The John G. Buchanan Prize in Politics was established by John G. Buchanan, Class of 1909. It is awarded annually to the senior who has attained during junior and senior years the highest standing in the Department of Politics. In the event that more than one senior has attained the highest standing, the prize will be awarded to the individual who has the highest standing in Constitutional Interpretation.

Prize Winners

2020-Present

YearWinner
2026Emma Jean Hermacinski
Henry Hsiao
2025Sarina Hegli
2024Mirabella Marie Smith
2023Madeleine Offutt Polubinski
2022Katherine Spencer Hosie
Owen Matthews
2021Christian Flores
2020Laura Elise Hausman

2010-2019

YearWinner
2019Amanda Rose Glatt
2018James Patrick Hintson
2017Alexander Joshua Costin
2016Christine Casey Smith
2015Samuel William Watters
2014Robert L. Stone, III
2013Maya Alena Gainer
2012Jason Craig Weinreb
2011Julie Yuliya Kheyfets
2010Daniel Eric Rauch

2000-2009

YearWinner
2009Thomas Wyatt Yankus
2008Nathan Sholl Morrison
2007James J. Williamson
2006James Ivor Loxton
2005Anne-Louise Bigliani
2004Brendan Fitzgerald Wallace
2003

G. Gregg Webb

Ian Brett Yohai

2002

Elizabeth Morgan Cincotta

Vikas Khanna

2001Seth Jacob Green
2000Sarah Gail Marks

1990-1999

YearWinner
1999Peter Helmut Ammon
1998David Marc Solet
1997Daniel David
1996Matthew Ian Milne-Smith
1995Joshua Matthew Nelson
1994Christopher Raymond Green
1993Find Findsen
1992Gregory B. Hartch
1991Elizabeth Ann Davis
1990Louis Paul Appel

1980-1989

YearWinner
1989Arthur Lee Burris
1988Stephanie Nichols Simonds
1987Jocelyn Hallowell Alexander
1986Nils Raymond Muiznieks
1985

Donovan Brian King

Mark Eliot Shere

1984Lawrence Jonathan Goode
1983Catherine Laura Fisk
1982Michael Freeman Barry
1981Brian Asher Weiner
1980Martin Francis Murphy

1970-1979

YearWinner
1979Nancy Ann Curtin
1978Douglas Craig Pearl
1977Paul Phillip Mogin
1976Andrew D. Oser
1975Helen Ann Garten
1974John Glyn Jenkins
1973Judith Louise Hancock
1972Bruce Earl Larson
1971Robert Lewis McGahey, Jr.
1970Robert Wight Henrikson

1960-1969

YearWinner
1969Stephen David Houck
1968Lee Merritt Simpson
1967Norman J. Jacknis
1966Charles John Peischl
1965George David Clement Garson, Jr.
1964Charles Lee Eisen
1963Kent Allan Peterson
1962Turner Taliaferro Smith, Jr.
1961Frank Vincent Mignogna
1960Richard Everett Briggs

1950-1959 

YearWinner
1959Richard Marshall Cohen
1958Robert Anthony Sklar
1957Harrison J. Goldin
1956Don Martin Larrimore
1955Thomas Drake Samford
1954Jean Edward Smith
1953James Edward Fowler
1952John Martin Stadter, Jr.
1951Robert Stanley Rafner
1950Thomas Scott Fillebrown, Jr.

1940-1949

YearWinner
1949George E. Mead
1948William August Doebele, Jr.
1947John Grant Burnett
1946Graduation disrupted by World War II, no award given
1945Graduation disrupted by World War II, no award given
1944Graduation disrupted by World War II, no award given
1943John Woolman Douglas
1942Charles Blakey Blackmar
1941Harold Anderson Jerry, Jr.
1940Donald Lewis Mulford

1930-1939

YearWinner
1939Robert Baker Highsaw
1938Thomas Roberts McMillen
1937Penn Townsend Kimball II
1936Harry Ferdinand Bliss, Jr.
1935James Leonard Highsaw, Jr.
1934Frances Lund Van Dusen
1933Harry Edward Green
1932Lewis Harlow Van Dusen, Jr.
1931Jerome Bell Weinstein
1930Lloyd Arthur Free