Sociology Awards
UIndy's Sociology Department recognizes outstanding students each year through the awards listed below.
The Phylis Lan Lin Sociology Research Awards
The Phylis Lan Lin Sociology Research Award is a fantastic opportunity for students within the Sociology department at the University of Indianapolis. The endowment of this generous gift allows students to apply for funding to complete a research practicum or thesis through the purchase of software or supplies to collect and analyze data. In addition, those students who are further along in the research process may request funds to present their work at an academic conference which both offers them an opportunity for feedback on their work as well as professional socialization. Finally, Dr. Lin thoughtfully wished to reward students who have completed the ultimate step in scholarly work- publishing their research in a peer reviewed journal. Such an opportunity is unusual for universities of this size and truly provides students the opportunity to engage in research which both fulfills their passions and contributes to the broader scientific knowledge base.
Dr. Phylis Lan Lin, Professor Emerita, UIndy (Formerly Associate Vice President for International Partnerships, Professor of Sociology, Executive Director of University Press, and Director of Asian Programs at the University of Indianapolis, 1973-2018) serves on the Board of Directors, Asia Organization Development Network (AODN) and American Association for Chinese Studies (AACS). She received the UIndy Meritorious Award for forty-five years of dedicated teaching, administration, and service and the Department of Social Work is named in her honor. Dr. Lin holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Missouri. A prolific writer and editor in Chinese and English, including Organizational Behavior, Stress Management, Sociology, Service-Learning in Higher Education, Marriage & the Family, and Medical Sociology, etc. She organized and chaired international symposia on China, and Service-Learning and established the University of Indianapolis Press. The Master Au Ho-Nien Museum at UIndy is one of her enduring cultural legacies.
For more information about Dr. Lin, please see Founder of the Social Work Department at UIndy.
Sociology Department Annual Awards
Each year, the department honors student achievements with a variety of awards at our annual end of the year celebration. Award descriptions and past winners are included below.
This award was created in honor of former University of Indianapolis Provost, Lynn Youngblood. A student is chosen annually to receive this award based on their involvement in community service.
Recipients
- 2024: Cameron O'Mara
- 2023: Dylan Armato
- 2022: Jayme Yeater
- 2021: Mya Daelynn
- 2020: Morgan De La Rosa
- 2019: Amy Stone
Praxis is a philosophical term referring to human action in the natural and social world. In its simplest sense, Praxis is what we do rather than what we think. Praxis is the convergence of thought and motion. Praxis is action. The objective of the Praxis Award is to promote Action through Leadership and Initiative.
Recipients
- 2025: Brandon Doty
- 2024: Michael Hicks and Kelli Thomas
- 2023: Gabriel Chase and Kelli Thomas
- 2022: Heaven Castillo
- 2021: Amber Sweetland
- 2020: Lyndsie King
- 2019: Brittany Duncan and Connor Sabine
This award is given to a student who has shown outstanding promise in graduate coursework while still an undergraduate student.
Recipients
- 2025: Anthony Castaneda
- 2024: Madison Manlove
- 2023: Vanesa Orosco
- 2022: Rachel Pollachek
- 2021: Lauryn Hill
- 2020: Sabrina Camargo
- 2019: Lyndsie King
This award is given to an undergraduate student who demonstrates promise as a social researcher.
Recipients
- 2025: Meylin Lucha Lopez
- 2024: Anthony Castaneda
- 2022: Kamryn Schmidt
- 2019: Zhe Zhang
This award is given to a graduate student who demonstrates promise as a social researcher.
Recipients
- 2025: Cesone Snowden
- 2024: Vanesa Orosco
- 2023: Andrea Renzi-Burns
- 2022: CariAnn Freed
- 2021: Erika Hargis
- 2020: Liz Crawford
- 2019: Angie Calvert
Given to the graduating Master’s in Applied Sociology student(s) with the highest GPA.
Recipients
- 2025: Amiya Hahn and Mia Krstevska
- 2024: Claire Anderson and Kelli Thomas
- 2023: Laura Boardman, Cassidy Bott, Grace Fullenkamp, Jenny Rakotoarisoa, Andrea Renzi-Burns, and Taylor Underwood
- 2022: Heaven Castillo, Anna Moore, Kamryn Schmidt, Jayme Yeater (December graduates)
- 2022: Sabrina Camargo and Lauryn Hill (May graduates)
- 2021: Jenny Behan, Liz Crawford, and Erika Hargis
- 2020: Lyndsie King
This award is given to the graduating sociology major with the highest GPA.
Recipients
- 2025: Anthony Castaneda and Meylin Lucha Lopez
- 2024: Flor Soto
- 2023: Dylan Armato
- 2022: Ted Deitz
- 2021: Laura Boardman
- 2020: Sarah Frisbie
- 2019: Zhe Zhang
This award is given to the graduating sociology minor student with the highest GPA.
Recipients
- 2025: Jonathon Barnes
- 2024: Patrick Harmon
- 2023: Simarjit Kaur and Hayley McIntosh
- 2022: Maia Campbell, Valeria Perez, and Makenzie Swearengin
- 2021: Ashlie Raible
- 2020: Steven Martz, Darian Murray, and Emma Zabor
This award is given to the graduating Child & Youth Programs (CYP) minor student with the highest GPA.
Recipients
- 2025: Florence Lee
- 2024: Lauren Mosele
- 2023: Rebecca Snodgrass and Madison Lowe
- 2022: Rayanne Kowle
- 2021: Sydnie Foster
- 2020: Ashlie Raible
This award is given to the graduating Community & Nonprofit Leadership (CNPL) student with the highest GPA.
Recipients
- 2023: Lauri Shillings
- 2022: Jenny Rakotoarisoa
- 2021: Deena Wilson
- 2019: Amanda Rubadue