Graduation Awards

The School of Policy, Planning, and Development (SPPD) recognizes outstanding graduate students at their annual awards ceremony during the week of Commencement. Listed below are SPPD Awards:

Dean's Certificate of Merit (Master's students)
MPA Awards
MPL Awards
MPDS Award
MPP Awards
MRED Awards
Doctoral Awards
Undergraduate Awards

Dean's Certificate of Merit (Master's students)

The Dean's Certificate of Merit recognizes academic excellence of SPPD's graduating master's students. Those who have earned grade point averages in one of SPPD's master's programs that places them in the top 5% of their particular degree will be awarded Dean's Certificates of Merit. Each spring, students who will receive degrees in May and August of that year as well as received degrees the previous December will be considered. These students will receive certificates at SPPD's annual awards ceremony in May.

MPA Awards

The John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation Recognition Award, for outstanding performance by an MPA student, is given to the winning team of the SPPD MPA Case Challenge. Selection is made by the MPA Degree Committee.

MPL Awards

MPL Comprehensive Examination Prize for Outstanding Achievement recognizes those who have earned honors on the MPL Comprehensive Examination. Selection is made by the MPL Degree Committee.

AICP Award
Awarded to a student for outstanding attainment in the study of planning. Selection is made by the MPL Degree Committee.

Gordon Whitnall Award
The Gordon Whitnall Award recognizes outstanding academic achievement in planning. Selection is made by the MPL Degree Committee

California Planning Foundation First-Year MPL Student Award
Awarded to a first–year MPL student and recognizes outstanding academic achievement and promise. Selection is made by the MPL Degree Committee

California Planning Foundation Graduating MPL Student Award
Awarded to a graduating MPL student and recognizes meritorious achievement in the MPL program. Selection is made by the MPL Degree Committee

Lewis Mumford Prize
Named after an urbanist and planner who advocated historical investigations as a first step toward understanding regional systems and the particularities of place. Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student in planning for the most outstanding essay in Planning History.

MPDS Award

Master of Planning and Development Studies Award
Recognizes an individual who performed exceptionally well in the Master of Planning and Development Studies Program. Selection is made by the MPL Degree Committee.

MPP Awards

Jane G. Pisano Award for Exemplary Community Service (PDF)
Awarded to an outstanding graduating MPP student in recognition of excellence in community service while pursuing the MPP degree.

Robert P. Biller Award for Best Policy Analysis
Awarded to the most outstanding group in the capstone MPP Practicum course in recognition for excellence in effective analytic support to a client. Selection is made by the MPP Degree Committee.

MRED Awards

Master of Real Estate Development Comprehensive Examination Prize
Recognizes individuals who earned honors on the MRED Comprehensive Examination. This award is in memory of Professor Rena Sivitanidou. Selection is made by the MRED Degree Committee.

D. J. Moore Memorial Award
Awarded in memory of D.J. Moore, a MRED student. This award exemplifies academic achievement and professional promise. Selection is made by the MRED Degree Committee.

Market Analysis Award
Recognizes exemplary performance in Market Analysis. This award is in memory of Professor Rena Sivitanidou. Selection is made by the MRED Degree Committee.

Doctoral Awards

Jack Dyckman Dissertation Award
The Jack Dyckman Award is given to the graduating doctoral student in planning who has produced the best dissertation.

Henry Reining Award
The Henry Reining, Jr. Dissertation Award is given to the graduating doctoral student in public administration who has produced the best dissertation.

Undergraduate Awards

Dean's List in Policy, Planning, and Development
Awarded every fall and spring semester to students declared in the major who have completed a full academic load (at least 12 units) and achieved at least a 3.5 grade point average.

Class Valedictorian
Awarded to the graduating senior with the highest overall grade point average. Students should notify Undergraduate Programs Office (Lewis Hall, Room 108) of their pending graduation no later than February 1 of the year they plan to graduate, if their cumulative grade point average is at least 3.5 with a minimum of 108 semester units.

Emery E. Olson Award
Awarded to the outstanding senior in recognition of excellence in scholarship, and leadership potential. Students should submit a resume, one–page essay and optional supportive materials to the Undergraduate Programs Office, Lewis Hall, Room 108 by February 1 of their graduating year.

Dean's Senior Letter of Merit Award
Awarded to graduating seniors in SPPD's degree programs who have maintained an overall grade point average of 3.5 or better with a minimum of 108 semester units. Students should notify Undergraduate Programs Office, Lewis Hall, Room 108, no later than February 1 of their graduating year.

Public Policy, Management and Planning Honors at Graduation
Awarded to graduating seniors who have earned an A or A– in the Senior Honors Seminar (PPD 498), and maintained a 3.0 grade point average overall and a 3.5 grade point average in the major. This award is posted after the grades of the final courses are submitted and the degree has been conferred by the university.

Lowdon Wingo Prize
Awarded to the graduating senior in Planning and Development for Exemplary Academic Achievement.

Etzioni Bianchi Memorial Community Service Award
Awarded to the graduating senior in recognition of community service excellence. Students should submit a resume, one-page essay and optional supportive materials to the Undergraduate Programs Office, Lewis Hall, Room 108 by February 1 of their graduating year.

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SPPD: USC School of Policy, Planning and Development