JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 22, 2019 — Two of the six recipients of the American Enterprise Institute’s 2019-2020 Values & Capitalism Young Scholars Awards were Union University students John David Logan and Spencer McCloy.
Logan is a senior political science and international relations major from Flower Mound, Texas, and McCloy is a senior economics major from La Grange, Kentucky.
“We have really outstanding students at Union University,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “The Union community is incredibly proud of J.D. and Spencer. It’s a testament to Union’s academic rigor that two of the six recipients are from our institution.”
Values & Capitalism is an initiative of the American Enterprise Institute “that engages Christian higher education to advance a moral case for free enterprise and cultivate an understanding of the conditions necessary for human flourishing,” according to valuesandcapitalism.com.
The award recipients will each pursue a yearlong academic research project under the guidance of a faculty adviser and AEI experts. In addition, they will each receive a $5,000 scholarship toward tuition, defend their research in front of a panel of experts at AEI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., and attend AEI’s 2020 Annual Dinner. Their projects will be published as a hard copy compilation and on the Values & Capitalism website.
“I consider winning the award an incredible blessing and a demonstration of God’s faithfulness to provide opportunities and support,” McCloy said.
Logan said he sees winning the award as “a blessing and grace of God.”
“There are a variety of interesting and important topics that need to be researched and discussed, so having AEI select my research proposal as one of the few to be given a platform is a great honor,” he continued.
McCloy will examine the Supreme Court case Lochner v. New York (1905) and its effect on the modern concept of substantive due process. Logan will research the United States’ current use of targeted sanctions and their effectiveness.
“I have been conducting research on this topic for quite some time now, and to see that it is paying off and that scholars and policymakers care about the topic is encouraging,” Logan said. “It means that our system is open to change and that even a student can contribute to a change that matters.”
McCloy said that all of his Union professors have contributed toward his development that led to receiving this award.
“It might sound like an overstatement, but each professor has supported me and helped cultivate my critical thinking, writing and communication skills,” he said.
McCloy specifically thanked Hunter Baker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of political science, who “pushed me to develop as a scholar and think deeper about how Christianity, economics and law intersect.” McCloy also said that Chris Manner, associate professor of economics, was incredibly helpful and available, which “demonstrates how supportive professors at Union are toward students, encouraging academic pursuits and curiosity.”
Logan agreed that his professors have been instrumental throughout his process of applying for the research program.
“Even before I considered applying for the research program, they were the ones who helped instill knowledge and excellence in me to set me on this course,” he said. “From the beginning to the end of the process, they have been supportive and encouraging, helping me with the application, writing letters of recommendations, giving advice, all through countless emails, phone calls and office hours.”
Logan said he is particularly grateful for the help of Greg Ryan, associate professor of political science, who first supported his interest in the topic of targeted sanctions and guided much of his research.
McCloy recommended that any Union student interested in economics, political science and public policy and their relation to the Christian faith should consider participating in the weeklong or monthlong AEI Summer Honors Program.
“I am grateful to AEI for the incredible platform that they have given me to research and write about an important topic,” Logan said. “I am also grateful to Union and my professors for the academic and spiritual formation that has made this possible.”