Department of Economics awards scholarship
Feb. 25, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- An outstanding graduate student in economics was recently honored with Western Michigan University's Department of Economics Fall 2001 Elias Harik Award.
Isabel Ruiz of Medellín, Columbia, was named the winner of the Harik Award, which annually recognizes the achievements of one new student in WMU's master's degree program in economics.
According to Dr. Donald Meyer, WMU associate professor of economics and a member of his department's Honors and Awards Committee, economics students who have less than 24 credit hours in the master's degree program may apply for this award.
"The award is based primarily on academic performance," says Meyer. "After the candidates are chosen, any economics professor who has taught one of the students can cast a vote for the person they believe is the most outstanding new graduate student. Ruiz has earned a 4.0 grade point average in her required economics courses, and she received the most votes."
After completing her master's degree in fall 2002, Ruiz plans to return home to do research and teach at her alma mater, Eafit University in Columbia. Her future plans include pursuing a doctoral degree in economics.
The Elias Harik Award was created more than 10 years ago by two WMU economics professors, Drs. Salim and Bassam Harik, in memory of their father. In addition to the honor, the award includes a $100 honorarium.
Media contact: Scott K. Crary, 269 387-8400, scott.crary@wmich.edu