Sociology Department Awards
2024 Awards
Slideshow of photos from the Awards reception
C. Wright Mills Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Sociology
As a sociologist, C. Wright Mills was known for his critical examination of society and his
emphasis on understanding the connection between personal troubles and public
issues. This award is given to students who live up to these ideals by fulfilling some, if
not all, of the following: outstanding overall GPA, AKD (Sociology Honor Society)
membership, quality of papers written, intellectual curiosity as exhibited in class
discussion, research done with faculty or independently, and/or intention to attend
graduate school.
- Madison Centeno
- Brooke Witherow
Jane Addams Award for Outstanding Leadership in Community Service
A pioneering social reformer, activist, feminist, and scholar, Jane Addams was the first
American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize as well as a leading advocate for
social justice, peace, and women’s rights. This award is given to students whose work
continues in this tradition by fulfilling some, if not all, of the following: volunteer work
with community agencies, active involvement in social movement organizations,
commitment to social change as exhibited in class discussions, public service
internships, and/or research on public policy or social problems.
- Katherine Oliva
- Julia Wallace
W. E. B. DuBois Award for Leadership and Departmental Service
The scholarly accomplishments of W. E. B. DeBois, the groundbreaking sociologist and
first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard, are matched by his activism,
advocacy for social justice, and contributions to civil rights as a co-founder of the
NAACP. In this spirit, this award is given to students who fulfill some, if not all, of the
following: service as a student representative to the department’s meetings, leadership
of the Sociology Club, administrative intern to the department, and/or leadership in
other campus or community organizations.
- Madelyn Engel
- Sydney Saunders
Dr. F. Kurt Cylke, Jr. Memorial Award for Promising Sociologists
The Department of Sociology created this award to recognize those students who show
not just exceptional promise, as so many students do, but who also actively use their
sociological imaginations, focusing on why and how sociology is unique as a discipline. The Department renamed this award in memory of Dr. F. Kurt Cylke, Jr. who, as a long-
time teacher and a model of the discipline and the department, was instrumental in bringing many students into and through the major.
- Michael Abrams
- Natalie Bentley
- Julia Carter
- River Laspesa
- Ella Mcnay
- Alexandra Messerklinger
Joanna Kirk Memorial Award
In honor of the diverse array of interests and boundless creativity that Joanna Kirk
brought to every project, this award is given to students who fulfill some, if not all, of the
following: outstanding scholarship and/or applied work in the areas of international
politics and development, cross-cultural studies, law, gender, or spiritual practice.
- Gaetan Jean Louis
Paper Award for Outstanding GREAT Day Paper
This award recognizes an outstanding paper written by a student in an upper-level
sociology course that is presented at GREAT Day.
- Bryanna Hargrove
Alpha Kappa Delta (International Honors Society of Sociology)
- Piper Beckwith
- Natalie Bentley
- Evan M. Boyle
- Max Dargavel
- Gaetan Jean Louis
- Griffin Lyons
- Alexandra Messerklinger
- Julia Occhi
- Sydney Saunders