2025 Political Science Convocation
UW Seattle HUB Ballroom, June 12th, 1030am - 1230pm
For students receiving B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from
Summer 2024 through Summer 2025!
Student registration will open in Spring 2025
Apply to Be the Political Science Convocation Student Speaker! Deadline: Sunday, May 4, 2025
Apply for the Sharon Redeker Award for Public Service! Deadline: Sunday, May 4, 2025
YouTube channel for those who will not attend in person
The Political Science Convocation celebrates each year's B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. graduates. The celebration includes departmental undergraduate awards, a speech by an undergraduate, and a speech by the recipient of the Department's Distinguished Alumni Award. Each graduating student crosses the stage as their names are read and receives a letter of congratulations from the Department Chair.
Apply to be the Political Science Convocation Student Speaker!
Deadline: Sunday, May 4. Email your speech to polsadvc@uw.edu
One of the highlights of the Political Science Department's graduation celebration is the undergraduate student speech. Giving this speech is a special opportunity to reflect with your fellow graduates on your experiences at UW and to share thoughts about your education.
Eligibility: Students who graduated in summer 2024, autumn 2024, winter 2025, or who applied to graduate in spring or summer 2025 are invited to submit their speech.
How to Apply: Email your speech to polsadvc@uw.edu. Speech submissions are to be no more than 500 words (about 5 minutes to deliver) and must appeal to a diverse audience of fellow students, family, and friends.
While there is no set theme, the best speeches convey your experiences and insights; the worst speeches string together cliches about graduation. Below is a list of topics that formed the central focus of past selected speeches. Use this list as possibilities for how to structure your speech--they are not required components, so don't incorporate all of them.
* What you want your family and friends to understand about why you chose to study political science
* How studying the discipline has shaped your education at UW and life outside the university
* What/who has been an inspiration or challenge
* Moments and experiences in the major and at UW that, looking back, have had a profound influence
* Values learned or practiced while at UW that will continue to guide you into the future
The Political Science Department will choose a speaker and will notify applicants by mid-May. We'll work with the speaker to polish their speech and practice delivering it. They will give their speech at the Political Science Convocation on Thursday, June 12th
We look forward to reading your speech. Contact Political Science Advising at polsadvc@uw.edu with any questions.
Apply for the Sharon Redeker Award for Public Service
Deadline: Sunday, May 4. Email your application materials to polsadvc@uw.edu
Are you a Political Science senior who has made a meaningful contribution to your community or to public service while you have been a student at UW? If yes, apply for the Sharon Redeker Award for Public Service!
This award recognizes the achievements of graduating majors who have performed exceptional service in internships, service learning, volunteering and/or other forms of public service during their time at the University of Washington. It is named for Sharon Redeker who served as the Political Science Department's Academic Services Director for 15 years. Her commitment to citizenship and public service led her to develop the department's internship and community engagement programs.
Eligibility: Political Science majors who graduated in summer 2024, autumn 2024, winter 2025, or who applied to graduate in spring or summer 2025.
How to Apply: Email the following two documents (Word document or pdf) to polsadvc@uw.edu:
- Personal Statement with your name and email address. Information that is helpful to the selection committee includes
* why you value public service
* why you chose the organization(s) you work(ed) for
* how your work contributed to the community
* what you learned through your participation
* the linkages you see between your public service and your study of political science.
* earning credit for internships or service learning is not required, but if you did earn credit be sure to reference the professors who supervised you. - Resume, including your name, address, phone number and email address.
Keep in mind that public service can be defined in many different ways. Competitive applicants will articulate why they engage in public service, why they chose to serve the community (or communities) they have worked in, and they will reflect on their service in light of what they have studied in political science.
We expect to notify applicants of the department's decision in late May.
The Redeker Award for Public Service will be presented to the recipient at the Political Science Convocation on Thursday, June 12th.
Questions? Contact Political Science Advising at polsadvc@uw.edu. We look forward to reading your application.