Lake Forest Curriculum: Awards & Honorary Societies

Alpha Psi Omega (Dramatics) Alpha Psi Omega is a national dramatics honorary society dedicated to the promotion and recognition of excellence in college theater. Lake Forest College’s Nu Sigma chapter was established in 1954 and for more than 50 years has served to honor scholastically outstanding students who have attained at least a 3.2 GPA overall and who have shown superior accomplishment in dramatic arts at Lake Forest College by participation in at least five productions. Membership is determined by the current student membership with the advisement of the faculty sponsors. An initiation ceremony is traditionally performed each spring.

Beta Beta Beta (Tri-Beta) (Biology) Beta Beta Beta, whose Lake Forest College chapter dates back to 1935, functions as an honor society for students of the biological sciences. Its activities are designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, and investigation in the biological sciences, as well as to promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations among students of the life sciences. To become an active member of Tri-Beta, a student must be a biology major and have earned grades of B or A in at least three biology courses counting toward the major (one of which must be above the introductory level), must have completed the equivalent of at least three terms of study at Lake Forest College, and must have an overall 3.0 GPA in the major. Associate membership is open to any student with an interest in the life sciences who has earned a grade of B or A in two biology courses counting toward the major and has an overall GPA of 2.67. Members are elected each term, and officers are elected from among the active members at the last meeting of each school year.

Lambda Pi Eta (Communication) Lambda Pi Eta is the national honors society for undergraduate study ion communication. It is an affiliate of the National Communication Association. The Tau Chi chapter at Lake Forest College was founded in 2005

Kappa Delta Pi (Education) Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society organized to promote excellence in education. It recognizes education majors who exhibit the ideals of scholarship, high personal standards, and promise in teaching, and who make contributions to education. The Tau Psi chapter was chartered at Lake Forest College in 1994, replacing Kappa Phi Kappa, a local honor society. During the Spring semester of each year, students who have been admitted to the Department of Education and have successfully completed fieldwork, as well as two other courses in education with a B (3.0) or better, and who have attained a 3.2 GPA overall are invited to join Kappa Delta Pi.

Nu Rho Psi  is the National Honor Society in Neuroscience, founded in 2006 by the national organization Faculty for Neuroscience. The purpose of Nu Rho Psi is to encourage professional interest and excellence in scholarship, particularly in neuroscience, award recognition to students who have achieved such excellence in scholarship, and advanced the discipline of neuroscience. It also encourages intellectual and social interaction between students, faculty, and professionals in neuroscience and related fields, promotes career development in neuroscience and related fields, increases public awareness of neuroscience and its benefits for the individual and society. The Gamma chapter of Illinois was chartered at Lake Forest College in 2012. During the Spring semester of each year, students who have been admitted to the Department of Neuroscience and have successfully completed at least three courses in neuroscience, and who have attained a 3.2 GPA overall and 3.5 GPA in the major or minor, are invited to join Nu Rho Psi.

Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics) Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international economics honorary society, is dedicated to the encouragement of excellence in economics. It encourages devotion on the part of its members as economists to the advancement of their science and to the scholarly effort to make freedom from want and deprivation a reality for all humankind. The Rho chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon was established at Lake Forest College in 1985. During the Spring term of each year, students who have compiled a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.0 GPA for at least 12 credits in economics (three Lake Forest College courses), and who have expressed a genuine interest in economics will be invited to join Omicron Delta Epsilon.

Phi Beta Kappa Phi Beta Kappa is an academic honorary society dedicated to the recognition of superior academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences. The Lake Forest College chapter (Theta of Illinois), one of 262 in the nation, was founded in 1962. To have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter approved by the national organization is a high honor for a college. In order to win a chapter, the college or university must meet Phi Beta Kappa standards in providing a solid and high-quality liberal arts program. Both faculty and students are members of Phi Beta Kappa. It is the faculty membership that each year elects student members on the basis of outstanding academic achievement. Ordinarily these are graduating seniors, but it is possible, in the case of extraordinary achievement, to be elected in the junior year. This is a rare and special honor. New Phi Beta Kappa members are initiated in a special ceremony that takes place in the spring. The criteria for election include sustained academic excellence as reflected in a strong academic record. Weight is given to the breadth of the program pursued by students, as shown by the number and variety of courses taken outside the major. Weight is also given to balance and proportion in the student’s degree program as a whole. (Professional education and business courses and internships are not counted.) Finally, a student elected to Phi Beta Kappa is expected to have demonstrated at least a minimal knowledge of mathematics and a foreign language appropriate for a liberal arts education.

