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Graduate Scholarships and Awards in the Department of Sociology and Criminology

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a number of scholarships and awards to support and recognize our outstanding graduate students. All awards are presented at the annual Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) Spring awards Ceremony, which also includes awards for Alpha Phi Sigma (APS). For more information about the scholarships and awards listed below, please contact the Sociology graduate coordinator, Susan Roxburgh. All recommendations and nominations are due Friday, March 15, 2025. This year's Awards will be announced April 4, 2025. The Department will hold an Awards Ceremony on April 25, 2025

Scholarships are awarded based on specific criteria. Faculty can nominate a student for a scholarship or award listed below. All inquiries about the scholarships or awards should be sent to the graduate coordinator, Dr. Susan Roxburgh, or the Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Clare Stacey.

To submit a nomination or recommendation, click the following 

JAMES T. LAING SCHOLARSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY

Purpose: The fund was established to recognize sociology undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress. In addition, awardees will be students who exemplify the above criteria and who have taken an active and engaged role in the department or the discipline. This would include leadership within department student organizations, the university or the community. Financial need and/or merit may be considered. This scholarship is renewable if an awardee is nominated again and chosen as a recipient.

Requirements:

1. Student is enrolled as a graduate student majoring in sociology
2. Must be in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or better)
3. Is not completing their dissertation this year. (The financial award is given the following fall semester)

Award: Announced April 4

To submit a nomination/self-nomination or recommendation, click the following .

Deadline for Nominations: Friday, March 21, 2025.

Graduate Awards in Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies

LEWIS-BENSON OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT TEACHING AWARD

Purpose: To contribute to the teaching culture of the department by recognizing outstanding graduate student teaching and to honor the teaching accomplishments of emeritus professors Jerry Lewis and Denzel Benson, both of whom won KSU’s Distinguished Teaching Award.

Requirements:

1. The award is available to any graduate student who has taught a SOC or CRIM (or JUS) course independently. A student may only win this award once.
2. Faculty or Self nomination
3. Graduate Education Committee vote

Award:  Announced April 4

Send inquiries about eligible graduate students and nominations to the Awards Committee Chair, Dr. Clare Stacey. Send all material directly to Dr. Stacey.

Deadline for Nominations/Self-Nominations: Friday, March 21, 2025.

ELAINE MAI SCHOCK AWARD

Purpose: Awarded to an outstanding master’s student in Sociology. A student may only win this award once.

Requirements:

1. Good academic standing (GPA higher than 3.0)
2. Faculty nomination
3. Graduate Education Committee vote

Award:  Announced April 4

Send inquiries about eligible graduate students to the graduate coordinator: Susan Roxburgh or submit a nomination or recommendation by clicking on the .

Deadline for Nominations: Friday, March 21, 2025.

OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL STUDENT AWARD

Purpose: Awarded to an outstanding doctoral student in Sociology. A student may only win this award once.

Requirements:

1. Good academic standing (GPA higher than 3.0)
2. Faculty nomination
3. Graduate Education Committee vote

Award:  Announced April 4

Send inquiries about eligible graduate students and nominations to the graduate coordinator: Susan Roxburgh or submit a recommendation by clicking on the .

Deadline for Nominations: Friday, March 21, 2025.

JAMES E. FLEMING MEMORIAL AWARD

Purpose: Awarded to author of the best paper in sociological theory at either the undergraduate or graduate level. A student may only win this award once.

Requirements:

1. GPA
2. Faculty nomination
3. Faculty vote

Award: Announced April 4

Send nominations to Dr. Clare Stacey or submit a nomination or recommendation by clicking on the .

Deadline for Nominations: Friday, March 21, 2025.