Angie Fertig, Instructor of the Year and Core Course Instructor of the Year
Anna Thompson, Teaching Assistant of the Year
2020 End-of-Year Awardees
End-of-year awards were presented as part of virtual commencement ceremonies on May 16, 2020.
Galen Ryan, American Institute of Certified Planners Award
Meredith Benesh, Richard S. Bolan Urban and Regional Planning Fellowship
Shannon Evans Engstrom, Lukermann Award
Planning Student Organization, Jernberg Award for Student Life
Shannon Evans Engstrom, Anindya Panda, Lauren Fisher, and Megan Reineccius, Lloyd B. Short Award for Best Master’s Paper
Alana Petersen, Gary M. DeCramer Public Leadership Award
Nicole Chamberlin and Aaron Williamson, Master of Public Affairs Paper Awards
Katie Burke, Tonje Boerresen, Christina Licari, and Hannah Shireman, Diversity Paper Award
Sarah Allis, Joy Hammer, and Stephanie Hallgren, Freeman Stassen Award for International Activities
Katie Burke, Student Leadership Award
Maggie Rogers, STEP Impact Award
Jane O'Malley, STEP Paper Award
Sara Parke, Edward A. Burdick Legislative Award
Sasha Hulsey, Kshitiz Karki, Olivia Reyes, and Alyssa Scott, Class of 1999 Paul and Sheila Wellstone Award for Public Action and Academic Excellence
Tyler Boesch, Teaching Assistant of the Year
Carrie Oelberger, Core Course Instructor of the Year
Geoff Maas, Instructor of the Year