Phi Sigma Iota (Foreign Languages) Phi Sigma Iota is the foreign language national honor society. Its purpose is to cultivate interest and encourage excellence in the field of foreign languages. The organization offers its members and the College community at large an opportunity to come into contact with different aspects of foreign language and culture. Candidates for membership must have reached the 300 course level in a foreign language at Lake Forest College or equivalent courses at another institution. They must also have a 3.00 GPA in a foreign language, as well as an overall 3.00 GPA.

Phi Sigma Tau (Philosophy) Phi Sigma Tau is the national honor society in philosophy and is dedicated to honoring academic excellence and philosophical interest and to stimulating philosophical discussions on the local and national levels. Philosophical exchanges are promoted through the activities of the local chapters and through publication ofDialogue, the journal of the national organization. Lake Forest College’s chapter was established in 1981. The chapter has sponsored panel discussions and colloquia by Lake Forest College students and by faculty members from Lake Forest College and from outside institutions. Membership is awarded to outstanding students and faculty with interests in philosophy. Students can become eligible after three semesters of coursework, which must include three courses in philosophy.

Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science) Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honorary society. The Lake Forest College chapter was founded in 1971. Its purpose is to stimulate productive scholarship and interest in the subject of politics and government by honoring superior students in this field. To become members, students must be either juniors or seniors; must have taken four politics courses above the 100 level (at least two of those at Lake Forest College and at least one at the 300 or 400 level); must have a B+ (3.33) average in political science courses above the 100 level; and must have an overall B (3.0) GPA in all courses.

Psi Chi (Psychology) Psi Chi is the national honorary society for psychology majors who have been recognized for their academic excellence. The Lake Forest College chapter was established in 1960. Its purpose is to organize social and intellectual activities for psychology majors. In the spring of each year, the present members review a list of psychology majors who have at least a 3.5 average in psychology courses and a 3.0 overall GPA. Students who qualify are invited to join Psi Chi.

Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics) Sigma Pi Sigma is the national physics honorary society. Its purpose is to promote excellence in physics by recognizing outstanding physics students. The original Lake Forest College Sigma Pi Sigma chapter dates back to May 31, 1930, which makes it one of the oldest chapters in the country. Membership requirements are an overall B (3.0) GPA, excellence in physics, and the completion of courses through the sophomore level in physics. New members are chosen by present Lake Forest College faculty each spring.

Sigma Xi (Science) Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, is a national honor society established in 1886 by a group of students and faculty at Cornell University. The Lake Forest College chapter of the society, established on April 26, 1988, is one of more than 500 clubs and chapters worldwide. The society was established to honor and promote excellence in scientific research and to encourage a spirit of cooperation and companionship among scientists from all fields. Although scientific research is highly specialized, the society promotes a view of science that emphasizes linkages rather than divisions. Members of the Lake Forest College chapter include faculty and students. Qualified scientists are inducted into the society each year at an annual banquet. Students who have demonstrated a potential aptitude or ability in independent scientific research are elected as associate members.

The College community honors and rewards the outstanding achievements of its students and faculty by acclaiming them in public and by awarding them significant prizes at the Spring Leadership Awards Ceremony and the Senior Honors Convocation in May. In keeping with the dignity and College-wide importance of its convocations, only the most outstanding achievements are to be honored in this way. Prizes are awarded to the best students who have proven themselves genuinely outstanding by absolute rather than relative standards. Each prize is to be a distinguished and valuable reward commensurate with the occasion and with the prizewinner’s achievement. Such distinction and value are embodied particularly in the prizes endowed and donated by friends and alumni of the College to perpetuate their ties to the academic community. These awards, presented at the Honors Convocations and Leadership Awards Ceremony, collectively express and celebrate not only intellectual and personal excellence, but also the special, enduring relationship between present and past generations of Lake Forest College. Outstanding students in academic areas for which there are no endowed or donated prizes are honored out of the College’s own prize fund for graduating seniors. Awards and prizes other than those referred to below are presented at departmental gatherings or at chapter meetings of the respective honor societies.

General Awards

The Alpha Sigma Kappa Class of 1938 Memorial Prize
 This prize was established in 1993 by members of the Class of 1938 who were members of the Alpha Sigma Kappa fraternity. The prize is given to a senior student who has sustained a 3.4 cumulative GPA, has participated in at least two co-curricular activities on campus, and has exhibited a strong commitment to community service while a student at Lake Forest College for at least the last two years. The recipient of the prize is chosen by the Dean of Students and two faculty members. The prize is presented at the Senior Honors Convocation.

