Scholarships | Public Policy, Justice and Social Issues Programs | SIU

The Majid Abbass Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Political Science is awarded to a graduating senior. The Award is in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in the discipline of political science. The Award was established in 1974 by friends and colleagues of Professor Abbass, a distinguished faculty member in political science who died in 1971.

The Orville Alexander Memorial Award honors the career accomplishments of Dr. Orville Alexander who led the Department of Political Science as its Chairman for two decades. During that period, the department experienced dramatic growth in student enrollment, and the establishment of the Ph.D. program in Political Science. Dr. Alexander also represented the University before committees of the State Legislature and other government agencies during much of the tenure of President Delyte W. Morris.

The Carol B. Christensen Endowed Undergraduate Global Government Award was established by Carol Christensen’s husband, David, in her memory and in keeping with her concerns for United Nations reform, Global Government, and the elimination of war.

Carol Bullis Christensen and her husband, David, became advocates of global government after World War II at a tent meeting adjacent to the University of Chicago campus. Carol worked in the office of the Dean of Students while her husband was a graduate student there. They both became active in World Republic, one of many post World War II organizations advocating world government.

Carol's concerns about weaknesses of the United Nations and the mounting world-wide issues that could only find solutions through a global government persisted through her years raising a family and serving for 15 years as a Student Academic Advisor in SIUC's College of Business and Administration.

This fund was established by Jane and the late Ralph E. Becker in memory of Ralph's cousin, Charles C. Hines. Charles was a 1955 Political Science SIU graduate. After completing law school, Charles went on to become a much esteemed attorney in Southern Illinois. He founded the law firm Twomey and Hines with George Twomey in 1963 and practiced law until 2008, representing clients in civil and criminal cases in both state and federal court. Between 1981 and 1982, he served as special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois.

The John S. and Nancy Jackson Scholarship honors the contributions of John S. and Nancy Jackson to the university and community. Professor Jackson has served the university as a political science professor and administrator. His area of expertise is American politics, and he has continued to teach and research in this field since his retirement in 2001. He served in a variety of administrative positions at the university, including dean of the College of Liberal Arts, vice chancellor, and interim chancellor. Dr. Jackson has often been called upon to by local, state and national media as a commentator on elections.

Nancy Jackson, a former reading teacher, spearheaded the annual “Book in Every Home” campaign at the university for several years. Books are distributed to SIU Carbondale’s Head Start centers in Jackson and Williamson counties.

The award is given to an outstanding political science major who is a resident of Illinois.

The H.B. Jacobini Memorial Scholarship honors the career accomplishments of Professor H.B. Jacobini, who taught in the Department of Political Science from 1957 until his death in 1990. During his tenure at SIU, Dr. Jacobini published eight books and dozens of articles, gaining international recognition as a Scholar in his field. The recipient of the scholarship will be selected from among students who have an interest in public law, broadly defined, with an emphasis in the fields of International Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, or Judicial Process.

The Frank L. Klingberg Youth World Scholarship, which honors the teaching and research activities of Professor Emeritus Klingberg, was first awarded in 1986. The award is given to an undergraduate majoring in political science with a focus on international relations and/or comparative politics.

The Randall Nelson Scholarship Fund was funded by former Political Science Law professor Randall Nelson. The award will be given to a student who has an interest in public/community service, politics, constitutional law, American history or the law in general.

Two Daisy Powell Memorial Scholarships - one for a female and one for a male - are awarded each year to an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science. The scholarship was established in 1967 in memory of Daisy Powell, wife of the late Illinois legislator and Secretary of State Paul Powell.

Recipients of the scholarship are to be selected on the basis of financial need and potential for success in the study or practice of politics.

The Mark L. Russell Scholarship was established by Dr. Charles G. Russell of Toledo, Ohio in honor of his son, a 21 year-old University of Toledo political science major who died in 1983. One of the most significant events in Mark's life was his experience in a political science class in Switzerland. He felt that his travel and experiences with different cultures and different people opened up an entirely new world for him. To honor Mark's memory, each year one or more SIU Political Science majors will be selected to receive cash awards to help pay for foreign study and travel.