Scholarships Awarded in Fall Quarter

Monica Florian Scholarship

Florian Scholarships, supported by the California Homebuilding Foundation, are awarded to undergraduate students in Political Science “who are in a building or construction related field or considering one as a career.” Qualifying career paths could include: construction and development (architects, designers, builders, developers); real estate (residential, commercial, or mixed-use development); city planning; city, state or county housing, community development and land use agencies; as well as certain careers related to energy development and regulation.

To be eligible, students should also: be continuing at UC Riverside, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and demonstrate a need for financial assistance.

The total annual scholarship amount of up to $2500 may be awarded to one student or the amount may be split between two students. The Political Science Undergraduate Committee will select the winner(s).

Applicants must submit a 200-300 word essay on their career plans related to building and construction (see above) and how this scholarship will help them meet their educational goals.

The annual call for applications to this award is distributed in Fall to students by email and department social media accounts. Keep an eye out for it.

All awards and scholarships must be processed by Financial Aid.

Scholarships Awarded in Winter Quarter

Jenkin Outstanding Paper Award

The award is for the author of an exceptional paper submitted to an upper-division Political Science course. Only Political Science majors who will be enrolled and have Junior or Senior standing in the following Spring quarter are eligible. A monetary award of up to $500 is given to the selected student.

Faculty may nominate papers, and students may submit their own “A” papers for consideration.

The annual call for applications to this award is distributed in Winter to students by email and department social media accounts. Keep an eye out for it.

All awards and scholarships must be processed by Financial Aid.

2025 Winner: Riley Fong, for “Policing, Protests, and Policy: The Impacts of Institutional Backlash on Student Activists.” 

2025 Honorable Mention Recipient:  Jaylynn Lopez.

2024 Winner: Michelle Wang, for an essay on civil war in Myanmar. 

2024 Honorable Mention Recipients: Avanti Abhyankar and Lorelei Van Daele.

2023 Winner: Lorelei Van Daele, for her paper, “Gold, Glory and Gaming the System: Explaining Russian Ideologies and Foreign Policy Behaviors through Russia’s State-Sponsored Doping Program”

 

Ron Loveridge Summer Fellowship Program

The program offers UCR rising seniors and recent graduates an opportunity to work in agencies, groups, and offices in Sacramento and to experience the dynamics of California's state politics and policymaking (view more information HERE). Started in 2015, over 100 students have interned as Loveridge Sacramento Summer Fellows.

Upon application, Fellows are selected by the Department’s Undergraduate Committee. Most Fellows are Political Science majors, but several may major in Public Policy. Fellows will receive a stipend of $4,000 and work full-time for 10 weeks (from the final week in June to the last week in August). The Program connects Fellows with alumni and members of the Loveridge Fellowship Advisory Committee. Fellows even have their own business cards. Before going to Sacramento, there are several briefings and at the end of the program, all Fellows complete a five-page memo on what they learned about self, office, and state politics.

No other UC summer program in Sacramento offers stipends and places students in top government and political offices.

The annual call for applications to this award is distributed in Winter to students by email and department social media accounts. Keep an eye out for it.

All awards and scholarships must be processed by Financial Aid.

In 2024, 14 Fellows participated. They were placed in key agencies, offices, and groups: Carter Anderson (State Senator Richard Roth); Emmanuel Aguilar (Assembly member Corey Jackson); Hien Bui (Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technology); Scott Denarola (Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis); Jasmine Esmail (League of California Cities); Killian De Rego (Governor's GO-Biz Office); Benjamin Garza (League of California Cities); Ariana Gutierrez (Assembly member of Eloise Gomez Reyes); Siman Kohli (California State Association of Counties); Raiyan Kalam (California Chamber of Commerce); Adrianni Silvano (Assembly member Sabrina Cervantes); Ashley Tsai (California Lung Association); Queen Udeh (California Councils of Government); and Daniel Williams (California Air Resources Board).

Scholarships Awarded in Spring Quarter

Political Science Outstanding Student Award

This award will be given to a student who will be a Senior in the following academic year; 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. A monetary award of $1,000 is given to the selected student.

Applicants must submit (1) a 200-300 word essay describing their academic or scholastic achievements as well as their involvement, leadership and contributions in campus organizations and community service; (2) a complete and well-organized resume, two pages or less in length, including details about their involvement and leadership in campus organizations and community service (with dates indicated), as well as any scholarships or awards received.

The annual call for applications for this award is distributed in Spring to students by email and department social media accounts. Applications for academic year 2025-2026 are currently open and are due by 5 PM on Monday, May 19th.

All awards and scholarships must be processed by Financial Aid.

2023 Winner: Rachel Kim

2023 Honorable Mention awardees: Julia Baroi, Jingxin Hu

Judge Ernest M. Lopez Memorial Grants

These grants are awarded to students who will be Seniors in the following academic year; 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.

Applicants must submit (1) a 200-300 word essay describing: the social and economic hardships they have faced as a college student; and their plans after earning a law degree; (2) a complete and well-organized resume, two pages or less in length.

The annual call for applications for this award is distributed in Spring to students by email and department social media accounts. Applications for academic year 2025-2026 are currently open and are due by 5 PM on Monday, May 19th.

All awards and scholarships must be processed by Financial Aid.

2023 Winner: Albert Bernal-Barahona

Pay It Forward First Generation University Student Awards

These scholarships are awarded based on merit to students who will be Juniors or Seniors in the following academic year; 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 $2,000 or more is given to one or more students.

Applicants must submit (1) a 200-300 word essay describing their experience as someone in the first generation in their family to pursue a university-level education – from planning and preparing for college to attending and supporting themselves during their college years; (2) a complete and well-organized resume, two pages or less in length.

The annual call for applications for this award is distributed in Spring to students by email and department social media accounts. Applications for academic year 2025-2026 are currently open and are due by 5 PM on Monday, May 19th.

All awards and scholarships must be processed by Financial Aid.

2023 Winners: Yuma Garcia, Hong Ha, Fernando Salazar

2023 Honorable Mention awardees: Adrine Bakhchedzhyan, Yecenia Del Cid Herrera, Xuancong Han, Josselyn Hernandez, Dolores Hernandez-Mendoza, Tsz Yau Lai, Jennifer Mendieta, Ana Beatriz Nunes Dos Santos

Apply for Scholarships and Fellowships

In addition to awards given by the Political Science Department, there are more than 100 scholarships open to you, including several specific to the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS).

Questions?

If you have questions about any of the above scholarships or programs, please contact your academic advisor for more information.