Albert G. Ilg Fellowship in Local Government (30707)
The Albert G. Ilg Fellowship in Local Government award is given to an MPA student who demonstrates interest in local government and public sector service. Awards ("Fellowships") will defray living or academic related expenses. The award was established in 1998 to honor the distinguished service of Al Ilg as the Town Manager of Windsor for 32 years.
Prior to his service as Town Manager of Windsor, Connecticut, Al served as the Assistant City Manager of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, after serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In 2002, Al’s expertise was called upon to serve as an Interim City Manager of Hartford, and in September 2005, Al was appointed by the Governor to the “State Contracting Reform Standards Board.” Al received a B.A. in Political Science from Bucknell University and a Master’s degree in Government Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. For many years, Al has been a friend of the School of Public Policy, speaking in our speaker series and connecting students and alumni with job opportunities. He also supports the Albert Ilg Award, presented annually, to a student with outstanding interest in local government.
Tenzer Fellowship Fund (30292)
This award is given to an incoming student with undergraduate academic excellence and the potential to succeed in the program. Priority of selection is given to applications received by February 15. The fellowship was established in 1993, the year Professor Morton Tenzer retired from the University of Connecticut. It is intended to be used to assist in recruiting high-quality in-state and out-of-state students.
Professor Tenzer devoted more than 40 years to the development of public administration programming in academia at several nationally recognized universities. For many years, Tenzer headed the University of Connecticut’s Institute of Urban Research while providing consulting services to numerous cities and towns. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 1953 and his master’s from Yale University in 1954. Having worked for the Institute of Public Administration in New York, Tenzer helped in the development of an AID financed project in Peru and a Ford Foundation-sponsored project in Egypt. Additionally, he served as secretary of the Latin American Development Administration Committee of the Comparative Administration Group of the American Society for Public Administration from 1966-1971. Tenzer also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration in Brussels and a member of the Executive Committee of the Section on International and Comparative Administration of the American Society of Public Administration. Tenzer’s work experience includes consulting for USAID on urban development in the Philippines and for USIS on health administration in Sri Lanka. Throughout the years he has traveled as a visiting professor and instructor to several international universities and has co-authored many articles and reviews in public administration educational training.
David B. Walker Award (31403)
The David B. Walker Award was established with a generous donation from Parashar Patel '91 MPA. This award is given annually to recognize a student in the program who exemplifies tireless dedication to public service. Ideally, the awardee would have an interest in Federalism.
This endowment honors David B. Walker, former director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and Director of UConn's MPA program, who passed away in 2013. Dave dedicated his career to mentoring and supporting future leaders to influence government and politics to improve our country. “Dave Walker has had a huge impact on my life. I know he has touched a lot of alumni throughout the decades he served. Dave passed in 2013 and the MPA program celebrated 40 years that year. The timing just seemed right to donate and establish an award in Dave’s name,” commented Parashar. “This endowment, with the continued support of alumni, will ensure the MPA program can carry on Dave’s tradition of recognizing students who demonstrate that relentless dedication he always gave to each of his students.”
Lyle Wray Memorial Scholarship Fund (32041)
In memory of Dr. Lyle Wray, the Executive Director emeritus at the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), the Lyle Wray Memorial Scholarship Fund provides support to UConn students who are pursuing a Master of Public Administration and express an interest in regional planning or urban studies.
Dr. Wray was very committed to regional planning and related initiatives, including public transit, workforce development, and economic vitality. He was a passionate advocate on many issues, from property tax reform to better regional transportation investment and planning. He was also a close friend of the UConn School of Public Policy, mentoring many interns and partnering with the School to sponsor a popular series of policy talks, which we have recently reestablished as collaboration between UConn SPP and CRCOG.
Born in Alberta, Canada, Dr. Wray moved to the US in the 1970s and maintained dual citizenship throughout his life. He earned his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and PhD in Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Earlier in his career Dr. Wray worked as a county manager in Minnesota and then led that state’s Citizen’s League for several years. He came to Connecticut in 2004 and served as CRCOG’s Executive Director until his retirement in 2021. Dr. Wray was also an active member of the Regional Plan Association and the National Association of Regional Councils.