The 2025 MSU Department of Economics Senior Award recipients. L:R Harrison Kubicki, Knickolas Laux, Isabella Webber, Alayna Tisch, Emma Nicolaysen, Dennis Selyuzhitsky, Jack Starling and Lauren Smith. Photo credit: Jacqueline Hawthorne, MSU College of Social Science.
The MSU Department of Economics is pleased to announce and celebrate the following senior award winners of 2025:
Edwin A. and Eleanor B. Carlin Award
Knickolas Laux
Denis Selyuzhitsky
Lauren Smith
Larrowe-Adams
Jack Starling
McGregor
Harrison Kubicki
Emma Nicolaysen
Isabella Stratos Webber
Alayna Tisch
Economics Outstanding Senior
Denis Selyuzhitsky
Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence
Alayna Tisch
Sharif Hossain
Edwin A. and Eleanor B. Carlin Award
This award is presented to students with a major in economics who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress. In selecting the recipient(s), the Department of Economics considers overall grade-point average, grade-point average in economics classes, and the nature of the student's economics program.
Knickolas Laux is a recipient of the Carlin Award. During his time at MSU, he worked as a research assistant for Dr. Zhang for two years, tutored students in intermediate microeconomics and introductory economics, served as a presenting member of MSU’s College Fed Challenge team, presented an EC 421 honors project at the annual American Economic Association conference and represented undergraduate students on the University Committee on Undergraduate Education. For his outstanding work, he received the Board of Trustees Award, the NSF GRFP honorable mention, a Dean’s assistantship, the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Initiative Grant, and the William J. Sonsin Scholarship in Mathematics. Upon graduation, he will be pursuing an Economics Ph.D. at Princeton University.
Denis Selyuzhitsky is a recipient of the Carlin Award. During their time at MSU, they were a Social Science Scholar, an MSU Academic Competition Club member and treasurer, Math Club vice president and president, Econ Club vice president and president, Econ Undergraduate Assistant for EC201 and EC202, a professorial assistant for Dr. Jeffrey Wooldridge, and Mathematics Undergraduate Learning Assistant for MTH132 and MTH314. Denis received of MSU Department of Mathematics undergraduate scholarships three times, received first prize twice for their environmental psychology research during University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, and they received the Distinguished Freshman Scholarship. After graduation, Denis plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics focusing on Econometric theory at the University of California, San Diego.
Lauren Smith is a recipient of the Carlin Award. During her time at MSU, she was part of the Econ Scholars, the Women’s Leadership Institute, the Tower Guard and Women’s Club Dodgeball, and she served as the President of Canvases for Communities. For her work, she was awarded the Board of Trustees 4.0 Recognition and on the Dean’s List in all semesters.
The Charles "Lash" Larrowe and Walter Adams Award
This award honors former MSU Economics professors Charles P. “Lash” Larrowe and Walter Adams. Recipients of this award are recognized for exceptional accomplishments in the classroom or in mentored scholarship or research activities.
Jack Starling is the recipient of the Larrowe and Adams Award, and he is a dual major in economics and political theory and constitutional democracy through the James Madison residential college, with a minor in law, justice, and public policy. He was a presenting member of MSU’s 2023 Fed Challenge team, which placed at the semifinalist level in the national competition. For the last two semesters, he has had the opportunity to help other undergraduate students as they began their education in economics through the Economics Undergraduate Learning Assistant program. Outside of his economics studies, he was able to participate as a long-time member of Michigan State University Water Ski. He was recognized and named to MSU’s Dean’s List, was a member of MSU’s Economics Scholars Program, and was named MSU Department of Economics Undergraduate Feature of the Month in November of 2024. After graduation, he will attend the University of Michigan Law School.
George F. McGregor Scholarship
This award is presented to undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees in economics.
Harrison Kubicki is a recipient of the McGregor Scholarship and graduated with high honor. During his time at MSU, he was an economics research assistant and undergrad learning assistant, and he was a member of the Econ Scholars and the Mathematics Topology research program. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Michigan Law School.
Emma Nicolaysen is a recipient of the McGregor Scholarship. During her time at MSU, she was chairperson of the Women’s Initiative for Leadership Development Conference, president of the Honors College Activities Board, senior events coordinator at the University Activities Board, policy fellow/research assistant at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, and a member of the Econ Scholars Program. She has received many awards and recognitions including the 2023 Truman Scholarship nomination, the 2023 David and Deborah Bourke Endowed Scholarship, the 2023 New Spartan Award, first place recipient at 2024 University Undergraduate Research & Arts Forum, and the 2025 Certificate of Excellence and Distinguished Leadership. After graduation, she will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison beginning fall 2025 in their Neuroscience and Public Policy program, a dual program for a PhD in Neuroscience and an MPA at the La Follette School of Public Affairs.
Isabella Stratos Webber is a recipient of the McGregor Scholarship. During her time at MSU, she was a member of the Econ Scholars, an undergraduate learning assistant and the executive assistant of Kappa Alpha Theta. She has been recognized on the Dean’s List all semesters and with a 4.0. Upon graduating, she plans to get her teaching certificate and become an elementary school teacher. In a few years, she plans to return to school for her master’s degree.
Alayna Tisch is a recipient of the McGregor Scholarship. During her time at MSU, she was co-president and co-founder of the Sunshine Garden Club, vice president of Generations Connect, a professorial assistant for Dr. David Ortega, and a member of the Social Science Scholars Program and the Econ Scholars Program. She received the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition Semi-finalist, and first place award at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum in 2023, 2024 and 2025. She plans to take a gap year before applying to either law school or an applied economics Ph.D. program.
Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence
The Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence was established one year ago by Dr. Mike Walsh, a generous alum of MSU, to honor Professor Fisher’s commitment to empowering undergraduate research and celebrating high-caliber, undergraduate research. Students were chosen on their research that they submitted at the end of their capstone EC 499 course, Sharif Hossain chosen for fall semester 2024 and Alayna Tisch for spring semester 2025.
Reflections
“We are extremely proud of our seniors and their accomplishments,” said Steven Haider, Ph.D. professor and chair of the Department of Economics. “We have no doubt that they will take their economics training into their future endeavors as leaders and citizens. Congratulations to all of our senior award winners – we're rooting for you as you take your next steps into your careers and graduate studies.”