2026 AwardsSociology and Anthropology
Graduate Awards
Outstanding Sociology Graduate Student Award
This award is presented to students upon the recommendation of the faculty, who’ve excelled academically and are expected to receive the Masters degree in the academic year in which the award is given.
- Fabian Palacios Heredia
Outstanding Anthropology M.A. Thesis
This award is given to students who have excelled in research and writing and have demonstrated a critical engagement with the anthropological literature and theory in the MA thesis. It is presented to students upon the recommendation of the faculty advisor with agreement from anthropology faculty.
- Jennifer Mitchell
- Layla Villanueva
Outstanding Anthropology Graduate Student Award
This award is presented to students, upon the recommendation of the graduate faculty, who have excelled academically and received recognition for outstanding work within the university, community, regional, national, or international spheres. Students are expected to receive the Master’s Degree in the academic year in which the award is given.
- Layla Villanueva
Dennis-Weathers Sociology Award
The Dennis-Weathers Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated a commitment to increasing awareness of intercultural and cross-cultural understanding at Mason and in the broader community.
- Drew Bonner
Thomas Rhys Williams Award for Outstanding Student Writing
This award is presented to students who have demonstrated excellence in academic writing in the classroom. This award is presented to students, upon the recommendation of the faculty, who have excelled academically and received recognition for outstanding work within the university.
- Emily Helman
Undergraduate Awards
AKD Outstanding Graduating Senior Award
This award is presented to the outstanding graduating senior who is a member of AKD.
- Huayra Forster
Aliza Kolker Award for Sociology
This award honors our former colleague, Aliza Kolker, and is intended to highlight her interest in social action, research, and service. Students receiving the Kolker Award must have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following areas: a social action research project; an outstanding internship; or an outstanding theoretical or empirical research paper.
- Zohet Ramirez-Bonitto
Outstanding Anthropology Undergraduate Student Award
This award is presented to students who have demonstrated academic excellence in the classroom and commitment to their field of study.
- Liam Khan
Thomas Rhys Williams Award for Outstanding Student Writing
This award is presented to students who have demonstrated excellence in academic writing in the classroom. This award is presented to students, upon the recommendation of the faculty, who have excelled academically and received recognition for outstanding work within the university.
- Jackie McLean
The Devlin Family Award
The purpose of the Devlin Family Scholarship Fund is to provide support to a sociology undergraduate or graduate student with a GPA of at least 3.5 who demonstrates leadership in social justice activities which support constructive community integration and dialogue spanning race, religion, ethnic, cultural, and stereotyped gender bias.
- Abigail Naidoo