- In the spring, the Department presents an annual J. Murdoch and Erna G. Dawley Award to the outstanding Senior in Political Science. The Dawley award was endowed and named in honor of one of the founders and long time Professors in the department, the late Professor J. Murdoch Dawley, J.D., Ph.D., and his wife, Erna Dawley. His students will long remember him.
- The J. R. Soukup Award is also given in the spring to the outstanding Junior in the department.
- The J. R. Soukup Scholarship is given to the outstanding first year entering Political Science major. These awards were endowed and named in honor of Professor Emeritus James R. Soukup, Ph.D. Professor Soukup, an authority on East Asian politics, was Chair of the Department from 1970 until 1975. He retired in 1991 and now lives in Harriman, Tennessee.
- The John R. Quatroche, Jr. Award is given annually to an outstanding Political Science student who demonstrates a very high level of involvement in extra curricula affairs, campus service and leadership. The award was endowed by Drs. J. Robert and Diana J. (Frost) Quatroche (classes of 1963 and 1962 respectively)and named in honor of their son, the late John R. Quatroche, Jr.
The Winners of the 2008-2009 Awards (from left to right):

Mary Germano: John R. Quatroche, Jr. Outstanding Campus Citizenship Award
Lisa Wickman: J. Murdoch Dawley Outstanding Senior Award
Mary Holland: J.R. Soukup Pi Sigma Alpha Outstanding Junior Award (co-winner)
Emily North: J.R. Soukup Pi Sigma Alpha Outstanding Junior Award (co-winner)
Political Science majors with superior academic standing may also be honored with membership in PI SIGMA ALPHA, the national Political Science Honor Society. The 2008-9 Pi Sigma Alpha new members are:
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Michelle D'Amico
Mary Holland
John Mackowiak
Leslie Rodriquez
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Andrea Dankert
James Kittleson
Emily North
Lisa Wickman
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Kayla Germain
Caitlin Levesque
Melissa Paluch
Kevin Wysocki
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