The DAPA Outstanding Student Public Service Award
*Please be advised that DAPA will not be issuing awards in 2020, however, we are accepting nominations for awards in 2021*
The DAPA Outstanding Student Public Service Award is presented each year to a graduate student who best exemplifies the caliber of achievement necessary for a successful public service career. The $500 award is presented at DAPA’s annual meeting.
The competition is open to any graduate student attending a Delaware higher education institution who:
- Is currently enrolled full-time or part-time in a graduate degree program;
- Has completed at least 18 graduate credit hours in that degree program;
- Has a graduate GPA of 3.25 or above; and
- Is a member of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) or DAPA.
To apply, a student should submit:
- A current resume;
- A statement that demonstrates a personal commitment to public service through community service and College/School/Center involvement;
- A plan that describes how the funding would be used to enhance her/his professional development in public service or the field of public administration; and
- Two letters of reference from persons who can attest to the applicant’s qualifications. These references may be faculty, professional staff or public service practitioners. The letters should be mailed directly to the DAPA Awards Committee at the address given below.
Congratulations to Danielle Littmann, DAPA's 2019 Outstanding Student Award Winner!
About Danielle
Danielle Littmann is currently an MPA student at the University of Delaware and works as a Public Administration Fellow at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). Some of her duties include:
- Reviewing applications for Grant-in-Aid appropriations by the Delaware General Assembly as they relate to senior centers and conducting site visits across the state to evaluate program effectiveness;
- Researching and writing analyses for the Delaware Department of Transportation 2019 Coordinated Plan on demographic trends in the state, disabled population access to transit, and age-related transportation issues; and
- Updating the Delaware League of Local Governments' online municipal directory by contacting municipalities across Delaware and maintaining information on election dates and changes in elected officials.
In addition to her role at IPA and as a student, Danielle is heavily involved at the university as the Executive Director of New Vision for Public Affairs Academic Journal and the Co-President of University of Delaware International City/Council Management Association Student Chapter. She also has a strong commitment and passion for local government and spent her summer in Middletown, DE as a Local Government Management Fellow, where she completed financial policies and created a five-year Capital Improvement Plan for the town. After graduation, she plans to seek local government job opportunities in her home state of Massachusetts.
From her nominators:
"Danielle is highly productive, personable, has a great work ethic, and exudes a highly professional demeanor. She is an outstanding role model and inspiration to many undergraduate and graduate students. She is oriented, yet remains cool when balancing the immense pressures of academic, professional, and personal responsibilities."
"Danielle is a mature, conscientious, and responsible individual, who is dedicated to managing duties to the best of her ability. She has a personal commitment to public service through her IPA work, as well as other various Biden School and volunteer activities."
DAPA is proud to honor Danielle Littmann as the 2019 Outstanding Student Award Winner!
For more information about ASPA, visit the ASPA website.