The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University recognized sixty-nine students for their achievements in earning the Dean’s Leadership Certificate or the Bush School Medal of Excellence. Students were presented with the award during a ceremony held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center.
The ceremony was attended by both the awardees and Bush School faculty and staff, including Bush School Dean Mark Welsh. Dean Welsh offered high praise for the recognized students.
“Our graduates exemplify strong, principled leadership in the field of public service,” Welsh said. “Through the achievement of these honors, these students have gained the leadership and communication skills that will serve them well in their professional endeavors.”
In order to receive the Dean’s Leadership Certificate, students are required to develop an individual leadership plan examining their personal vision, values, knowledge, skills, and professional attributes. Each student must demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning and leadership development through a variety of public service leadership projects and by participating in leadership workshops and individual leadership coaching sessions at the Bush School. Fifty-three students in the public administration and international affairs departments were presented with the certificate.
Students receiving the Medal of Honor also completed the requirements for the Dean’s Leadership Certificate and, in addition, prepared a leadership reflection statement demonstrating how they can apply what they have learned during their time at the Bush School. The students also compiled an ePortfolio, a reflective, integrative learning portfolio requiring students to connect their learning across interdisciplinary experiences, such as participation in leadership programs, courses, and internships, from the perspective of their professional interests.
Sixteen students from the public administration and international affairs departments at the Bush School were recognized with the Medal of Excellence. This was the second class of students to receive the Medal of Excellence since it was created last year.
