Even before arriving at Gettysburg College, future sociology majors and minors often receive accolades and awards, including prestigious and competitive merit scholarships. While at Gettysburg, you will become eligible to receive additional awards and honors, including those presented at Fall and Spring Honors Days. The awards listed below represent honors and awards received by current students and recent graduates.
- Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the international sociology honor society, was founded in 1920 to promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition. Student members have access to competitive awards and grants to support exemplary sociological research and conference presentations.- Eligibility
- Student must be a sociology major or minor, or an individualized major with a sociology emphasis.
- They must be a junior or senior.
- They must have completed at least four graded courses in sociology.
- They must have an average of at least 3.5 in these sociology courses.
- They must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA
- They must be in the top 35% of their graduating class
- Activities Sponsored by the Department
Every fall or spring the department hosts an induction ceremony and dinner. In some years, the department also sponsors a public lecture. Before graduation, the department presents members with honor cords to wear at Commencement. - Contact Information
Cassie M. Hays, faculty representative.
- Eligibility
- Holly Gabriel Memorial Award
Established by friends and classmates of Holly Gabriel ‘78, this award is given to a senior Sociology major who demonstrates superior academic achievement, concern for the welfare of others, and the interest to continue this service beyond graduation. - Harry C. and Catherine Noffsinger Hartzell Award
Created by James Hamilton Hartzell ‘24 in memory of his parents, this award is granted to the outstanding junior student in the Department of Sociology.
- Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is the oldest Greek-letter society in the US and exists to promote liberal learning, to recognize academic excellence, and to support and encourage scholars in their work. The Gettysburg College chapter was chartered in 1923 and is today one of 270 Phi Beta Kappa chapters in American colleges and universities, twenty of which are in Pennsylvania. The Gettysburg College chapter elects to membership about ten to fifteen percent of the senior class who have distinguished academic records and exhibit high moral character and intellectual curiosity. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is perhaps the most widely recognized academic distinction in US higher education. - Edwin and Leander M. Zimmerman Senior Prize
Awarded to the senior whose character, influence on students, and scholarship have contributed most to the welfare of the College. - Henry W. A. Hanson Scholarship Award
Created by College alumni in honor of Henry W. A. Hanson, President of Gettysburg College from 1923 to 1952, in recognition of his leadership of and distinguished service to Gettysburg College and to the cause of education in the Lutheran Church and the nation. Awarded to a senior who plans to enter graduate school in preparation for college teaching. - Gettysburg College Student Leadership Award
Awarded to a female senior whose enthusiasm, energy, and contributions in student affairs demonstrated outstanding leadership. - Karl J. Mattson Service Award
Established by the Center for Public Service in honor of Karl J. Mattson, Director of the Center for Public Service from 1992–2001 and Chaplain of the College from 1977–1992, to be presented to a graduating senior who demonstrates compassion and a commitment to social justice by making significant contributions to the College and the larger community through service and advocacy. - Stock Writing Prize
Established by Earl Kresge Stock '19, awarded to the three students who write those classroom papers judged to be best in the areas of humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Nominations are made by faculty members in the spring semester.