Texas State public administration students, along with students from the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs and Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, were among the honorees at the annual Public Service Recognition Week Banquet sponsored by the Centex Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) on June 3rd.
Two Texas State MPA students were recipients of the James W. McGrew Research Award for outstanding graduate student research: Jill Montalvo, whose research was supervised by Dr. Hassan Tajalli, was recognized for her Applied Research Project (APR) entitled “Closing the Gap: Impact of Minority Teachers on Minority Students’ Academic Performance.” Ashley Wayman, whose research was supervised by Dr. Patricia Shields, was recognized for her Applied Research Project (APR) on “Female Assistant City Managers and Department Directors in Texas Cities.”
Additionally, eight Texas State MPA students were recognized for receiving scholarships awarded by the families of William P. Hobby, former Texas Lt. Governor, Dr. Frank Rich, former Chair of Texas State’s Department of Political Science, and Dr. Howard Balanoff, a long-time member of Texas State’s public administration faculty. The students recognized were:
Melissa Bell
Ayodamola Olanipekun
Cameron Scott
Immanuel Tan
Justin Villa
Jennifer Whitcomb
Janice Perez
Corey Young
Finally, the banquet included the induction of nine Texas State students into Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration:
Immanuel Tan Zhen Miin
Marcus D. Peoples, Jr.
Yvette Patricia Mendoza
Jordan Karimi
Carlos Lamkin
Ayodamola Olanipekun O
Erica Mooney
Corey Banks
Kristin Fritscher
Centex ASPA’s Public Administrator of the Year Award, was presented to James Earp, Assistant City Manager of Kyle and Texas State’s City-Manager-in Residence.
“Centex ASPA was honored to recognize central Texas students, public administrators, and educators for their achievements in public service and research at the 2019 Public Service Awards Banquet, said Elaine M. Zavala, President of Centex ASPA. “Public servants deserve our thanks for working diligently on behalf of every citizen.”
