Hillsdale College Honors Master’s Graduate Brett Waite with Finn Memorial Award
Continuing doctoral student receives annual academic honor
Hillsdale, Mich.— Hillsdale College congratulates Brett Waite on receiving the Judith Finn Memorial Exemplary Master’s Graduate Award.
“Brett is a dedicated student and a fine scholar of politics,” said Ronald J. Pestritto, Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College. “We are proud to recognize his excellent work and look forward to having him continue his education at Hillsdale as he pursues his doctorate.”
The Judith Finn Memorial Award was established by Finn’s husband, Michael Finn, and family following her passing in 2015. Finn earned a master’s degree in political science from another program/university, but, as noted by her family, “would have much preferred a degree from Hillsdale College had its graduate school been established 50 years earlier.” In honor of Finn’s legacy of civic engagement and scholarly work, the award is presented each spring to a Hillsdale College master’s student selected by a committee from Hillsdale’s Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship based on quality of thesis, exam performance, and overall graduate program performance.
Waite completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, mathematics, and physics at Concordia University, Nebraska in 2012. On May 11, 2019, he will graduate with his master’s degree in politics from the Hillsdale College Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship, where he is continuing on toward a doctoral degree in politics. Upon graduation from the Ph.D. program, Waite plans to pursue a career in teaching.