Crutchfield-Tolnay Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
Robert Crutchfield chaired the Department of Sociology from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2011, while Stewart Tolnay chaired the department from 2003 to 2008. Both were excellent mentors for scores of students and provided excellent mentorship of undergraduate students engaging in their first experiences with research.
The Crutchfield-Tolnay Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research is given annually to an undergraduate who has made strong contributions to either independent or collaborative research in the Department of Sociology. In addition to being recognized at our annual department graduation event, the recipient receives $1000.
Students are nominated by Sociology professors, instructors, and TAs and selected by the department’s department’s Awards & Community Life Committee, which then makes its recommendations to the Chair. Only graduating seniors are eligible.
Howard B. Woolston Award for Academic Excellence
Howard Woolston was Chair of the Department of Sociology from 1919 - 1929, and was an Outstanding Teacher at UW. The Woolston Award was established in 1956 -- the first scholarship fund endowed in the department -- to recognize excellent scholarship in sociology.
Students are nominated by Sociology professors, instructors, and TAs. Only graduating seniors are eligible. Successful finalists typically have a minimum sociology grade point average of around 3.70, and an overall GPA of at least 3.50, though there are no formal grade/GPA requirements.
Three criteria are used to select award recipients: instructor nominations; grades and sociology course papers submitted by nominees; and recommendations from their instructors. All nominees are reviewed by the department’s Awards & Community Life Committee, which then makes its recommendations to the Chair.
SPRING 2024: Brieana Smith
SPRING 2023: Katherine R. Quintanilla Ramirez SPRING 2022: Hana Brown
SPRING 2021: Thelonius Goerz
SPRING 2020: Julia Koh and Logan Young
Albert W. Black Undergraduate Community Service Award
Professor Al Black, Jr. is Emeritus Principal Lecturer in Sociology. His areas of interest are the sociology of religion and of race relations. He is a highly respected leader and role model in the community and his commitment to service, especially his work with gang members, is legendary.
The Albert W. Black Undergraduate Community Service Award is merit-based, awarded to a graduating Sociology senior who volunteers or interns with a local community service organization working with marginalized groups, and benefiting the local community. All graduating Sociology majors are invited to submit materials to become a candidate for the award.
All candidates are reviewed by the department’s Awards & Community Life Committee, which then makes its recommendations to the Chair.
SPRING 2024: Ibrahim Burka
SPRING 2023: Elizabeth Lu Gao SPRING 2022: Sára Mustre-del Río
SPRING 2021: Alizay Sajjad
SPRING 2020: Fa-aumu Kaimana