Academic Excellence, Community Service Rewarded with Richard Murray Scholarship

Award Bestowed on Three Ambitious Students Who Mirror the Passion of its Namesake

A social worker.  A lawyer. A public official.  Three University of Houston students are closer to their professional goals as they are honored with the 2015 Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship. The award, from the UH Hobby Center for Public Policy, bestows each of them with $1,250 to continue their studies. 

Professor Richard Murray is a UH institution, who has been teaching and researching at the University for nearly five decades. The scholarship was established in 2008 to honor him. It is awarded each year to outstanding political science undergraduate students who share a passion for politics and policy, have a strong academic commitment and demonstrate a commitment to public service.  

Andrea “This scholarship has allowed me to be one step closer to my goal and has inspired me to give back to the community,” said Andrea Elizondo. She is a senior double majoring in liberal studies and political science. She spent one semester as an intern in the office of “Houston Crackdown,” part of the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. After graduation, she plans enter the UH Graduate College of Social Work.   

“I feel honored to be among the few who have received this scholarship,” said Seth Howard, a senior political science major. “To be recognized like Seththis is truly humbling.” Howard interned in the office of Congressman Ted Poe, through the Hobby Center for Public Policy, and has a long-term goal of running for public office.

Patrick Sears, a junior double majoring in philosophy and political science, is just as ambitious. He has aspirations for law school. 

 PATRICK “This scholarship has lightened my financial burden, which allows me to focus on the most important aspect of school—learning,” he said. 

Richard Murray began his UH teaching career in 1966 and is now the Bob Lanier Chair of Urban Policy in the Department of Political Science. In 1981, he and a group of faculty founded the Center for Public Policy. He served as its director from 1996 – 2006. Murray created the center’s polling operations and created its Houston Government Internship Program. He also is the foremost authority on Houston and Texas politics.

For more information on the Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship, visit http://www.uh.edu/class/hcpp/community/murray-scholarship/