Department of Sociology and Anthropology recognizes student excellence

Each year the department recognizes its students who attain high levels of academic achievement. Despite the challenges that are common to all and unique to some, human resilience has brought us successfully through another year. Please join in congratulating the following individuals for their accomplishments:

Undergraduate Recognition

• K.P. Pokracki, John Kinneman Scholarship

John Kinneman was a sociologist and the chair of the Social Science Department prior to the founding of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior sociology major who has demonstrated a serious record of academic excellence. The award is the highest academic honor the sociology program bestows on an undergraduate student.

• Lisa Nicholson, Wib Leonard Scholarship

The Wib Leonard Scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in sociology or anthropology who shows competence and passion for the quantitative side of either discipline.

• Briana Novella, R. Douglas & Janice Luecke Irvine Scholarship

The R. Douglas and Janice Luecke Irvine Endowed Scholarship was established in 2013. This scholarship is awarded to one sociology major of at least sophomore standing who has attained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. 

• Tenaya Muhammad, Rising Sociologist Award

This award is given to an outstanding sociology major currently in their junior year who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and a high level of campus and community engagement. Recipients also embody strong character and leadership qualities.  Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.7, have attended ISU for at least four semesters, and be on schedule to graduate in the academic year after receiving the award.  Award recipients serve as the program’s nominee for the University’s prestigious Bone Scholarship competition. 

• Alpha Kappa Delta – AKD is the International Sociology Honor Society.  Founded in 1920 at the University of Southern California, Alpha Kappa Delta seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in the scholarship in the study of social problems, sociology, and intellectual activities that lead to the improvement in the human condition.  Membership is open to any Sociology major with at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA.  Congratulations to all of our AKD Students!
  • Mary Andersen
  • Fiona Fleming
  • Erika Franklin
  • Conrad Fredricksen
  • Alexis French
  • Kian Gaines
  • Emma Hafner
  • Deborah Lamb
  • Tenaya Muhammad
  • Caylin Noonan
  • Taylor Phillips
  • Molly Ricci
  • Megan Slagel
  • Katherine Torres

• Lambda Alpha– Established in 1968, the purpose of Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society is to both acknowledge and reward academic excellence. Lambda Alpha supports scholarship and research by acknowledging and honoring superior achievement in the discipline among students engaged in the study of anthropology.  Superior academic performance is recognized through membership in the society.  Membership is open to any anthropology major with at least a 3.0 GPA in anthropology and no less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA for all coursework.  A 3.25 GPA is required for anthropology graduate students.  Congratulations to all of our Lambda Alpha Students!
  • Sophia De Sa E Silva
  • Zoë Klett
  • Lisa Ann Nicholson
  • Hattie Parsons
  • Sarah Patterson
  • Elizabeth Schmit
  • Brianna Sherwin
  • Anna Tulley
  • Genesis Buendia
  • Jack White
  • Justin Woods
  • Zachary Fabos
  • Jose Molina
  • Colum Coleman
  • Adam Bridges
  • Beth Phillips

• Kim Stahl, Ed Jelks Outstanding Anthropology Senior

Dr. Ed Jelks was the first anthropologist hired at Illinois State University. He is a historical archaeologist and a founding member of the Society for Historical Archaeology. He founded the Midwest Archaeological Center that was housed in this department, and in 2010 he was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Illinois Archaeological Survey. Each year, the Anthropology faculty present the Ed Jelks Award to a senior student who embodies academic excellence and active engagement with anthropology within our Program and beyond. 

• Anna Tulley, Martin K. Nickels Scholarship

The Martin K. Nickels Scholarship was established to help support an ISU undergraduate anthropology major’s participation in a summer field school.  The scholarship must be used to attend an anthropological field school experience during the summer following receipt of the award.

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• Kelly Kennedy, and Luke Gallagher, Robert Dirks Outstanding Senior Thesis

Robert Dirks is a cultural anthropologist who specializes in the relationship between food and culture, especially in the Caribbean. Dirks was one of the founding cultural anthropologists in our department and therefore helped to shape the curriculum. He was adamant that each anthropology major should complete a senior thesis, a tradition that continues to this day. The Robert Dirks Senior Thesis Award is therefore given to the anthropology student in each senior thesis class.

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• Anna Tully, Rising Anthropologist Award

This award is given to an outstanding Anthropology major currently in their junior year who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and a high level of campus and community engagement. Recipients also embody strong character and leadership qualities.  Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.7, have attended ISU for at least four semesters and be on schedule to graduate in the academic year after receiving the award.  Award recipients serve as the program’s nominee for the University’s prestigious Bone Scholarship competition. 

• Honors Program – The mission of the Honors Program is to engage, challenge, and support academically motivated and diverse students from all disciplines. We enrich students’ learning through academic, cultural, professional, and community-building opportunities.  The program equips students with tools and resources to develop competencies and transferable skills.  Honors students come from a broad range of highly-motivated students with the potential for further success in their college careers and beyond.  Congratulations to our Honors Program students!
  • Mary Andersen
  • Fiona Fleming
  • Ryleigh Hickman
  • Kristie Hougas
  • Brittney Lewis
  • Tenaya Muhammad
  • Edwin Parrott
  • Taylor Phillips
  • Brianna Sherwin
  • Anna Tulley
  • Caitlyn Weber