Awards, Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships
Majors in political science are eligible to compete for a variety of national awards. The Grinnell College Center for Careers, Life, and Service provides up-to-date information about the scholarships and fellowships and, in some cases, has a role in administering the application process. The following opportunities have been especially attractive to political science majors: Carnegie Junior Fellowship, Fulbright Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Mitchell Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship, Harry Truman Scholarship, and Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.
Kathryn Mohrman Fellowship
This fellowship, established through the generosity of Kathryn Jagow Mohrman ’67, supports advanced studies and research in international venues. The fellowship encourages students to examine phenomena that they have not earlier confronted, and it encourages and rewards independent study. While the fellowship is open to all majors, when possible, preference will be given to candidates studying history, political science, and/or international relations. Faculty sponsors of student projects can be in any department. Priority for funding will go to support advanced studies/research that take the student outside the U.S. A student’s financial need may be then taken into account in deciding whom to fund in any given year. Often the Mohrman fellowship has supported a MAP project, but this is not a requirement. A final decision regarding the award will be made within 2 weeks of the application.
Applications are invited throughout the year and will be considered on a rolling basis. Students should apply to one of the two departments by emailing the chair directly. A completed application will include the following elements:
- a plan of study (three pages) describing the major academic goal and research agenda, the project time frame, the resources to be used in completing the project, along with evidence that the student will have access to these resources;
- a statement of support and cooperation from a faculty sponsor who will supervise the project; the faculty member should specify his or her interest in the project and speak to the quality and feasibility of the proposal;
- a budget, including travel and per diem costs
- the names of at least two other faculty members who can attest to the applicant's seriousness of purpose, ability to complete an independent project, and the extent to which this project will build on the applicant's previous academic work.
- a transcript
For more information, please contact the department chair of history or political science.
Young W. Kihl ’51 Prize
About the award
The Kihl Prize is an annual, competitive award that honors an outstanding senior political science student. In his gift agreement, Dr. Kihl outlined the criteria the Department of Political Science should consider when awarding the prize. The winning student must have:
- Achieved academic excellence in political science courses;
- Demonstrated a commitment to the ideals of a liberal arts education, via both the breadth and the difficulty of courses taken outside the major; and,
- Contributed to the College and the wider community.
Past winners
2024: Ellis Chen, Ellen Hengesbach
2023: Lilliana Herrera, Carolina Klauck Novaes
2022: Sharene Gould Dulabaum
2021: Sriyash Prajval Kadiyala
2020: Zijun (Sam) Xu
2019: Lily Hamilton
2018: Emma Zimmerman
2017: Philipp Gemmel
2013–16: No award given
2012: Anna Bosak
2011: Philip Sletton
2010: Thomas Davis
2009: David Logan
2008: Max Postman
2007: Sara Brady
2006: Rachel Moskowitz