The GPS community gathered to honor excellence in academics, teaching and leadership at the annual student awards ceremony — held for the first time off campus
There was a festive atmosphere on May 15 as a select group of students from the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) were recognized by their peers and faculty members for their academic, teaching and community-building accomplishments.
This year, the annual student awards ceremony was held at Javier’s restaurant in La Jolla, where awardees had a chance to see each other outside of the classroom and engage in conversation with the school’s dean, Caroline Freund, as well as faculty members and friends of the school.
“GPS students are smart and disciplined, and they care about the communities around them,” Freund said in her remarks. “But even among our extraordinary student body, you are being recognized for your hard work, dedication and accomplishments.”
Many of the awards are given by faculty members to recognize superior academic performance in different fields, such as policy memo writing and econometrics. Others are named in memory of beloved members of the GPS community by their families to recognize students who exemplify specific values. And still other awards are given by current GPS students, based on a vote, to recognize faculty and peers who have made a positive impact on the school community.
The award ceremony demonstrates how closely knit the GPS community is. Cohorts are small, meaning that students get to know their professors personally and to connect with their peers through coursework and extracurricular activities.
Here are the 2026 awardees:
Academic Achievement Award
Awarded to students with the highest grade point average in their respective programs
- Abraham Wu, Master of Chinese Economic and Political Affairs (MCEPA) ’26
- Kurt Johnson, Master of International Affairs (MIA) ’26 (concurrent degree)
- Blaine Worthington, Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA) ’26
- Ofri Mantell, Master of Public Policy (MPP) ’26 (concurrent degree)
Econometrics Award
Recognizes the best empirical paper
Rio Namegaya, MPP ’26
Ruth Adams Award
Celebrates the best analytical paper
Henry Zhou, MIA ’26
Policy Memo Award
Given to a first-year student who has written the best policy memo paper for a course
Priyanka Pandey, MPP ’27
Joseph Grunwald Award
For significant contribution to the promotion of inter-American understanding
Gerardo Paredes Robredo, MIA ’26
Language Achievement Award
Presented to a graduating student for outstanding achievement in language study
- Ikki Kubo, MIA ’26
- Warren Williams, MIA ’26 (concurrent degree)
Commencement Speaker
As voted for by the Class of 2026
Katrina Haidari, MPP ’26
Ayal Margalith Memorial Award
Awarded to a graduating student who has shown leadership, excellence and devotion to the GPS student body and community within their time at GPS, as voted by the Class of 2026
Tiffany Liu, MIA ’26
MAS-IA Peer Award
For professionalism, scholarship, collegiality, integrity and service, as voted by the Class of 2026
Rentaro Tajima, MAS-IA ’26
Doming Liu Award
For a first-year student who has shown leadership and significant contribution to student life, as voted by the Class of 2027
Phil Maligsa, MPP ’27
Dean’s Teaching Award
Awarded to best core curriculum teaching assistant or tutor, as voted by the Class of 2027
- Lauren Silver, MPP ’26
- Juan Morfin de la Parra, MIA ’26
Faculty Recognition Award
Awarded to a faculty member who has had a significant impact on students, as voted by the Class of 2026
Professor Craig McIntosh