The Bird Award for Intellectual Contributions to the Campus Community
 The Bird Award recognizes an individual from the Lake Forest College community—faculty, staff, student, or friend—who brings to the campus a special measure of intellectual fervor and commitment. Such a contribution, demonstrated outside the classroom, may be evidenced either within or outside of campus organizations. The recipient is to be an individual who by action or words challenges the minds of others and who serves as a model for those who study or work at the College. The recipient is chosen by a committee composed of the President, the Provost and Dean of the Faculty, the Dean of Students, the Chair of the Trustee Committee on Student Affairs, and the current recipient of the award. The Bird Award, established by an anonymous donor in 1992, honors Elizabeth Bird Parks, Lake Forest College 1932, and her father, Harry Lewis Bird, Lake Forest College 1894. The Bird Award is presented at the Fall Matriculation Ceremony.

The Peter C. Clute Award for Outstanding Character
 The Peter C. Clute Award for Outstanding Character was established to honor the memory of Peter C. Clute, class of 1973, whose “boundless energy and infectious and unceasing enthusiasm brought great happiness to all who knew him.” The fund was established through the generosity of Peter’s friends and classmates. The recipient of the award, selected by Lake Forest College Student Affairs staff in consultation with students, “… shall be that Lake Forest College student whose uniquely positive attitude and whose joy in living inspires and enhances the lives of those around him or her.” The award is presented at the Spring Leadership Awards Ceremony.

The Dunn Award

The Jacob Wardwell Edwards Prize
 The prize was established by friends and relatives in memory of Mr. Edwards, former Director of Admissions. The prize is given annually to the rising sophomore who is judged to have demonstrated the most outstanding qualities of leadership during his or her first year at the College. The recipient is selected by a committee composed of the Dean of Students, the Director of Admissions, and the President of Student Government. The award is announced and presented at the Fall Matriculation Ceremony.

The Elizabeth W. Fischer Prize
 The Elizabeth W. Fischer Prize was established in honor of Elizabeth W. Fischer, advisor to the Class of 1998 and Dean of the College from 1994–2002. The recipient must have attended Lake Forest College for four years, must have attained a minimum GPA of 3.0, and must have excelled in academics and co-curricular activities. He or she may not be a member of Senior 25. Graduating seniors are nominated by the Lake Forest College community. The recipient is selected by a committee composed of the Dean of Students, the Director of the Gates Center, a member of the Senior 25, a member of the Senior Steering Committee, and a faculty member selected by the Dean of Students. Members of the selection committee forfeit their eligibility to receive this prize. The President of the Senior Steering Committee will present the award, at Senior Honors Convocation, if a member of the Class of 1998 is not available.

The Scott Fossel Prize
 The Scott Fossel Prize was established in 1993 to recognize a rising sophomore and a rising junior who exhibit positive leadership attributes in scholarly and/or co-curricular activities as Mr. Fossel, Lake Forest College 1975, demonstrated as a student. The recipients are chosen by a committee of representatives of the faculty, administration, and the Dean of Students, appointed by the Provost and Dean of the Faculty. The Scott Fossel Prizes are awarded at the Fall Matriculation Ceremony.

The Galovich Award for Excellence at the Student Symposium

The Emma O. Haas Memorial Awards for Merit in Scholarship
 The late Judge John F. Haas, a graduate in the Class of 1900, established these annual awards in memory of his mother. A cash prize is awarded to a senior-class student outstanding in scholarship as selected by the Dean of the Faculty. This award is announced and presented the day of the annual Senior Honors Convocation.

The McPherson Prizes for Excellence in Scholarship
 Each year several prizes given for excellence in scholarship are named after the Reverend Simon J. McPherson. A sum of $3,000 was contributed in 1899 by his friends to establish prizes in English, philosophy, French, German, Spanish, and dramatics. The winners are chosen by the department heads and are announced at the Senior Honors Convocation.

The Edward H. Oppenheimer Memorial Prize Awards are given each year to a senior man and a senior woman who are judged to have contributed the most to the College community. The selection committee consists of the President-elect and the Vice President- elect of Student Government, a Student Senate representative, two Student Affairs representatives, and one faculty member. The prize, given by James K. Oppenheimer, Class of 1965, honors his father. It is awarded and announced at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Phi Beta Kappa Senior Thesis Award
 This award is given in recognition of outstanding scholarship, intellectual maturity, originality, and competence in academic skills as evidenced in the senior thesis. The award is presented at the Senior Honors Convocation by the Lake Forest College Phi Beta Kappa Association.

