Awards and Scholarships
The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a number of Scholarships and Awards to support and recognize our outstanding undergraduate students. All awards are presented at the undergraduate honor society--Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD)--Spring banquet, which also includes awards for Alpha Phi Sigma (APS), the undergraduate criminal justice honor society. For more information about the scholarships and awards listed below, please contact the Awards Committee Chair for Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies, Dr. Kristen Marcussen. All recommendations or nominations are due Friday, March 15, 2024. This year's Awards Banquet is Friday, April 19.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
Scholarships in Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies
Scholarships are awarded based on specific criteria. Faculty can nominate a student or a student can apply for a scholarship. A student interested in applying for a scholarship should contact Dr. Kristen Marcussen.
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.
Requirements:
- Student is enrolled as an undergraduate (or graduate student) majoring in sociology
- Must be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or better)
- Is not a graduating senior. (The financial award is given the following fall semester)
Award: Presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
Karen A Nicholson Corrections Scholarship
Purpose: To support an undergraduate student majoring in Criminology & Justice Studies who has the Corrections Concentration. Scholarship can be used for tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
Requirements:
- Major in Criminology & Justice Studies, with Corrections Concentration, at any Kent State campus
- NOT a graduating senior
Award: Presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
DR. GEORGE POWNALL AND KADY DOWNING POWNALL SCHOLARSHIP
Purpose: This scholarship is designed for students interested in working in the field of corrections after graduation (as opposed to further study such as graduate school). The scholarship award applies to Kent State fees, tuition, etc. in the fall semester.
Requirements:
- Major in Criminology & Justice Studies (sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors)
- 3.0 GPA or better
- Interest in Corrections
- Preference will be given to students whose parents work(ed) in the field of corrections (for example, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, or an Ohio-based corrections facility.)
Award: Presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
Awards in Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies
Awards are given to outstanding undergraduates in Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies. Only faculty can nominate an undergraduate student for the awards listed below.
OUTSTANDING SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY & JUSTICE STUDIES SENIOR AWARDS
Purpose: To recognize one outstanding senior majoring in Sociology and one majoring in Criminology & Justice Studies. The award is based on academic record, leadership, and university and community service.
Requirements:
- Sociology and/or Criminology & Justice Studies Senior (students with double majors are eligible.)
- GPA of 3.5 or higher
Award: presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
Please indicate the major (Sociology or Criminology/Justice Studies). To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
GENE WENNINGER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE
Purpose: This award is given annually to one or two students with an undergraduate major in Sociology or Criminology & Justice Studies. The recipient must be an individual who has made a substantial contribution to his/her community through volunteer work and related service activity. Community is defined broadly as the department, the university, and/or the local and national community. The recipient must have made a significant contribution to at least two of these broadly defined communities and demonstrated initiative and leadership in the course of these contributions. The recipient’s commitment and contribution should also be indicative of the likelihood that throughout his/her career the candidate will continue to contribute to the quality of community life over and above what is expected of all sociology or criminology and justice studies graduates.
Requirements:
- Students majoring in Sociology or Criminology & Justice Studies are eligible
- Must be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or better)
Award: presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
Oscar Ritchie Outstanding Criminology & Justice Studies Minority Student Award
Purpose: Awarded in memory of the late Kent State University sociologist, Professor Oscar Ritchie, to recognize an outstanding ethnic minority student majoring in Criminology & Justice Studies.
Requirements:
- Under-represented racial or ethnic minority who is a Junior or Senior undergraduate student, majoring in Criminology & Justice Studies
- GPA 3.0 or better
Award: presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.
GEORGE EASTMAN OUTSTANDING CRIMINOLOGY & JUSTICE STUDIES UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
Purpose: To recognize an outstanding B.A. student in Criminology & Justice Studies (or Justice Studies).
Requirements:
- Criminology & Justice Studies (or Justice Studies) major with a 3.5 GPA or higher
Award: Presented at the Spring Awards Banquet
Deadline for Nomination: Friday, March 15, 2024 for faculty letter/email. Award will be announced Friday, March 29, 2024.
To submit a recommendation, click the following link.