Congratulations to the Fall 2025 Richard Murray Endowed Scholarship Recipients!

Cullen Watkins is a senior majoring in public policy with a minor in entrepreneurship. Born in Houston and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Cullen participated in local political campaigns that helped shape his interest in public service and government. He previously served as a Civic Houston intern with Houston Crackdown through the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety in fall 2024. In 2025 Cullen  was a Hobby Fellow working at the Texas State Capitol with state Rep. Charles Cunningham during the 89th legislative session. He now serves as the district aide for Rep. Cunningham in Humble, Texas.

Cullen received the fall 2024 Civic Houston Internship Award and was inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha global honor society in spring 2025. While interested in all aspects of public service, his primary policy interests are economic policy, drug policy and education policy — interests shaped and refined during his time at the Capitol.

Sandra Teran is a first-generation college student majoring in public policy with a minor in human development and family sciences. She is an active member of the University of Academic Achievers Program, where she serves as a peer mentor supporting incoming freshmen. She also participates in the Hobby School’s Next Generation Leadership Academy, a leadership program focused on preparing students for public service through professional training, teamwork and real-world problem-solving.

In fall 2025, Teran participated in the Civic Houston Internship program for a second time with the East Harris County Empowerment Council, where she supported community-based initiatives. Her academic and professional interests center on community development, youth empowerment and expanding access to resources for underserved populations.

Past Recipients

Vincent Ruggiero, Political Science
Spring 2025

Danielle Guevara, Public Policy
Spring 2025

Vincent Fumey-Nassah, Public Policy
Fall 2024

Anisah Khan, English
Fall 2024

Chinwe Nwaeze, Philosophy & Political Science
Fall 2024

Milan Sam, Public Policy
Fall 2024

Alexia Aguilar, Public Relations
Fall 2024

Alexis Boehmer, Psychology
Fall 2024

Caitlyn Foret, Strategic Communication
Fall 2024

Enrique Garcia, Master of Public Policy
Fall 2024

Gabriela Hamdieh, Public Policy
Fall 2024

Cyrus Hosseini, Master of Economics
Fall 2024

Saron Regassa, Public Policy
Fall 2024

Drew Tonjes, Master of Social Work/Master of Public Policy
Fall 2024

Veronica Nwanna, Journalism
Fall 2024

Andres Espinola, Political Science
Spring 2023

Winnie Pham, Political Science
Spring 2023

Matthew Tao, Political Science & Psychology
Spring 2023

Arkan Turki, Political Science
Spring 2023

Eshal Warsi, Political Science
Spring 2023

Mya Little, Political Science
Spring 2022

Christine Le, Political Science
Fall 2021

Carolina Lopez-Herrera, Philosophy major
Fall 2020

Kryss Schofield, Political Science major
Fall 2020

Shiva Baradaran, Political Science major
Spring 2019

Danielle Niangar, Political Science and Sociology major
CHIP Intern, Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee, Fall 2016

Aylin Rodriguez, Political Science major
Spring 2019

Britnee Chuor, Political Science major
CHIP Intern, State Representative Gene Wu, spring 2018

Ben Nelson, Political Science major
CHIP Intern, City Council Member Michael Kubosh, fall 2016

Stephanie Gomez, History and Political Science double major
CHIP Intern, City Controller Chris Brown, spring 2016

Andrea Elizondo, Political Science and Liberal Studies major
CHIP Intern, Houston Crackdown, spring 2015

Seth Howard, Political Science major
CHIP Intern, Congressman Ted Poe, spring 2015

Patrick Sears, Political Science and Philosophy major
Metropolitan Volunteer Program, spring 2015

Stephanie Brooks, Political Science and Sociology major 
State Department, Lima, Peru, fall 2013

Sarah Aimadeddine, Political Science and Economics double degree
Hobby Fellow, State Representative Jim Murphy, spring 2013

Mathew Mendoza, Political Science major
Phi Alpha Delta, vice president 2013-2014

Miriah Soliz, Political Science major
University of Houston Student Government, executive director, August 2012-May 2013

Amir Tavakkoli, Political Science and Sociology major
Shami Farouk Campaign for Texas Governor, spring 2010 

Taylor Kilroy, Political Science and Public Relations major
City Councilmember Pam Holm, fall 2009