Awards

The Department of Sociology presents several awards annually to recognize achievements by our undergraduates. Students do not need to apply for these awards. Each recipient is selected by Department faculty and staff based on the award criteria.

Highest Academic Achievement Award

This award is given to the undergraduate major with the highest grade point average (GPA). The recipient of the Highest Academic Achievement Award receives $500, a certificate and is recognized on the Department of Sociology’s commencement program.

2024 Winner: Caimiao Liu

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Linda K. George Award for Excellence in the Scholarship of Health and Society

This award is named after an emerita professor and granted to a student who has exhibited excellence in scholarship combining sociology and health, broadly defined. Scholarship can involve a senior honor’s thesis, senior capstone research project with a health or medicine focus, an internship project in a health profession or organization, or extensive research experience in health-related fields. Sociology majors who have produced excellent academic work in medical sociology courses are also eligible. Preference is given to those who plan to enroll in a professional or graduate school in the health sciences. The recipient  receives $500, a certificate and is recognized on the Department of Sociology’s commencement program.

2024 Winner: Amber Smith

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Ida Harper Simpson Award

This award is named after an emerita professor and granted to the sociology major writing the best senior Honor’s Thesis. The recipient of the Ida Harper Simpson Award receives $500, a certificate and is recognized on the Department of Sociology’s commencement program.

2024  Winner: Mackenzie Culp

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Jaya Thomas Sastry Award

This award is named after a former sociology graduate student and is granted to the sociology major with the best poster at the Spring Honors Symposium. The recipient of the Jaya Thomas Sastry Award receives $300, a blue ribbon, and a certificate. The student is also recognized during the Department of Sociology’s commencement.

2024  Winner: Michael Cao

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