By Yvonne Oh, IPDGC Program Coordinator
The Walter Roberts Endowment and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (IPDGC) are proud to announce that Global Communication graduates Saiansha Panangipalli and Halea Kerr-Layton are the joint recipients of the Walter Roberts Award for Public Diplomacy Studies for 2021.
Each year, the Walter Roberts Endowment recognizes a GW graduate student who shows exemplary performance in public diplomacy studies and has aspirations for a future career in this field. This year, we recognize two exceptional students.
Both Ms. Panangipalli and Ms. Kerr-Layton have demonstrated their passion for public diplomacy with internships at diplomatic missions and non-profits; working to advance government relationships and strengthening ties with foreign publics through educational and professional exchanges, and other programs.
Ms. Panangipalli used her brilliant writing and strategic planning skills at her internships with the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., the Moroccan Embassy in New Delhi, and at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on the kind of work that exemplifies the spirit and intention of the Walter Roberts Award.
I aim for a career with opportunities to widen my exposure to countries and cultures, adapt to new cultural and historical constraints, and tell stories that inform and engage audiences across borders.
— Saiansha Panangipalli
Ms. Kerr-Layton demonstrated her outstanding leadership as a GW Presidential Fellow and in roles ranging from Strategic Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at Sustainable GW to Billingual Storytelling Associate at DC public school Mundo Verde. She was able to put into practice her public diplomacy skills working as an intern with Global Ties US, the oldest non-profit citizen diplomacy organization, last summer.
I have worked to advance the values of integrity, inclusion, diversity, and justice as I believe they are a foundation for cultural expression and community engagement. I choose to specialize in Public Diplomacy to master the skill of strategic communication in our contemporary world to create enduring change.
– Halea Kerr-Layton
Last year’s winner was Chaniqua Nelson, Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. State Department.
Congratulations on receiving this important award. What wonderful work you have both done in public diplomacy – Bravo!
Amazing! What a proud moment! Truly inspiring. An uplifting news in an otherwise gloomy world here in India! Keep up the spirit Saiansha. Blessings!
Saiansha Panangipalli:
Congratulations !!
From ; Sarma Kunda
Hi Saiansha
Please accept our congratulations as a winner of the award.we are proud of ur achievement.
Best wishes
Krishna/Fermina
Well deserved, Saiansh and Halea. This is a befitting honor, and one that you will live up to in years to come, I’m sure.
Keep up the great work. Keep up the passion and soar high!