Department of Economics Annual Undergraduate and Graduate Award & Prize Winners for 2015

Steve Goldman Memorial Prize and Departmental Citation

The Steve Goldman Memorial Prize and Departmental Citation is awarded to the top undergraduate student in recognition of outstanding achievement in the Department of Economics.  The Goldman Prize Fund was established in memory of Prof. Goldman, who joined the Berkeley faculty in 1966.  He was a micro-theorist, devoted mentor to many students, and strong supporter of academic excellence.

Goldman Prize/Departmental Citation: Priyanka Thatipamala

Thomas E. Bowman Prize

The Thomas E. Bowman Prize for Student Support in Economics is awarded to the student who most embodies the spirit of a Cal education: a well-rounded course of study and extra-curricular activities that support a commitment to public service. The award was established in honor of Thomas E. Bowman, who graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1947.  The award is funded by the Better Business Bureau of Oakland, in recognition of Tom’s many years of service.

Bowman Prize: Sanat Daga

Mark A. Schimbor Prize

The Mark A. Schimbor Prize in Economics is awarded to the honors student who writes the most distinguished undergraduate thesis in Economics.  The award was established in memory of Mark A. Schimbor, who passed away in 2012.  Mark earned a degree in Economics with Honors from the University of California, Berkeley in 1967.  The Mark A. Schimbor Prize in Economics enables the Department  to make note of Mark's legacy as an honors student, and to recognize the spirit in which the prize was established---in celebration of excellence in the study of Economics.

Schimbor Prize: Alexandra Fahey

Eliot J. Swan Prize

The Eliot J. Swan Prize is awarded for the best performance in the first year of the Ph.D. program.  Eliot J. Swan was a graduate student, teaching assistant and instructor in the Department of Economics at UC Berkeley from 1932-1941. He then went on to a career at the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, where he eventually served as President. He retired from the bank in 1972, after 31 years of service.

Eliot J. Swan Prize: Mauricio Ulate Campos

The Institute for New Economic Thinking Prize in Economic History

The INET Prize in Economic History is awarded for the best first-year paper in Economic history. It comes with a monetary award, funded by the Institute for New Economic Thinking's grant to the Berkeley Economic History Laboratory.

The INET Prize is Economic History: Evan Rose

The Grace Katagiri Prize

The Grace Katagiri Prize has been awarded since 2006.  Grace Katagiri was a longtime employee of the economics department.  This is awarded for the best empirical metrics paper submitted by a second year graduate student.

Grace Katagiri Prize: Eric Avis

George Break Prize in Public Finance

The George Break Prize in Public Finance is being awarded to a student with outstanding performance in the Public Finance field courses.  The prize was established in honor of George Break, a leading figure in public finance and a professor in the Economics Department for 40 years.

George Break Prize in Public Finance: Natalie Cox

Competition Policy Center Dissertation Prize

The Competition Policy Center Dissertation Prize is awarded in recognition of an outstanding Ph.D. thesis completed in the past year on a topic related to competition policy or market regulation. The prize is selected by a panel of faculty members who specialize in the relevant field. The prize is not restricted to a graduate student in Economics.

Competition Policy Center Dissertation Prize: Daniel P. Gross

Department of Economics Graduate Student Award for Public Policy Research

The Public Policy Prize is awarded to a student performing research in Economics relating directly to issues of Public Policy. Typical subjects include (but are not limited to) Public Finance, Regulation, Health, Transportation and Education. The decision is made by the faculty members who specialize in Public Policy.

Graduate Student Award in Public Policy Research: Attila Lindner

Journal of Development Economics Award

The Journal of Development Economics Prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding work or research in Development Economics completed during the academic year. Its goal is to support students in their thesis writing.  The decision is made by the faculty members who specialize in Development Economics.

Journal of Development Economics Prize: Jamie Lee McCasland

2015 Teaching Effectiveness Award

Each year the Graduate Council's Advisory Committee for GSI Affairs and the GSI Teaching and Resource Center sponsor the Teaching Effectiveness Award (TEA). The Teaching Effectiveness Award is designed to recognize a small number of outstanding GSIs who have identified a particular teaching problem or issue in their own classes, sections, or laboratories and have developed, implemented, and assessed an appropriate and effective response to the problem or issue.

2015 Teaching Effectiveness Award: Sandile Hlatshwayo

2015 Outstanding GSI Award Recipients

These awards are presented to outstanding graduate student instructors, selected by the Department based on teaching evaluations.

Kristyn Abhold - Public Policy

Eric Auerbach

Fenella Carpena

Benjamin Christopher - Public Policy

Daniel P. Gross

Leah Koestner - Public Policy

Jordan Ou

Raffaele Saggio

Priyanka Thatipamala - UGSI

Mauricio Ulate Campos