Greetings Soc majors! Here are the awards that we will be offering this semester:

W.E.B. Dubois Outstanding Sociological Achievement Award: (20 given in 2011) Awarded to sociology majors who have achieved distinction in any of a variety of ways. This might be through consistently high performance in courses, or by overcoming obstacles, or for outstanding class participation, or for involvement in the community, or for any variety of other forms of accomplishment. The (20 or so) award winners will receive a one year subscription to Contexts and are expected to award the ceremony.

Best Paper Award: (one award given) Best paper award (a paper written for class, a thesis, anything) For the best paper, exam, or written product written by a sociology major in a sociology course, independent study, as a thesis, or for any other purpose if the focus is on sociological issues and concepts. Students should submit a copy of the paper they would like to have considered, either by electronic means (which is preferred) or in hardy copy, by April 2nd at noon, to Juliet Carvajal, carvajal@soc.umass.edu . A decision on the award winner will be made by a committee of two faculty. The award winner will receive $100 and is expected to attend the award ceremony.

Jane Adams Sociology in Practice Award: (one given) This award might recognize many different sorts of accomplishments, including (for example) work on an internship, activity connected with a group working on an issue or cause, a summer activity, a job-related activity, or any other activity that used sociological ideas and insights to address some problem or issue. Statements should discuss the actions undertaken, explain how they relate to sociology, consider what practical effect (if any) the actions had, and consider in what ways (if any) the student learned from the experience. Faculty, students, and staff may/should encourage majors to aplly, and students can nominate themselves or others. Statements should be sent by April 2nd by noon to Juliet Carvajal (carvajal@soc.umass.edu) explaining why the student should be considered for the award, and providing any additional documentation they believe would be helpful to the committee. The award winner will receive $100 and is expected to attend the award ceremony.

 **Student Selected Winner** C. Wright Mills Award for Sociological Imagination: This award will be given to one Sociology Major who best illustrates how sociology has had an influence on their life by changing the way they think about social issues. Students should submit a short statement by April 2nd at noon to Juliet Carvajal (carvajal@soc.umass.edu) Statements should be not more than 500 words, about how being a sociology major has had an impact on their thinking. The award winner will be chosen by a team of sociology undergraduate students, will receive $100, and is expected to attend the award ceremony at the end of the year. Open to all junior and senior sociology majors.

Sociology at UMass Award*: This award is open to all junior and senior sociology majors. In your own words (does not need to be a formal essay), with a maximum of 3 double-spaced pages, please answer the following question “How has sociology affected your college experience?” Some of the ways to approach the essay include: Has your point of view changed because of sociology? Has a major in sociology affected your anticipated career path since you left high school/had an internship/independent study/etc.?

David S. Leiderman Award: (given to three last year) Given to one (or more) outstanding senior major(s) with a commitment to improving the lives of children and families. Cash amount varies depending on market return to an endowed fund.

Henry Korson Outstanding Junior Award: (one given last year): Awarded to one (or more) outstanding junior major(s). Cash amount varies depending on market return to an endowed fund.

Henry Korson Outstanding Senior Award: (3 given last year) Awarded to one (or more) outstanding senior major(s). Cash amount varies depending on market to an endowed fund.

All Award Submissions due by April 2nd, 2012
Sociology BBQ and Award Ceremony April 25th, 2012