Department of Government and Politics
2016-2017 Scholarship Winners
Brian M. Gardner Public Service Award
Christopher Keosian is a rising senior Government and Politics major from Salisbury, Maryland. Minoring
in Law and Society, Chris hopes to attend law school upon graduation and work in the fields of politics and
public policy. Outside of the classroom, Chris works as the Director of City Affairs for the University of
Maryland SGA, Speaker of the Legislature for the Maryland Student Legislature, Associate Editor to the
Maryland Political Review, and as the Vice President of the University of Maryland Cycling Team.
Professionally, Chris has interned for the Wicomico County Office of the State’s Attorney, State Senator Jim
Mathias, and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin.
Christine Kennedy is a rising junior Government and Politics major at the University of Maryland. She is a
member of both the Justice and Legal Thought Scholars program and the Government and Politics Honors
program. She has interned as a law clerk for an employment law firm in Washington D.C. for the last two
summers, and while studying abroad in London in Spring 2016, she had the unique opportunity to intern for
a legal aid housing firm. It was while she interned there that she committed to going to law school after her
undergraduate career in order to become a public servant in the area of law. Christine is thankful to have
received the Brian M. Gardner Service Award to help make her college experience a little less stressful.
The Paul S. and Lisa M. Mandell Scholarship
Christopher Ricigliano is a rising junior Government & Politics and History double major.
The Wayne V. McIntosh Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship
Megan Parlett is a rising junior Government & Politics major. She is very grateful to receive the Wayne V.
McIntosh Scholarship, as it is her first award at the University of Maryland. Megan is very involved with the
performance community at the University as a member of the ballroom dance club and the President of the
Maryland Shakespeare Players. She tries to be involved with programs outside of the University as well,
specifically in her church. She sings in the choir and helps in the nursery there while at home. After
graduation, Megan hopes to continue her education. Her goal is to earn a Ph.D. in Government and to
research various struggles in both the national and international communities. However, if she decides that
another six years of school is not right for her, Megan wants to focus on human rights issues and advocacy
work in the D.C. area.
The Joe A. Oppenheimer Scholarship
Emily Saari is a first-generation rising sophomore at the University of Maryland. She is majoring in
Government and Politics while pursuing a minor in the selective Global Terrorism Program as well as in
Spanish Language and Culture. Emily has achieved a 3.9 cumulative GPA and each semester been placed on
the Dean’s Honor List. She has participated in groups like the Maryland Student Legislature actively
debating bills, University Christian Outreach widening her faith, and in community service like working on
homes in Baltimore County with Habitat for Humanity. She works off-campus as a manager at Chipotle
Mexican Grill to sustain her financially and commutes daily to save money. After graduating, she seeks to be
proficient in Spanish, work in the field of counterterrorism, and pursue a law degree in order to better
understand the legal system and how to ensure justice for all.
The Mary Elizabeth Roby Scholarship
Bryana Bowman is a rising senior Government and Politics major from Fort Washington, Maryland. Bryana
has always had an interest in healthcare and law. She plans to attend law school upon graduation and pursue
a career as an attorney, specializing in healthcare. Bryana wants to advocate for adequate healthcare as a
right rather than a privilege, especially for children and the elderly. Currently, Bryana attends the University
as a full time student while maintaining an internship with the Department of Justice, Civil Division,
Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section. Outside of school and work, one can find Bryana sneaking in
a nap, exploring downtown Washington, or online shopping. Bryana is extremely grateful to the GVPT
department for selecting her to be a recipient of the Mary Elizabeth Roby Scholarship and looks forward to
another wonderful academic year studying law and policy through the lenses of political science.
