Current and Past Honors and Awards
Recognizing Excellence
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Since 1976, the 91Ô´´'s Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice has been recognizing the achievements and contributions of its educators, undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni. Read on to learn about the annual awards and recipients.
91Ô´´ Faculty
Jan Burrows Memorial Graduate Educator Award
​This award, honoring the late Jan Burrows, a doctoral candidate in Sociology, is awarded annually by graduate students to a faculty member who has made a significant contribution to students’ socialization for the discipline.
2026 WinnerÌý– Ivan Sun
2025 Winner – Sarah Bruch
2024 Winner – Ellen Donnelly
2023 Winner –ÌýAnne Bowler
2022 Winner –ÌýEric Rise
2021 – Ellen Donnelly
​​2020 – Ronet Bachman
2019 – Eric Rise
2018 –ÌýAnn Bell
2017 –ÌýRonet Bachman
2016 –ÌýBenjamin Fleury-Steiner
2015 –ÌýMaria Johnson
2014 –ÌýChrysanthi Leon
2013 –ÌýAnne Bowler
2012 –ÌýEric Tranby
2011 –ÌýTammy Anderson
2010 –ÌýKaren Parker
2009 –ÌýRonet Bachman
2008 –ÌýSusan Miller
2007 –ÌýIvan Sun
2006 –ÌýRonet Bachman
2005 –ÌýSusan Miller
2004 –ÌýJoel Best
2003 –ÌýGerald Turkel
2002 –ÌýAndré Rosay
2001 –ÌýFrank Scarpitti
2000 –ÌýEric Rise
1999 –ÌýValerie Hans
1998 –ÌýRonet Bachman
1997 –ÌýRuth Horowitz
1996 –ÌýAnne Bowler​
Graduate Students
Frank Scarpitti Graduate Student Award
​​This award is presented annually to an outstanding graduate student in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. The Frank Scarpitti Graduate Student Award was created in 2006 through a generous donation made by Dr. Frank and Mrs. Ellen Scarpitti. Dr. Scarpitti’s reputation as a leading scholar in the fields of sociology and criminology is matched by his excellence in teaching as well as service to the department, the University, the discipline and the community. This award serves to highlight Frank’s accomplishments and demonstrates our commitment to recognizing the excellence of our graduate students. The recipient of this award is selected by the Graduate Policy Committee with nominations from faculty and scientists in the Department and at the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies and the Disaster Research Center.
2026 Winner –ÌýMaria Paula Mendoza
2025 Winners – James Highberger, Katie Mirance, Stephanie Ha
2024 Winners – Roni Fraser and Emalie Rell
2023 – Felicia Henry
2022 –ÌýMegan Demarest and Logan Neitzke-SpruillÌý
2021 –ÌýJamie Manzer​ andÌýMadeline Stenger​
2020 –ÌýShannon Streisel
2019 –ÌýBrandie Pugh and​​​​​ÌýPatricia Becker
2018 –ÌýAneesa Baboolal
2017 –ÌýTalisa Carter
2016 –ÌýAshley Farmer
2016 –ÌýTanya Whittle
2015 –ÌýEmily Bonistall Postel
2014 –ÌýMary Kristen Hefner and John Brent
2013 –ÌýErin Kerrison
2012 –ÌýTerry Lilley
2011 –ÌýLaura Rapp
2010 –ÌýHeather Zaykowski
2009 –ÌýJamie Longazel
2008 –ÌýJoseph Trainor
2007 –ÌýJessica Hodge
2006 – Amy I. Cass​
Graduate Student Summer Awards
The Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice is pleased to offer the Graduate Student Summer Award program. This competitive award program, open to all full-time Masters and Doctoral students in the department, provides monetary support for summer research and/or teaching activities. Funds may be used for travel, research costs, and other expenses directly related to the proposed activities. Activities may include but are not limited to: research projects; attendance at research institutes (e.g., Institute for Social Research); presentations at conferences and other professional venues or teaching initiatives.
