CHSBS Under Discussion
Volume 10, No. 2
Fall 2007

Two recent CMU graduates recently received the Robert P. and Marjorie Griffin Prize chosen by Bill Ballenger, the retiring Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government.

Heather Chiarello of Stevensville and Robert Avers of Kimball are the first recipients of the newly created award. They were among nearly 200 students who took part in the two seminar courses on Michigan politics and government taught by Ballenger during the past four years.

Chiarello, who received a bachelor's degree in May, majored in political science and public administration with a minor in legal studies.

Avers, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in May 2006, majored in political science with minors in economics and legal studies.

Ballenger said that selecting Avers and Chiarello as "the best" all-around students he taught was a tough call. "I had some really outstanding students and personalities during my four years at CMU," Ballenger said. "Many of them are going to do great things."