Department Honors & Awards
Recognizing Excellence
Since 1976, the University of Delaware'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.
UD 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.
2024 Winner – Ellen Donnelly
2023 Winner – Anne Bowler
2022 Winner – Eric Rise
2021 – Ellen Donnelly
2020 – Ronet Bachman
2019 – Eric Rise
2018 – Ann Bell
2017 – Ronet Bachman
2016 – Benjamin Fleury-Steiner
2015 – Maria Johnson
2014 – Chrysanthi Leon
2013 – Anne Bowler
2012 – Eric Tranby
2011 – Tammy Anderson
2010 – Karen Parker
2009 – Ronet Bachman
2008 – Susan Miller
2007 – Ivan Sun
2006 – Ronet Bachman
2005 – Susan Miller
2004 – Joel Best
2003 – Gerald Turkel
2002 – André Rosay
2001 – Frank Scarpitti
2000 – Eric Rise
1999 – Valerie Hans
1998 – Ronet Bachman
1997 – Ruth Horowitz
1996 – Anne Bowler
Undergraduate Students
Benjamin McLuckie Award
Benjamin McLuckie was an assistant professor of sociology in our department before his untimely death in 1975. After 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. He was an outstanding undergraduate teacher, dedicated to his students and capable of getting the very best out of them. Known for his humanity and integrity, he served as a role model for both his colleagues and his students. After 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. The recipients are selected on the basis of scholarship, service and character.
2024 Winners – Natalie Fazekas, Guadalupe Guevara, Xavier Taylor
2023 Winners – Isabel Levatino, Julia Lowman, Kassy Morris, Britney Vasquez
2022 Winner – Gabrielle Sherba
2021– Spencer Shore and Monica Testa
2020 – Natalie Walton
2019 – Stella Castor
2018 – Lovely Lacey
2017 – Alexander Heger
2016 – Melisa Soysal
2016 – Gabrielle Lanzetta
2015 – Nichole Schneider and Erica Meier
2014 – Madison Helmick and Marissa Personnette
2013 – Rachel Bacon
2012 – Andrea Fendt
2011 – Jacqueline Knee
2010 – Krista Noelle & Brittany Scott
2009 – Robyn Mello
2008 – Amanda K. Pollock
2007 – Megan Denver & Jill Hurley
2006 – Kathryn G. Elam
2005 – Terry G. Lilley & Carla N. Russell
2004 – Stella T. Ilel & Heather E. McNabola
2003 – Naomi R. Bellot & Jessica L. Otto
2002 – Rachelle J. Brunn, Sarah E. Marshall & Cory Wellman
2001 – Denise E. Brown & Rachel L. Smedley
2000 – David F. Jakhelln
1999 – Francesca M. Tassone
1998 – Marcia L. Cavanaugh
1997 – Amy M. Hayes
1996 – Erin M. Hagar
1995 – Kelley R. Tindall
1994 – Anne M. York
1993 – Tracy E. Dohn
1992 – Gia M. Raffaelli
1991 – Vanessa P. Field
1990 – Elaine J. Denning
1989 – Jennifer M. Hanson
1988 – Judith A. Hand
1987 – Michelle A. Klein & Barbara J. Green
1986 – Frank Stluka
1985 – Barbara J. Friedman
1984 – William W. Zagar
1983 – Penni L. Thorpe
1982 – Judith C. Waitz
1981 – Linda J. Mendelsohn
1980 – Kathleen M. Pecis
1979 – Kim S. Bjork
1978 – Shirlee A. Ladio
1977 – David C. Lineweber
1976 – Brenda 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.
2024 Winner – Mariah Kincaid
2023 – Isaiah Howton
2022 – Sarina Simpson
2021 – Christen Asiedu
2020 – Emily Georgia
2019 – Nasir Wilson
2018 – Maria Rizzo
2017 – Christopher Norton
2016 – Kenneth Kokason
2015 – Gabrielle Green and Rachel Morenoff
2014 – Alpa Bhatia
2013 – Michael Burtis
2012 – Rebecca Trexler
2011 – Paul Ruiz, Jr.
2010 – Corey R. Forster & Mary F. Mastin
2009 – Tricia Connor
2008 – Lisha L. Purnell & Allison M. Schwier
2007 – Diana M. Filkins
2006 – Jessica C. Blank & Emily C. Berenback
2005 – William M. Gratton
2004 – Brett P. Doe & Amanda L. Fullmer
2003 – Casey L. Ewart & Branwen W. McNabb
2002 – Alexis B. Shefall
2001 – Toni Chayt & John P. Kellenbeger
2000 – Jill C. Harper
1999 – Danielle L. Eckelt 1998 - Adam M. Gershowitz
1997 – Suzanne L. Salem & Denise M. St. John
1996 – Alissa M. McNabb & Kevin M. Conklin
1995 – Jana L. Cresswell 1994 - Alison M. Donahue
1993 – Karen A. Hollander & Tia R. Truxon
1992 – John J. Rubio & Krista A. Sweigart
1991 – Kathryn A. Margetts
1990 – Robert A. Schwinger
1989 – Stephanie D. Cangin
1988 – Donna L. Culver & Suzanne M. Wissmann
1987 – Mark K. McDonough
1986 – Richard E. Figurelle, Jr. & Paulette Kay Smith Nash
1985 – Sharon Letts & Catherine L. Wirth
1984 – Gail Ruth Lande
1983 – Charles E. Schleich, III
1982 – Ann L. Martino
1981 – Pamela D. Adler & Kathryn E. Nass
1980 – Bryan J. Goldbeger, Gordon McLaughlin & George R. Wentz, Jr.
1979 – Cheryl Diane Spinner
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.
2024 Winners – Roni Fraser and Emalie Rell
2023 – Felicia Henry
2022 – Megan Demarest and Logan Neitzke-Spruill
2021 – Jamie Manzer and Madeline Stenger
2020 – Shannon Streisel
2019 – Brandie Pugh and Patricia Becker
2018 – Aneesa Baboolal
2017 – Talisa Carter
2016 – Ashley Farmer
2016 – Tanya Whittle
2015 – Emily Bonistall Postel
2014 – Mary Kristen Hefner and John Brent
2013 – Erin Kerrison
2012 – Terry Lilley
2011 – Laura Rapp
2010 – Heather Zaykowski
2009 – Jamie Longazel
2008 – Joseph Trainor
2007 – Jessica 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.
2024 Winners – Loretta Addo-Danso, Ethan Jian, Gift Onwuadiamu
2023 – Abass Muhammed, Mackenzie Niness
2022 – Emalie Rell and Sydney Dyck
2020 – Lindy Liu and Joshua Stout
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.
2024 Winner – Benjamin Carleton
2023 – Laura Adarve
2022 – Katrina Manierre
2021 – Jullion Cooper
2020 – Amanda Fullmer
