UCO's Political Science Honor Society Receives Best Chapter Award
Sept. 11, 2024
The University of Central Oklahoma's Sigma Mu chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science collegiate honor society, has been recognized with the annual Best Chapter Award for the eighth year.
The award is presented each year to chapters that demonstrate exceptional activity within their universities and communities, showcasing remarkable energy and creativity in advancing the society's mission to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science. UCO's Sigma Mu chapter is one of five chapters to receive the honor out of more than 850 Pi Sigma Alpha chapters.
"Pi Sigma Alpha is a non-partisan organization that gives UCO students the chance to be engaged in politics, whether it is debating the key issues of the day or helping to get other students registered to vote," said Jan Hardt, Ph.D., professor of political science at Central.
Hardt serves as a faculty sponsor to the UCO chapter and received the 2024 Pi Sigma Alpha James Lengle Advisor Recognition Award in honor of her 28 years of service and dedication to Sigma Mu.
"We were impressed with the chapter's achievements in developing activities supporting student civic engagement, especially given the significant challenges faculty and students around the country continue to face," said Tanya Schwarz, executive director of Pi Sigma Alpha.
Sigma Mu's highlights from this past year include hosting voter registration drives with university and community partners; sponsoring three panel discussions at the UCO College of Liberal Arts Student Symposium; awarding a Pi Sigma Alpha scholarship to a deserving member; and, hosting a panel discussion on Oklahoma politics at the Oklahoma Political Science Association annual meeting.
The Best Chapter Award includes a cash prize of $500 for the chapter and an additional $200 for the advisor for their service. In addition, winners are featured in the American Political Science Association's magazine, Political Science Today. The Lengle Award comes with a $1,000 cash prize.
For more information about the Sigma Mu chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha at UCO, email Hardt at jhardt@uco.edu.
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The University of Central Oklahoma Sigma Mu's exceptional dedication to civic engagement was recognized with the Best Chapter Award. Pictured from left to right, Jan Hardt, Ph.D., professor of political science at Central and chapter advisor; Tanya Aka Kadio, a recent graduate from Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and, Brett Sharp, Ph.D., professor of political science, at a voter registration drive on Central's campus.
