Department Honors and Awards

Alpha Kappa Delta

Loyola's Sociology Department started a chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, (AKD) the National Sociology Honor Society, in 1928. Membership is open to students who are at least juniors, have an overall GPA of 3.4 and a 3.6 GPA in Sociology, and have completed five or more Sociology courses.

In early April the department will send a letter to eligible students, inviting them to join AKD. Students may accept or decline the invitation. Students who wish to join will be inducted into the society at the annual Sociology awards reception in late April. Graduating seniors receive a cord to wear with their academic apparel at the university graduation ceremony.

Honors in Sociology or Sociology/Anthropology

Students majoring in Sociology or Sociology/Anthropology can earn honors in the major. This option is available to students both in the College of Arts and Sciences Honors program and those who are not in that program, and may strengthen the academic background of students planning to go on to graduate or professional school.

Honors in the major are available to students who achieve a 3.4 grade point average overall and in their major and: either (1) write a satisfactory Honor's Thesis under the supervision of a faculty member in Sociology 365 or (2) take two graduate courses in the Sociology program (as electives toward their undergraduate major) and receive a grade of B or better. Permission to enroll in graduate courses must be obtained from the course instructor and the Graduate Program Director.

Interested students should complete this form and speak to the Undergraduate Program Director.

Gallagher Award for Outstanding Sociology Senior

At the end of each academic year, the department awards the Gallagher Key to a graduating senior who has demonstrated the highest level of achievement in Sociology. The Gallagher Award is named for the first Chairperson of Loyola's Department of Sociology, Fr. Ralph A. Gallagher, S.J., who was chairperson from 1936–1963.

Durkheim Award for Outstanding Sociology/Anthropology Senior

At the end of the each academic year, the department awards the Durkheim Award to a graduating senior who has demonstrated the highest level of achievement in Sociology/Anthropology. The award is named after Emile Durkheim, a founding figure in both disciplines of Sociology and Anthropology.

Ross P. Scherer Award for Outstanding Sociology Junior

At the end of each academic year, the department recognizes an outstanding junior who has demonstrated the highest level of achievement in Sociology. The award is named for Ross P. Scherer, a former chair and longtime professor in Loyola's Department of Sociology.

Wittner Award for Social Justice in Action

At the end of each academic year, the department recognizes an outstanding senior who is engaged and committed to social justice who has demonstrated the highest level of achievement in Sociology. The award is named for Judith Wittner, a longtime professor in Loyola's Department of Sociology.

GRADUATING SENIORS

Sociology Majors

Fall 2024 Graduates

Siena Baracsi
Madison Puhl
Mia Sedory

Spring 2025 Graduates

Abraham Almaraz
Kaitlin Bates
Nakearia Cunningham
Jalen Deloach
Sheldon Edwards Jr
Madeleine Falkenholm
Lauren Fariello
Miyah Fleury
Jessica Flores Perez
Francis Nwaokorie
Delaney Frank
Gracie Frank
Caroline Gavin
Fionn Harrington
Cole Hartsfield
Anton Jahn-Vavrus
Samuel Libis
Tawonga Mzumara
Angie Ordonez
Renee Johanna Page
Naomi Pegler-Gordon
Willa Poland-McClain
Brenda Rutledge
Jada Schubbe
Minnie Spremich
Annie Soukup
Xitlalie Tafolla
Audrey Webb
Dane Wenzel
Greyson Wilder
Maja Wloch
Orly Wolf
Vivian Zagotta
JJ Whiteside

Sociology & Anthropology Majors

Blairlanee Bowden
River Preston-Gage
Elle Kelbrants
Paige Schumacher
Ariana Wauer

GRADUATE DEGREES

Dr. Marilyn Krogh, Associate Professor
Graduate Program Director Department of Sociology

