In recognition of their outstanding academic and personal achievements, APSA is pleased to announce the APSA Minority Fellows (MFP) for the academic year 2003–2004. Awards are based on the students' undergraduate course work, GPA, extracurricular activities, and recommendations from political science faculty. The MFP designates six fellows to receive financial support from the Association.

The APSA established the Minority Fellows Program in an effort to increase the number of minority Ph.D.s in political science. The fellows program identifies and aids prospective African-American, Latino(a), and Native American (federal and state recognized tribes) political science graduate students, and encourages institutions to provide them with financial assistance. To find out more contact us at minority@apsanet.org.

This year's Minority Fellows are:

John Dobard is in his final year at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he majors in political science and maintains a 3.89 grade point average. Mr. Dobard is a recipient of the University's Barbara A. Turner Academic Scholarship and has acted as an academic tutor for the UCLA Academic Advancement Program and the UCLA Bruin Corp. This fall he participated in a graduate seminar on Comparative Politics, one of only two undergraduates invited. John is fluent in Spanish and interested in studying Afro-Latino politics in the Americas at the doctoral level.

Olivia Garcia is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Arizona. She is a graduate of Beloit College where she was a Ronald McNair scholar and double majored in political science and Spanish. She presented her work on “Latino Advocacy Groups in a Time of Increasing National Recognition” at the McNair Research Symposium and the 2002 Western Political Science meeting in conjunction with Georgia Duerst-Lahti, professor of political science and department chair at Beloit College. Olivia would like to earn a doctoral degree in political science with a focus on Latino/a politics; specifically, their representation in American political institutions.

Maria Eleña Guadamuz is in her final year at Santa Clara University where she majors in political science and is pursuing a minor in economics with a focus on Latin American Economic Development. Ms. Guadamuz participated in the 2002 Ralph Bunche Summer Institute, an APSA program designed to simulate the graduate school experience while expanding academic opportunities for talented minority students. Ms. Guadamuz excelled in the program, earning “B+”s in both of her graduate level courses and was selected to present her paper during a poster session at the 2002 APSA Annual Meeting in Boston. Maria Ele˜na would like to pursue a doctoral political science degree with an emphasis on Latin American comparative politics.

Natassia Kelly is in her final year at the University of Florida where she majors in political science and maintains a 3.69 grade point average. In addition to being a McNair scholar 2002–2003, Ms. Kelly is a member of the Golden Key National and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies. She has been on the Dean's list since the fall of 2000 and was recognized by her department for her outstanding achievement in political science and as a National Achievement Finalist in 1999. If admitted to a graduate program, Natassia would like to focus on comparative politics with an emphasis on institutions, ethnic identity, and political development.

Matthew Platt is a senior at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he majors in political science and maintains a 3.95 grade point average. Mr. Platt is a member of Phi Sigma Alpha and was awarded the Perry Little-Tobe Johnson Scholarship by the college's political science department. In addition to his success in the classroom, Mr. Platt is a member of the Morehouse Speech and Debate Team and serves as a teaching assistant. Matthew would like to earn a doctoral degree in American government with a focus on Black Politics and Pan Africanism.

Darlene Williams, an Alaskan Native of the Okanagon Band, is currently a Master's level student at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She received her undergraduate degree from Seattle Pacific University and a Master's of Public Administration from Seattle University. She has worked for the Seattle City Prosecutor's and the Washington State Attorney General's Offices. In addition to her work experience, Ms. Williams has volunteered for Ken Eikenberry's gubernatorial campaign and the North West Aids Foundation. She is interested in examining issues regarding women in the military.