End-of-Year Awards

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. 

See photos from the brunch

2023 End-of-Year Awardees

Linnea Goderstad, American Institute of Certified Planners Award

Rumyana Hulmequist, Award for Excellence in Global Policy

Edward VerrarRichard 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 

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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 MoorthyRichard 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 PaulusDiversity 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