Ann M. Dykstra Scholar / Intern Award 

Students who are accepted into the Institute of Politics Internship & Seminar course will have an opportunity to be considered for the Ann M. Dykstra Scholar / Intern Award. The award was established to memorialize the contributions of Dr. Dykstra as one of the founders of the program and co-instructor for the first 15 years of the program's existence. Each semester one student is selected to be given this prestigious honor. The student selected is one who, in the instructors' evaluation, best demonstrates the qualities which distinguished Dr. Dykstra as a scholar and government affairs professional. Factors considered in making this selection are the quality of papers and journal entries, participation in class and the mock legislative committee process, and end-of-term evaluations by placement supervisors. 

About Dr. Dykstra

Ann Dykstra was born on February 28, 1953, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ann attended high school in Davis, California, and earned her B.A. in History from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1974. She received an M.A. in American History from the University of Utah in 1978 and a Ph.D. in American Political History from the University of Pittsburgh in 1988. Ann served as the Director of Commonwealth Relations at the University of Pittsburgh in 1989, representing Pitt in Harrisburg until 2001.

Award Details

We are offering one scholarship per term. The instructors will select the student based on classroom and internship quality of effort. Dystrka award winners will receive $500 at the end of each semester, 

Fall 2023 Dykstra Award Recipient

Olivia Rosati, a senior Political Science and International Relations major, displayed exceptional performance in classroom discussions, reflective journals, and work in Representative Emily Kinkead’s office in Fall 2023. To honor her hard work and the legacy of Ann Dykstra, Olivia received the Dykstra award and $500 at the end of the semester.

Spring 2023 Dykstra Award Recipient

Delaney Lindberg is a Communication Rhetoric major with a minor in Political Science. She interned with Senator Jay Costa in the Internship & Seminar course, where she assisted with social media, press releases, and other office communications. The instructors cited Delaney’s exceptional writing skills as one of the reasons she received the Dykstra award.

Fall 2022 Dykstra Award Recipient

Matthew Moore is a Politics and Philosophy major who has served on the Pitt Student Government Board. He interned with State Representative Dan Deasy on the West End in the Internship & Seminar course, where he worked with constituents on navigating community concerns. Matthew's ultimate goal is to become a District Attorney's office prosecutor.