The Kenneth G. Vaughn Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Government and Politics
Hayoung Yoo is a rising senior Government & Politics major from Ambler, Pennsylvania. As an avid public
servant, she is engaged in various activities in her community. She works part-time at Book Holders and as
an American Red Cross-certified babysitter. She interns for the Institute for Corean-American Studies for
which she presented and defended her second working paper at its annual Summer Symposium last year. She
also looks forward to interning for the Foreign Policy Initiative and for United States Senator Bob Casey on
his legislative team this summer. Her academic achievements include Dean’s List and the National Society
of Collegiate Scholars. In addition to her academic and professional commitments, she is a TerpService Day
volunteer for various non-profit community partners, such as A Wider Circle, Community Forklift, ECO
City Farms, Interfaith Works, and Seabury Resources for the Aging, through the Adele H. Stamp Student
Union-affiliated Leadership and Community Service-Learning program. After Hayoung graduates this
December, she will keep pushing the envelope by serving as a keen asset to local, national, and international
constituencies vis-à-vis the civil service. Her interests span from civil rights, criminal justice, education, and
gender equality to human trafficking, public health in developing countries, the human rights issues and
nuclear proliferation of North Korea, the economic surge and militarization of China, and the territorial
disputes and terrorism of Southeast Asia.
Hayoung Yoo:
Hayoung Yoo is a junior, majoring in Government and Politics, from Ambler, Pennsylvania. As an avid public servant,
she is engaged in various activities in her community. She works part-time at Book Holders and as an American Red
Cross-certified babysitter. She interns for the Institute for Corean-American Studies for which she presented and
defended her second working paper at its annual Summer Symposium last year. She also looks forward to interning
for the Foreign Policy Initiative and for United States Senator Bob Casey on his legislative team this summer. Her
academic achievements include Dean’s List and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In addition to her
academic and professional commitments, she is a TerpService Day volunteer for various non-profit community
partners, such as A Wider Circle, Community Forklift, ECO City Farms, Interfaith Works, and Seabury Resources for
the Aging, through the Adele H. Stamp Student Union-affiliated Leadership and Community Service-Learning
program. After Hayoung graduates this December, she will keep pushing the envelope by serving as a keen asset to
local, national, and international constituencies vis-à-vis the civil service. Her interests span from civil rights, criminal
justice, education, and gender equality to human trafficking, public health in developing countries, the human rights
issues and nuclear proliferation of North Korea, the economic surge and militarization of China, and the territorial
disputes and terrorism of Southeast Asia.
Bryana Bowman:
Bryana Bowman is a rising senior Government and Politics major at the University of Maryland, from Fort
Washington, Maryland. Bryana has always had an interest in healthcare and law. As such she plans to attend law
school upon graduation and pursue a career as an attorney, specializing in healthcare. Bryana wants to advocate
adequate healthcare as a right rather than a privilege, especially for children and the elderly. Currently, Bryana
attends the university as a full time student while maintaining an internship with the Department of Justice, Civil
Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section all year round. Outside of school and work, you’ll find Bryana
sneaking in a nap, exploring downtown Washington, or online shopping. Bryana is extremely grateful to the GVPT
department for selecting her to be a recipient of the Mary Elizabeth Roby Scholarship and looks forward to another
wonderful academic year studying law and policy through the lenses of political science.
Megan Parlett:
I am very grateful to receive the Wayne V. McIntosh scholarship, as it is my first award at University of Maryland. I
am very involved with the performance community at the University, as I am a member of the ballroom dance club
and the President of the Maryland Shakespeare Players. I try to be involved with programs outside of the University
as well, specifically in my church. I sing in the choir and help in the nursery when I am home. After graduation, I want
to continue to pursue my education. My goal is to earn a Ph.D. in government, and begin research about struggles in
both the national and international communities. However, if I decide that another six years of school is not right for
me, I want to focus on human rights issues and advocacy work in the D.C. area.
Christopher Keosian:
Christopher Keosian is a Junior Government and Politics major from Salisbury, Maryland. Minoring in Law and
Society, Chris hopes to attend law school upon graduation and work in the fields of politics and public policy. Outside
of the classroom, Chris works as the Director of City Affairs for the University of Maryland SGA, Speaker of the
Legislature for the Maryland Student Legislature, Associate Editor to the Maryland Political Review, and as the Vice
President of the University of Maryland Cycling Team. Professionally, Chris has interned for the Wicomico County
Office of the State’s Attorney, State Senator Jim Mathias, and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin.