Honors, Awards and Organizations

Alpha Kappa Delta

The International Sociology Honor Society was established in 1920 at the University of Southern California. In the spring of 1978, ten charter members were initiated into the Roanoke College chapter, the Eta Chapter of Virginia. Since then students have been tapped for membership each year.

Anthropon (humankind)
Katamanthanein (to investigate thoroughly)
Diakonesein (for the purpose of service)

Eligibility Requirements:
1. Must be an officially declared sociology major or minor
2. Must be at least a junior
3. Must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
4. Must have a grade point average in sociology of at least 3.0
5. Must have completed at lease four courses in sociology (at least three completed at Roanoke College)
6. Must reflect the highest standards of integrity

C. Randolph Benson Award

This award is presented annually by the sociology faculty to the senior who has made the greatest overall contribution to the sociology program. It is named after Dr. C. Randolph Benson, noted scholar on sociological theory and long-time chairperson of this sociology department. Recognition is given at the spring honors banquet and at commencement.

Senior Scholar

The sociology major with the highest overall cumulative grade point average at the completion of the junior year is designated the Senior Scholar. To qualify, students must have at least a 3.2 cumulative academic average and must have completed at least 27 units of credit, at least 18 of which must have been earned at Roanoke College. Special recognition is given to the Senior Scholar at the spring honors banquet and at commencement.

Junior Scholar

Students classified as juniors as of October 1, who have earned a minimum of 18 course units at Roanoke College with a minimum GPA of 3.00, are awarded by the faculty a certificate of recognition as a Junior Scholar.

Departmental Honors

Sociology majors may apply for honors in the major and receive the designation, "Honors in Sociology" on the diploma by completing a significant honors project and by meeting the following standards:

The student must have at least a 3.4 grade point average in the major both at the time of application for honors work and at the time of graduation.

The student must complete an Honors Project that is the equivalent of one course credit and receive a grade of at least A- on the project. The Honors Project may be either a significant scholarly project (which could be an extensive literature review, theoretical analysis, or empirical study) or a significant creative or organizational project (which could be such things as creation of software, establishment of a new program or service for an organization or agency, or completion of a major specialized task on campus or in the community). While the project may be based on previous work (e.g., a seminar paper or independent study), it must represent a significant and original project over and above any past work.

The Honors Project must be undertaken in the senior year or in the summer prior to the senior year. It may be completed in one semester as one unit (SOCI 496) or in two semesters as two 1/2 units (SOCI 495 and 497). The credit received for the Honors Project may be counted as one of the 11 required units for the major.

The Honors Project must be sponsored by a faculty member in the Department of Sociology (the primary advisor for the project) and by a committee of at least two additional faculty members (one of whom must be from a discipline other than sociology). Application for departmental honors must be made in the semester or summer prior to undertaking the project. A student applying for honors work must submit a proposal that is approved by the committee, but final approval to enroll in SOCI 496 or 495-497 rests with the department.

The completed Honors Project will be evaluated by the committee both on the final product and on an oral examination. The student must present a summary of the work both at a public forum (e.g., a professional sociology meeting or a campus symposium) and in a selected sociology class (e.g., in Sociology 453: Seminar). After consultation with other committee members, the project's primary advisor will assign a final grade.

Paper Competitions

The following is a list of paper and award competitions for which sociology majors are eligible. Majors are encouraged to consider entering these competitions. More information can be obtained from any sociology faculty member.

Roanoke College Guy Eckman Award for Independent Study:

Two awards of $200.00 each presented for the outstanding independent studies conducted during the academic year. Entry: Express interest to a faculty member by April 1. Papers must be submitted to Dr. Ronda Carpenter by Reading Day in spring semester.

Roanoke College Henry H. Fowler Student Public Policy Paper Competition:

Awards of $1,500, $1,000, and $500 (or twice those amounts in scholarship form) presented for the outstanding 20 to 50 page paper addressing any local, state, national, or international public policy issue. Entry: Intent to submit a paper must be made to Dr. C. William Hill by February 1, and papers are due by April 1.

Roanoke College Alpha Kappa Delta and International Alpha Kappa Delta Student Paper Competition:

A certificate and possible nomination for the international competition presented for the outstanding sociological (empirical, theoretical, or critical review of a body of literature) paper (20 page maximum) submitted by an AKD member. Entry: Papers must be submitted by April 1. Prizes in international competition are: $500, $250, and $100 and possible publication in Sociological Inquiry.

Virginia Social Science Association Student Essay Competition:

A year's membership in the VSSA and an opportunity to present the paper at the annual meeting of the VSSA and consideration for publication in the Virginia Social Science Journal presented for the outstanding paper (20 page maximum) addressing a significant topic in social science. Entry: Papers must be submitted by January 10.

Southern Sociological Society Odum Award Competition:

A $100 cash award presented for the outstanding sociology paper written by an undergraduate student. Nomination must be made by a faculty member. Entry: Papers must be submitted by October 30.

American Sociological Association Honors Program:

Attendance and participation at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association (several days of activities for all undergraduate and graduate students; meeting is held in August). Students selected in competitive process. Applicants must have junior or senior standing, have a 3.5 grade point average in sociology and overall, submit a short essay, and be nominated by a faculty member. Entry: March 15.