YSU Political Science group earns national honor for fifth straight year

For the fifth consecutive year, the Youngstown State University chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, has received the national Best Chapter Award.

The award, which includes a $500 prize, is given to only 16 of the society’s 700 chapters nationwide, said Adam Fuller, YSU associate professor of Political Science.

“It is a strong recognition of how great our students are that we stand out in this way,” he said.

The president of the YSU chapter for the past two years was Moataz Abdelrasoul, who is now a student at Cornell Law School. During his time as chapter head, the group co-sponsored film screenings, held weekly LSAT review sessions, hosted guest speakers on campus, and held an all-day political trivia game at the Canfield Fair in the YSU tent, Fuller said.

Kassandra Seabolt is the current president. Other immediate past presidents include Jillian Smith, Greta Frost and Marissa Snider.

Fuller said the chapter was rebooted in 2015 after a long hiatus. That first year, the chapter was recognized for "Pete for Paris," an event that raised money for the victims of the terrorist bombing in Paris. “The chapter has been committed to service work ever since,” he said. The group also held a "Pete for Texas" fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, as well as a "Pete for New Zealand" fundraiser for the victims of the mosque attack in New Zealand.