The Charlotte Simmons Prize

The Trustee Award

The Tamara Lee Wefler Award
 This award was established by the class of 1977 in memory of their classmate Tamara Lee Wefler (1955–1975). The prize is awarded annually to that senior whose independent spirit has encouraged the acceptance of a diversity of values and beliefs within the student body; whose inspiration and enthusiasm have promoted the highest standards of character and integrity in others; and whose actions have consistently demonstrated a sensitivity for and an interest in the welfare of others. This award is conferred by a committee consisting of three Student Government representatives, two Student Affairs representatives, and one faculty member to be selected by the other members of the committee. It is announced and awarded each spring at the Senior Honors Convocation.

The All-College Writing Contest Award
 The All-College Writing Contest Award was created to encourage interest and excellence in scholarly writing by all undergraduate students enrolled at the College. The contest is juried by faculty members from a variety of disciplines. The award is presented at the appropriate Honors Convocation.

The Spring Writing Contest Award for First-Year Students
 The Spring Writing Contest Award for First-Year Students was created to encourage interest and excellence in scholarly writing. The contest is juried by faculty members and selected students. The award is presented at the Fall Matriculation Ceremony.

The Anita Chen Li, ’51, International Student Prize
 The Anita Chen Li, ’51, International Student Prize is awarded to an international student who has distinguished himself or herself academically and has demonstrated distinguished service to the College community. The recipient is selected by the appropriate Academic Dean and the Director of Intercultural Relations. The prize was established through an endowment created by Anita Chen Li, Class of 1951, and is presented at the Fall Matriculation Ceremony.

Departmental Awards

American Studies

THE W. GORDON MILNE PRIZE IN AMERICAN STUDIES

This prize was established in the spring of 1990 to honor the memory of Professor Milne, who served with distinction at Lake Forest College from 1951 to 1986 as a professor and chairperson of the Department of English. Professor Milne was instrumental in developing the interdisciplinary major in American Studies. This prize is awarded at Senior Honors Convocation to a student who is judged by the members of the American Studies Committee to have done the most outstanding work in this field.

Art

THE ALEX F. MITCHELL SENIOR PRIZE IN ART HISTORY

This prize was established by Ramona Mitchell to honor the memory of her husband and colleague, Professor Alex F. Mitchell, who passed away in December 1996 after serving Lake Forest College with distinction as professor and chairperson of the Department of Art. The prize is intended for the student or students who, in the judgment of the chairperson and other members of the department, have been outstanding in art history. It is awarded at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Athletics

SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARD

The athletic letter winner having the best scholastic record for the three terms preceding the annual Fall Honors Convocation will be the Scholar/Athlete Award winner. There is a Scholar/Athlete Award for each class. The senior winner is honored at the Senior Honors Convocation.

THE NICHOLAS J. WASYLIK SENIOR ATHLETIC AWARD

This award was created and endowed in 1983 by Seymour H. Knox IV, a Lake Forest College graduate of the Class of 1979, to honor Nicholas J. Wasylik, who served on the faculty of the College from 1958 to 1979 as Director of Athletics, coach, physical educator, and, in his earlier years, as assistant professor of Russian. The award is presented to the senior athlete who best emulates the positive, outgoing attitude, as well as the drive and determination, of Nicholas J. Wasylik. The recipient is chosen by the Athletic Director in consultation with the members of the Athletic Department. It is awarded at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Business

THE LORRAINE D. AND H. RANDALL HEATH PRIZE IN BUSINESS

This prize is awarded to an outstanding student in that department, as selected by its faculty, and it recognizes that which this College holds in highest esteem: namely, academic achievement.

Economics

THE H. MURRAY HERLIHY PRIZE IN ECONOMICS

This award was created and endowed in 1982, initially by a 1974 alumnus, as well as by other students, to honor Professor Herlihy, whose influence during his 25 years of service to the College, from 1957 to 1982, had touched their academic and professional careers. It is awarded to the outstanding senior economics major at the Senior Honors Convocation.

THE WARREN A. PETERSON MEMORIAL AWARD IN ECONOMICS

This award was established by members of Mr. Peterson’s family. The prize is awarded annually to student(s) majoring in economics, with grades, activities, and leadership qualities as the criteria used for selection. It is awarded at the Senior Honors Convocation.

