For the current academic year, the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies will present awards to undergraduate students in the following categories:

Outstanding Promise in Language Awards
Determined by language coordinators

Distinguished MESAS Paper Award
Click here for information and application for the Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

Amy Johnson Study Abroad Award
Click here for information and application for the Amy Johnson Study Abroad Award

See information below regarding awards presented in previous years.

2022-23
Mina Geresu and Tsebaot Shewarega, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Talia Falkenberg, Ellie Long and Matthew Ogden, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Anisha Johnson and Aditi Mishri, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Lily Eyvazzadeh, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Wendy Wu, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan

2021-22
Valerie Carver, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Noah Scher, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Bushra Eqbal Rahman, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Paul O'Friel, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Jasmin Lim, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan

2019-20
Caroline McCormack and Nathan Muz, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Kylie Hall, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Merin Williams, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Simon Ray, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Amber Chen, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Madelyn Haden, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2018-19
Mert Ozbay and Leah Smith, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Sarah Harari, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Sameer Khawaja, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Mariam Hassoun, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Jae Byun, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Michael Connor Keen, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2017-18
Samantha Jazola and Mary Yang, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Rachel Newman, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Marina Stephens, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Alex Sakni and Sidra Siddiqui, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Kaylee Slade, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Zoe Robbin, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2016-17
Linan Liu and Mikey Hong, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Hannah Paige Friedman, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Lalita Martin, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Sana Matloub, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Youjean Hwang, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Rachel Citrin, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2015-16
Leah Tucker and Joigiana Massat, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Jonathan O'Brien and Farah Al Chammas, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Bridget West, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Michael Keen, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Samantha Chen, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Bryan Reines, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2014-15
Maaz Ahmed and Dara Rose Liss, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Sarah Lewis and Nate Silverblatt, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Mackenzie Levy, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Keywan Behbahani, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Bryan Reines, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Amina Kahn, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2013-14
Chloe Kipka and Joseph Birchansky, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Alfredo Torres and Danielle Weiss, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Pooja Mehta and Krishna Sugahia, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Kate Moran, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Jay Li, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Faysal Akbik, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2012-13
Emily Feldman and Emilia Truluck, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Gabrielle Bloch and Sarah Zisser, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Niyathi Prasad, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Zaara Azam and Sara Hasan Khan, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Nicole Elyse Rowbotham, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Sara Faber, Distinguished MESAS Paper Award

2011-12
Louisa Keeler and Kate Moran, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Joshua Jacobs, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Mayur Patel, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
John Roofeh, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Vibhuti Patel, Outstanding Promise in Sanskrit
Elizabeth Giffen, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Carol Ross, Outstanding Promise in Research

2010-11
Hee Yoon Shin, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Jessica Ginsberg, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Dipti Azfar, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Sahar Rahim, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Vijay Balakrishnan, Outstanding Promise in Sanskrit
Aaron Van Alstine, Outstanding Promise in Tibetan
Mayur Patel, Outstanding Promise in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
Jessica Lambert, Outstanding Promise in Research
Alexis Kellert, Distinguished Paper Award

2009-10
Ernest Lee Brown, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Ariel Manning, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Shamyra Henderson, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Ali Irfan Rae, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Allison Cohen, Outstanding Promise in Sanskrit
Anand Deshpande, Outstanding Promise in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
Jonathan Endelman, Distinguished Paper Award

2008-09
Carol E. Ross, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Arielle Waltzer, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Stephanie Meents, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Aurasch H. Moaven, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Supraja Sheshadri, Outstanding Promise in Sanskrit
Jennifer Goldman, Outstanding Promise in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
Brittany Burns and Daniel Charles, Outstanding Promise in Research

2007-08
Ian Bakari McCall, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Michael Levy and Esther Zakowski, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Lakshmi Chandrashekar, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
Kaitlyn Rae Findley, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Alexander Simon Peletz and Alexis Kellert, Outstanding Promise in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
Joshua Caleb Neuman, Distinguished Paper Award

2006-07
Jonathan Endelman, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Cory Rand, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Emily Pollokoff, Outstanding Promise in Hindi
James Ross Littlefield, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Jignesh Patel, Outstanding Promise in Sanskrit
Jonathan Endelman, Outstanding Promise in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
Joshua Langer, Distinguished Paper Award

2005-06
Elise Filo, Outstanding Promise in Arabic
Jennifer Potter, Outstanding Promise in Hebrew
Christine D. Soufastai, Outstanding Promise in Persian
Alison Mattox, Outstanding Promise in Sanskrit
Jared Schwartz, Outstanding Promise in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies
Alison Mattox, Outstanding Promise in Research
Adam Berry, Distinguished Paper Award

Amy Johnson Study Abroad Award
2018-19     Aliye Korucu and Yaza Sarieh
2017-18     Rizky Etika and Sarah Samaranayake
2016-17     Guldehan Durman
2015-16     Zeena Lattouf
2014-15     Kate Moran
2013-14     Leah Michalove
2012-13     Abigail Chambers
2011-12     Cynthia Vint
2010-11     no award for this year
2009-10     no award for this year
2008-09     Jessica Lambert
2007-08     Emily Pollokoff
2006-07     Elise Filo
2005-06     Rebecca Hopkins
2004-05     Julia Johnson

Dr. Amy Johnson graduated from Emory University in 1991 with a double major in Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science.  After earning her PhD in Modern Middle Eastern History from Harvard University, Amy joined the faculty of Berry College in Rome, Georgia.  Following Amy's untimely death in December 2004, her parents, Dennis and Paula Johnson established this award.  As an undergraduate, Amy distinguished herself as a bright young scholar of the Middle East, who showed remarkable commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding.  This award commemorates Amy's legacy at Emory by providing support to students who share Amy's passion for understanding the peoples and cultures of the Middle East.

This annual award, up to $1,000, is to defray expenses arising from studying for a semester or longer in the Middle East.  Applicants must be undergraduate female students in good academic standing.  Preference will be given to students who plan to study in Egypt, and to students who are majoring in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies.

Click here for application for the Amy Johnson Study Abroad Award

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