News - MIPSA Statewide Award Recognizes Three Kalamazoo Valley Honors Program Students

MIPSA Statewide Award Recognizes Three Kalamazoo Valley Honors Program Students

Three of Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Honors Program students were recently recognized as the finalists and winner of the Michigan Political Science Association's (MIPSA) statewide Undergraduate Student Paper Award. The students include:

  • Winner: Valerie Walls, "Party Parity and Calcification Within United States Politics"
  • Finalist: Farahnoz Firdavsi, "Social Media and American Politics"
  • Finalist: Logan Pearson, "Political Polarization and its Effect on Crime Rates"

MIPSA Winner, Valerie Walls, says she hopes her work inspires others.

"I was pleasantly surprised to receive first place in the MIPSA competition. It means a lot to me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my research on political calcification, parity and polarization," said Walls. "I see this award as encouragement to continue my studies in political science. I hope my findings inspire further research or contribute to further discussions."

The news was announced on Oct. 18 at MIPSA's annual conference at Saginaw Valley State University. MIPSA is a professional organization that promotes political science research, encourages academic cooperation and supports the professional interests of its members.

Finalist, Farahnoz Firdavsi, says this experience furthered her fascination with social media and its role in American political polarization.

"Being a finalist for this award is incredibly rewarding. It recognizes the importance of understanding the digital world's influence on politics and motivates me to continue exploring these complex intersections," said Firdavsi. "I hope my work sparks more conversations about responsible social media use, especially in the political context and efforts to counter disinformation."

Kevin Dockerty, Kalamazoo Valley Honors Program director and political science instructor says Kalamazoo Valley Community College Honors students have now won every MIPSA best paper award since 2019.

"In, once again, winning this award, our Honors Program students consistently show that they are receiving an exceptional education at Kalamazoo Valley Community College," said Dockerty.

To learn more about Kalamazoo Valley's Honors Program, contact Kevin Dockerty at or click here.