2026 Winners –ÌýSophia Cimino, Loretta Addo-Danso, Maritess Escueta, Clara Mey, Ne'Shell Neal
2025 Winners – Stephanie Ha, Wei Wang, Maria Paula Mendoza, Emma Reyes
2024 Winners –ÌýLoretta Addo-Danso, Ethan Jian, Gift Onwuadiamu
2023Ìý– Abass Muhammed, Mackenzie Niness
2022 –ÌýEmalie Rell and Sydney Dyck
2020 – Lindy Liu and Joshua Stout
Undergraduate Students
Benjamin McLuckie Award
Benjamin McLuckie was an assistant professor of sociology in our department before his untimely death in 1975.ÌýAfter a brief career as a Presbyterian minister, he returned to graduate school and earned a Ph.D. degree in sociology, determined to do research and teach the discipline that he loved.ÌýHe was an outstanding undergraduate teacher, dedicated to his students and capable of getting the very best out of them.ÌýKnown for his humanity and integrity, he served as a role model for both his colleagues and his students.ÌýAfter his death, his family and friends created the Benjamin McLuckie Award to honor his memory and to recognize outstanding senior sociology majors who exemplify the qualities represented by Professor McLuckie’s life and work.ÌýThe recipients are selected on the basis of scholarship, serviceÌýand character.
2026ÌýWinners –ÌýNithila Chrisostam, Gianna Houck, Daeun Kim
2025 Winners – Erin Crayton, Darby Putney-Vasios
2024ÌýWinners –ÌýNatalie Fazekas,ÌýGuadalupe Guevara,ÌýXavier Taylor
2023 Winners – Isabel Levatino, Julia Lowman, Kassy Morris, Britney Vasquez
2022 Winner –ÌýGabrielle Sherba
2021– Spencer Shore andÌýMonica Testa
2020 –ÌýNatalie Walton
2019 –ÌýStella Castor
2018 –ÌýLovely Lacey
2017 –ÌýAlexander Heger
2016 –ÌýMelisa Soysal
2016 –ÌýGabrielle Lanzetta
2015 –ÌýNichole Schneider and Erica Meier
2014 –ÌýMadison Helmick and Marissa Personnette
2013 –ÌýRachel Bacon
2012 –ÌýAndrea Fendt
2011 –ÌýJacqueline Knee
2010 –ÌýKrista Noelle & Brittany Scott
2009 – Robyn Mello
2008 – Amanda K. Pollock
2007 –ÌýMegan Denver & Jill Hurley
2006 –ÌýKathryn G. Elam
2005 –ÌýTerry G. Lilley & Carla N. Russell
2004 –ÌýStella T. Ilel & Heather E. McNabola
2003 –ÌýNaomi R. Bellot & Jessica L. Otto
2002 –ÌýRachelle J. Brunn, Sarah E. Marshall & Cory Wellman
2001 –ÌýDenise E. Brown & Rachel L. Smedley
2000 –ÌýDavid F. Jakhelln
1999 –ÌýFrancesca M. Tassone
1998 –ÌýMarcia L. Cavanaugh
1997 –ÌýAmy M. Hayes
1996 –ÌýErin M. Hagar
1995 –ÌýKelley R. Tindall
1994 –ÌýAnne M. York
1993 –ÌýTracy E. Dohn
1992 –ÌýGia M. Raffaelli
1991 –ÌýVanessa P. Field
1990 –ÌýElaine J. Denning
1989 –ÌýJennifer M. Hanson
1988 –ÌýJudith A. Hand
1987 –ÌýMichelle A. Klein & Barbara J. Green
1986 –ÌýFrank Stluka
1985 –ÌýBarbara J. Friedman
1984 –ÌýWilliam W. Zagar
1983 –ÌýPenni L. Thorpe
1982 –ÌýJudith C. Waitz
1981 –ÌýLinda J. Mendelsohn
1980 –ÌýKathleen M. Pecis
1979 –ÌýKim S. Bjork
1978 –ÌýShirlee A. Ladio
1977 –ÌýDavid C. Lineweber
1976 –ÌýBrenda J. Wixson​
Len Perfetti Memorial Award
​Len Perfetti was a criminal justice major and also a varsity football player for the Blue Hens who began his college career in 1974. In 1977 he was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer of the lymphatic system. After extensive chemotherapy, he returned to the university in the spring of 1978, despite the fact that his condition was steadily worsening. That semester he earned a 3.77 and continued to volunteer a great deal of time working with juvenile offenders. In the summer of 1978 he was repeatedly hospitalized and underwent chemotherapy sessions at Sloan-Kettering in New York. In the fall he still enrolled for the last 12 credits that he needed to complete his B.A. in Criminal Justice, making arrangements with his professors to complete his required course work from his hospital bed. When he died at the age of 22 in November 1978, he had completed all of his course work required for his degree. Faculty members were so impressed by Len’s courage, tenacity, commitment to volunteerism, and his relentless pursuit of excellence that they created the Len Perfetti Award in his honor. The recipient of this award, a senior criminal justice major, is selected on the basis of scholarship, service, and character.
