Dominican's Alpha-Delta-Omicron Earns "Best Chapter Award"

Dominican University of California's Alpha-Delta-Omicron chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Society, has been awarded a Best Chapter Award for 2020-2021.

These awards recognize local chapters that are particularly active in their institutions and communities and embody the society’s mission to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science. Alison Howard, Political Science professor and chair of Dominican’s Division of Public Affairs, serves as faculty advisor to the chapter and has been recognized for her extraordinary leadership and dedication to students who are members of the chapter.

Dominican’s Alpha Delta Omicron chapter will receive a “Best Chapter Award” along with two other chapters from institutions similar in size out of approximately 850 Pi Sigma Alpha chapters nationwide. The executive council of Pi Sigma Alpha commended Dominican’s achievements in promoting civic engagement among the student body last year, especially given the significant challenges faculty and students around the world continue to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award includes a cash prize of $500 for the chapter, as well as an additional $200 to the advisor for their service. In addition, winners will be announced across our digital platforms and will be featured in the American Political Science Association’s magazine, Political Science Today.

Pi Sigma Alpha was established in 1920 at the University of Texas at Austin. The honors society was conceived as an association for those who have achieved academic excellence and have demonstrated a passion for politics and policy. To be eligible for membership, students must have junior standing, at least 10 credits in Political Science, and have an overall GPA of a 3.5 or above. 

Dominican club members include Allison Kustic ‘21, Katya Palacios ‘21, Dylan Finley ’21, Julia Reinhard ’22, Christina Pathoumthong ’22, and Ayanna Berg '22.

“Students who are members of the honors society are also active in other department clubs and have done lots of things to promote civic engagement,” Professor Howard says. “They have a strong interest in politics and public policy, which is the mission and goal of Pi Sigma Alpha.”