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.
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 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 be pursuing an Economics Ph.D. at Princeton University.
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 times, received 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 times, received 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.
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
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.)
2023 - Sean 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 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.
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 is a recipient of the Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence for Fall 2024.
Alayna Tisch is a recipient of the Ronald C. Fisher Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence for Spring 2024.
2024 - Ethan Fick, Sophie Handley