2026 Winner –ÌýSophie Levine
2025 Winner – Rabia Hussain
2024 Winner – Mariah Kincaid
2023 – Isaiah Howton
2022 –ÌýSarina Simpson
2021 – Christen Asiedu
2020 –ÌýEmily Georgia​
​​​2019 –ÌýNasir Wilson
2018 –ÌýMaria Rizzo
2017 –ÌýChristopher Norton
2016 –ÌýKenneth Kokason
2015 –ÌýGabrielle Green and Rachel Morenoff
2014 –ÌýAlpa Bhatia
2013 –ÌýMichael Burtis
2012 –ÌýRebecca Trexler
2011 –ÌýPaul Ruiz, Jr.
2010 –ÌýCorey R. Forster & Mary F. Mastin
2009 –ÌýTricia Connor
2008 –ÌýLisha L. Purnell & Allison M. Schwier
2007 –ÌýDiana M. Filkins
2006 – Jessica C. Blank & Emily C. Berenback
2005 –ÌýWilliam M. Gratton
2004 –ÌýBrett P. Doe & Amanda L. Fullmer
2003 –ÌýCasey L. Ewart & Branwen W. McNabb
2002 –ÌýAlexis B. Shefall
2001 –ÌýToni Chayt & John P. Kellenbeger
2000 –ÌýJill C. Harper
1999 –ÌýDanielle L. Eckelt 1998 - Adam M. Gershowitz
1997 –ÌýSuzanne L. Salem & Denise M. St. John
1996 –ÌýAlissa M. McNabb & Kevin M. Conklin
1995 –ÌýJana L. Cresswell 1994 - Alison M. Donahue
1993 –ÌýKaren A. Hollander & Tia R. Truxon
1992 –ÌýJohn J. Rubio & Krista A. Sweigart
1991 –ÌýKathryn A. Margetts
1990 –ÌýRobert A. Schwinger
1989 –ÌýStephanie D. Cangin
1988 –ÌýDonna L. Culver & Suzanne M. Wissmann
1987 –ÌýMark K. McDonough
1986 –ÌýRichard E. Figurelle, Jr. & Paulette Kay Smith Nash
1985 –ÌýSharon Letts & Catherine L. Wirth
1984 –ÌýGail Ruth Lande
1983 –ÌýCharles E. Schleich, III
1982 –ÌýAnn L. Martino
1981 –ÌýPamela D. Adler & Kathryn E. Nass
1980 –ÌýBryan J. Goldbeger, Gordon McLaughlin & George R. Wentz, Jr.
1979 –ÌýCheryl Diane Spinner​
Alumni
Ken Haas Award
​The Ken Haas Outstanding Alumni Award is given each year to a graduate of the Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice who has made major contributions to their profession or their community. The award honors Professor Haas’s five-decade commitment to education and the promotion of public service among our students. The recipient may have earned either an undergraduate or graduate degree from the program and either may be an individual of already considerable accomplishment or a more recent graduate who shows great promise.​
2026 Winner –ÌýSanja Kutnjak Ivkovic
2025 Winner – Honorable Charles E. Butler
2024 Winner – Benjamin Carleton​
2023 – Laura Adarve​
2022 –ÌýKatrina Manierre​
2021 –ÌýJullion Cooper
2020 – Amanda Fullmer