Master of Arts

Syeda Khadija Quadri al-Jilani

Doctoral Degrees

Melissa Kinsella
“A “Scary Time” to Be A Man? Comparing Men’s Engagement with Sexual Violence and Anti-Sexual Violence Discourses in the Private and Public Spheres” (Conferral Dec. 2024)

Samirkumar Talati
“Ethnicity through Education: The Influence of Formal Education on Ethnicity in Garo Hills” (Conferral May 2025)

Dana LaVergne
“Buying Time or Doing Harm?”: Tracing Contestation and Consensus in Debates on Puberty Blockers for Trans Youth (Conferral August 2025)

Keyla Navarrete
“Fear of Victimization, Trust, Security, and Public Spaces in Guatemala” (Conferral August 2025)

Leslie Watland
“A Phenomenological Study of Meaning Making in University Faculty Regarding Role Expectations in Response to Student Crises” (Conferral August 2025)

UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

ALPHA KAPPA DELTA

Sociology Honor Society Honor Cord Recipients
New Members

Kaitlin Orthwein Bates
Lauren Fariello
Delaney Frank
Gracie Frank
Cole Hartsfield
Hayden Hirschhaut
Elle Kelbrandts
Tawonga Mzumara
Willa Poland-McClain
Angelina Smith
Annie Soukup
Minnie Spremich
Orly Wolf

Graduating Seniors who received their AKD Honor Cords in 2024

Siena Baracsi
Anton Jahn-Vavrus
Naomi Pegler-Gordon
Mia Sedory

UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

Dr. Judson Everitt, Associate Professor
Undergraduate Program Director Department of Sociology

Departmental Distinction in the Sociology Major

Outstanding capstone paper or completion of two graduate courses

Siena Baracsi
Madeleine Falkenholm
Gracie Frank
Anton Jahn-Vavrus
Annie Soukup
Minnie Spremich
Audrey Webb

Fredericks Scholarship

Mollie Badoni
Nicolas Giner-Calero
Ro Martini
Tawonga Mzumara
Kai Sinnott
Angelina Smith

Addams-Wells Barnett Award

Civic or Campus Leadership

Siena Baracsi
Willa Poland-McClain

Durkheim Award

Outstanding Sociology and Anthropology Senior

Elle Kelbrants
River Preston-Gage

Gallagher Award

Outstanding Sociology Senior

Anton Jahn-Vavrus
Angie Ordonez
Greyson Wilder

Ross P. Scherer Award

Outstanding Sociology Junior

Nico Giner-Calero
Kevin Sanchez-Carrizales
Angelina Smith

Wittner Award

Social Justice in Action

Anton Jahn-Vavrus

GRADUATE AWARDS

Individual Graduate Awards made possible through the generous support of Kristin Blakely, LUC PhD 2008

McNamara Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Sociology of Religion

Eyyup Yilmaz
Article: “The Crisis of Turkish Social Sciences: An Explanation Through the Case of the Sociology of Religion.” Türkiye Günlüğü 162(1)

Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor

Ryan Wong
For Fall 2024 Sociology 255 “Deviance and Social Control”

Peter Whalley Award for Outstanding Graduate Scholarship

Keyla Navarrete
Dissertation: “Fear of Victimization, Trust, Security, and Public Spaces in Guatemala”

Moriah Johnson
Paper: “Threats to Thriving: Black boys, maternal resistance, and the racialized homeschooling terrain”

Blakely-Wittner Award for Scholarship in the Sociology of Gender

Dana LaVergne
Dissertation: “Buying Time or Doing Harm? Tracing Contestation and Consensus in Debates on Puberty Blockers for Trans Youth”

Melissa Kinsella
Dissertation: A ‘Scary Time’ to Be A Man? Comparing Men’s Engagement with Sexual Violence and Anti-Sexual Violence Discourses in the Private and Public Spheres

Award for Service to the Department, University, Community or Profession

Jenny Rakotoarisoa
For presidency of Sociology Graduate Student Association

Eyyup Yilmaz
For leadership of the Sociology Salon

Kajal Patel
For leadership of Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE)