Awards

The Department of Economics honors our top graduating seniors during an awards reception held at the close of each spring semester. All graduating Economics majors are automatically considered for these awards.

 


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.

2024 Sophie Handley, Stephanie Tolly

2023 - Matthew DiRisio, Calder Moore, Sarah Pilewski, Jay Stansberry

2022 Gregory Marchal, Michael St Jean, Tanner Thering, Providence Weatherwax

2021 - Alison Ferer, Cooper Luce, Jack Mueller, Philip Valtadoros

2020 Jacob Loukota, Catherina Regis, Kaitlyn Stocker, Chelsea Wein

2019 Harris Bunker, Anna Esenther, Alexis Smith, Whitney Zhou

2018 Laura Boisten, Zachary Kuloszewski, Yahya Talab, Jack Weyhrich

2017 - Kim Gannon, Thomas Grubb, Matthew Suandi

2016 - Barbara Kotei, Xavier Brumwell, Cody Schulz, Christine Steigelman

2015 - Ethan Davis, Xuanyu (Iris) Fu, Brian Scott

2014 - Allison Bratzel, Katrina Suchoski, Michelle Orlando

2013 - Andy Chou, Kelly King, Kyle Safran, Benjamin Schneedecker

2012 - Jessica Liu, Jacob Walker, Yipeng Zhao

2011 - Michael Leonard, Chae Mamayek, Asra Shaik

2010 - Joseph Orsini, Mikhail Revyakin, Jennifer Seager

2009 - Jennifer L. Flood, Alyssa K. Hazelwood, Matthew J. Murray

2008 - Andrew Jay Britt, Natalie B. Lenski, Ging Cee Ng

2007 - Greeshma Enukonda, Clark Llamzon, Brittany Naber

2006 - Loren Emerson Croskey, Ryan Christopher Hover, James Lewis Wolter

2005 - Gregory John Larson

2004 - Andrew Wyatt Beauchamp, Sandra Louise Vasher

2003 - Alicia M. Kostosky, Sarah Lorion

2002 - Jeremy Magruder

2001 - Todd A. Gormley

2000 - Jacob Tiedt

1999 - Russell A. Ormiston

1998 - Frederick M. Hood

1997 - Timothy A. Schmidt

1996 - Aaron Hantman

1995 - David Dicicco

1994 - Daniel E. Owens

1993 - Zachary Ruderman

1992 - Brian J. Sullivan

1991 - Jana Deschler

1990 - Benjamin G. Dennis, Phillip W. Henderson, Susanna P. Nelson

1989 - Michael Engel, Andrea Ranval

1988 - Gary P. Thelen

1987 - Connel R. Fullenkamp, Lok Yin Seto

Knickolas Laux

Knickolas Lauxis a recipient of theCarlin 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 bpursuing an Economics Ph.D. at Princeton University.

Denis Selyuzhitsky

Denis Selyuzhitskyis 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 timesreceived first prize twice for their environmental psychology research duringUniversity Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, and they received the Distinguished Freshman Scholarship. After graduation, Denis plans to pursue aPh.D. in Economics focusing on Econometric theory at the University of California, San Diego.

 


George F. McGregor Scholarship

This award is presented to undergraduate students who are pursuing degrees in Economics.

2024 - David Koster, Aria Muchhal, Ethan Fick

2023 - Allan Kiambuthi, Elizabeth Pauley, Caroline Nielsen

2022 Mars Mason, Anna McCliment, Josephine Pelton, Perry Truscon

2021 - Matthew Donahue, Maura Glynn, Daniel Moore, Elizabeth Price

2020 - Adnan Barazi, Ryan Sears

2019 - Ashton Pallottini, Chas Pelton, Lauren Swartz, Anna Weixel

2018 - Bailey Johnson, Kade Katrak, Tyler Miksanek

2017 - Patrick Flynn, David Wehrly, Haixia Zhu

2016 - Nicholas Brycz, Joel Drazin, Jesse Nagel

2015 - Kelly Christopherson, Derrick Mason, Katerina Powers

2014 - Yifu Huang, Ben Malburg, Jacob Vogler

2013 - Brianna Acker, Ryan Gimarc

2012 - Mattan Alalouf, Patteera Hengboriboonpong, Daniel Nadratowski, Zachary Sullivan

2011 - Robert Munk, Jay Thaker

2010 - Andrew Elzinga, Samuel Stuckey

2009 - Jeffrey C. Craig, Scott C. Hendrickson

Harrison Kubicki

Harrison Kubickiis a recipient of the McGregor Scholarship and graduated with high honor. During his time at MSU, he was an economics research assistant and undergradlearning 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

Emma Nicolaysen is a recipient of the McGregor Scholarship. During her time at MSU, she waschairperson 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 ofthe Econ Scholars Program. She has received many awards and recognitions including the 2023 Truman Scholarship nomination, the 2023 David and Deborah Bourke Endowed Scholarship, the2023 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 attendthe 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

Isabella Stratos Webberis 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

Alayna Tischis 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 Forumin 2023, 2024 and 2025. She plans to take a gap year before applying to either law school or an applied economics Ph.D. program.

 


Outstanding Senior Award

 This award recognizes the Department's most outstanding graduating senior, as selected by the Undergraduate Instruction Committee. The recipient must be a Spring or Summer graduate with primary degree in Economics. The Outstanding Senior leads the processional for Economics at Spring commencement.

Denis Selyuzhitsky

Denis Selyuzhitskyis a recipient of the MSU Department of Economics 2025 Outstanding Senior 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 timesreceived first prize twice for their environmental psychology research duringUniversity Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, and they received the Distinguished Freshman Scholarship. After graduation, Denis plans to pursue aPh.D. in Economics focusing on Econometric theory at the University of California, San Diego.

2024 - Sophie Handley 

2023 - Jay Stansberry

2022 - Gregory Marchal

2021 - Jack Mueller

2020 - Ryan Sears

2019 - Anna Esenther

2018 - Laura Boisten

2017 - Kim Gannon

2016 - Barbara Kotei

2015 - Ethan Davis

2014 - Allison Bratzel

2013 - Benjamin Schneedecker

2012 - Yipeng Zhao

2011 - Chae Mamayek

2010 - Joseph Orsini

2009 - Aylysh Gallagher

2008 - Natalie B. Lenski

2007 - Kevin Beard

2006 - Ryan Christopher Hover

2005 - Gregory John Larson

2004 - Andrew Wyatt Beauchamp

 


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. (This award was formerly titled the All-University Award for Excellence.)

2024 - Maren Nicolaysen

2023Sean Cottrell

2022 - Samantha Powers

2021 -Nicholas DiTommaso

2020 - Ian McGuire

2019 - Edvard (Ellie) Tingstad

2018 - Mitchell Abood

2017 - Jarret Hoffman

2016 - Steven Crowe

2015 - Brian Swets

2014 - Derek Tisler

2013 - Lauren Bretz

2012 - Brendan Prost

2011 - Michael Leonard

2010 - Joseph Orsini

2009 - Aylysh Gallagher

2008 - Megan Block

2007 - Kevin Beard

2006 - Andrew Britt

2005 - Andrew Chavanak

2004 - James Wolter

2003 - Jillian Maxey

2002 - Andrew Beauchamp

Jack Starling

Jack Starling is the recipient of the Larrowe and Adams Award, and he is a dual major ineconomics andpolitical theory and constitutionaldemocracy 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.

 


Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence


The Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence honors 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

Sharif Hossain is a recipient of the Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence for Fall 2024.

Alayna Tisch

Alayna Tisch is a recipient of the Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence for Spring 2024.

2024 - Ethan Fick, Sophie Handley