<div dir="ltr"><div><p>Dear Faculty and Graduate Students,</p><p>The Undergraduate Committee is now accepting applications for the Spring 2026 awards, and we would appreciate your support in promoting them and identifying strong candidates.</p><p>Please share information about the awards listed below with your students and encourage those who are eligible to apply.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-il" style="">Students</span> have received an email from Kristy Salazar Nugent with full instructions about applying.</span></p><p>We also welcome your recommendations, particularly for the Outstanding Student award, which can sometimes have a smaller pool of applicants than expected. Faculty, instructors, and TAs are especially well positioned to recognize students with strong academic performance, as well as those who demonstrate leadership and contribute to the campus or broader community.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">




</p><p>The application deadline is <b>May 15, 2026, Friday at 4 pm.</b> </p><p>Students should refer to the email that Kristy Salazar Nugent sent out today for full application details - but the <b>google form for application</b> is also linked below.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> ---</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">These are the <span class="gmail-il">awards</span> given out in Spring:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline">The </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline">Political Science Outstanding Student Award </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline">will be given to a student who will be a </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Senior</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline"> in the academic year 2026-27; who has a strong scholastic record, including a cumulative UCR GPA of 3.5 or higher; and who has made outstanding contributions in community service and/or in department and campus organizations</span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(244,244,0);vertical-align:baseline">. </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline">A monetary award up to $1,000 is given to </span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">one or more students.</span></p><font face="arial, sans-serif"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Judge Ernest M. Lopez Memorial Grants </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">are awarded to students who will be </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Seniors</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> in the academic year 2026-27; who are disadvantaged by social or economic hardship; and who will be applying to law school. Monetary grants of $500 or more are awarded to help cover the costs of preparing for and applying to law school. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Pay It Forward First Generation University Student Awards </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">are awarded based on merit to students who will be </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Juniors</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> or </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">Seniors</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> in the academic year 2026-2027; who are studying political science; and who are in the first generation of their family to pursue a university-level education. A monetary award of $1,000 or more is given to one or more students. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">If students meet the criteria listed above and would like to apply for one or more of these awards, they should </span><a href="https://forms.gle/UYGbLYffTYzvYy599" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">fill out the linked Google Form HERE</span></a><span style="color:rgb(81,81,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">and submit the required documents through the Google Form. </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Must be logged into the Google account to access the Google Form.  </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">The Political Science Undergraduate Committee will review the applications and select recipients. Winners will be notified by email. Students can apply for multiple awards.</span></p></font><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">There’s more information about <span class="gmail-il">awards</span> here:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/scholarships-and-fellowships" target="_blank" style="">https://politicalscience.ucr.edu/scholarships-and-fellowships</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif" style=""> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Thanks for your help!</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">All the best,</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif" style="">Yasemin</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" size="2">Yasemin Irepoglu Carreras, Ph.D.</font><div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Tahoma"><font face="Helvetica" color="#000000">Associate Professor of Teaching</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Tahoma"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica">Department of Political Science</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Tahoma"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica">University of California, Riverside</span></div><div><font color="#222222"><i>Author of: <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-95983-7" target="_blank">Decentralization, Interactive Governance and Income Inequality in Europe</a></i></font></div></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/ycarre" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><font face="arial, sans-serif">https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/ycarre</font></a></div></div></div></div></div>