First Alumni Achievement Award given to Thompson

The Department of Political Science has awarded its inaugural Alumni Achievement Award to Stanley Thompson, a 1982 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in political science.

Thompson received his award during a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards ceremony during Homecoming 2005.

"We are especially pleased to have a our initial recipient an individual who epitomizes the very best qualities in political science graduates and who has, in a very short time, established a distinguished record of achievement," said James McCormick, department chair.

After graduating from Iowa State, Thompson graduated from the George Washington University Law School in 1985. Since then he has become a distinguished attorney and a shareholder in a major Iowa law firm in Des Moines.

He has twice been the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, losing narrowly in 2002 and 2004. He has remained active in Republican politics in Polk County and Iowa, currently serving as vice chair of the Iowa Department of Economic Development's Small Business Council.

Thompson served as a board member of the ISU Alumni Association for six years, including chair of the Alumni Association in 2003-04.

"He has also rendered wonderful service to our department," McCormick said. "Just within the past year, for example, he gave an outstanding departmental presentation on how to run a political campaign."

Stanley Thompson (center) with LAS Dean Michael Whiteford (right) and James McCormick, department chair