English

THE GAIL DEHERDER MEMORIAL PRIZE IN CREATIVE WRITING

The Class of 1959 established a memorial fund to honor Gail DeHerder, a member of the class for three years. The income from this fund is used to provide a cash prize to be awarded each year at the Senior Honors Convocation to the senior who submits the best piece of creative writing.

German

THE WILHELM MEISTER PRIZE

This prize recognizes the achievement of the senior student who has made the greatest progress in German studies over four years at Lake Forest College. The recipient’s career exemplifies the possibilities of a German major at the College for students with little or no background in the field. It is awarded to a senior chosen by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures faculty and presented at a departmental meeting.

History

THE RICHARD W. HANTKE AWARD IN HISTORY

This award is presented to a graduating senior majoring in history or in an interdisciplinary field in which the study of history is emphasized. In the opinion of the history faculty, this student must clearly merit recognition for distinguished performance in the study of history at Lake Forest College, as evidenced in classroom work, in independent study and research, and in general appreciation of the discipline of history. The award is presented at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Linguistics

SUPERLATIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN LINGUISTICS AWARD

This award is presented to a student who demonstrates superlative achievement in the linguistics courses offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. It is usually awarded to a senior chosen by the language department faculty and presented at a departmental meeting.

Mathematics

THE HAROLD B. CURTIS PRIZE IN MATHEMATICS

In 1967 alumni and faculty members who knew Professor Harold Bartlett Curtis during his long period of service to Lake Forest College created an endowment fund in his honor in order to establish a prize to a senior who is judged by the faculty of the Department of Mathematics as the outstanding student majoring in mathematics. The prize, which is presented at the Senior Honors Convocation, is an appropriate set of books chosen by the recipient in consultation with the Mathematics Department.

Music

THE LORRAINE D. AND H. RANDALL HEATH PRIZE IN MUSIC

This prize is awarded to an outstanding student in that department, as selected by its faculty, and it recognizes that which this College holds in highest esteem: namely, academic achievement.

Philosophy

THE FRAN ASHER PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN PHILOSOPHY

This prize was established in 1988 to honor Fran Asher, a student who graduated with honors in philosophy in the Class of 1970. It is awarded to a junior majoring in philosophy who has demonstrated original and creative work in the field that suggests unusual capacity for future work in philosophy. The prize is presented annually at a departmental meeting.

Physics

THE HARALD C. JENSEN PRIZE

This prize is awarded to the senior physics major who has written the most outstanding senior thesis describing his or her original independent research in experimental physics. The recipient is selected by the faculty of the Department of Physics and is honored at the Senior Honors Convocation. The award is named for Harald Jensen, professor of physics, who served on the faculty for 31 years.

Politics

THE SOLLY A. HARTZO AWARD IN POLITICS

In 1971 the Department of Politics established an endowment fund, the income from which is to be used to provide the Solly A. Hartzo award for excellence in the study of politics and government. This annual award in memory of Professor Hartzo, a member of the faculty for 35 years until his retirement in 1965, is presented at the Senior Honors Convocation to an outstanding senior student majoring in politics and selected by the faculty of that department.

Psychology

THE KRANTZ PRIZE IN PSYCHOLOGY

THE STERLING PRICE WILLIAMS PRIZE IN PSYCHOLOGY

This prize in psychology, given by friends in honor of Dr. Williams, professor of psychology and philosophy at Lake Forest, consists of books on the subject of psychology chosen by the recipient. The recipient is selected by the members of the faculty of the Department of Psychology as the senior psychology major who shows greatest promise in this field. It is awarded at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Religion

THE SCOTT AWARD IN RELIGION

In 1957 Mildred Scott of Cleveland, Ohio, established by endowment “The Scott Award of Excellence in the Study of Religion.” The annual cash award honors her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman H. Scott. It is given annually at a departmental meeting to that student, usually a junior, who, in the opinion of the faculty in the Department of Religion, has done the most outstanding coursework in the department.

THE HARRY O. AND ALVINA MILLER MEMORIAL PRIZE

This prize was established in 1997 to be presented to the outstanding graduating senior religion student, chosen by the chairperson of the department. The prize is awarded at the Senior Honors Convocation.

The Sciences

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTS AWARD

This award, given for demonstrated leadership and character, as well as high scholastic standing and potential for advancement in the chemical profession, is presented at a departmental gathering.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AWARD

This award is given by the Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society. The prize is a one-year subscription to the Journal of Analytical Chemistry and is awarded at a departmental meeting.

THE CARR PRIZE IN NEUROSCIENCE

The Carr Prize in Neuroscience is an annual prize in honor or Thomas H. Carr, a 1970 graduate of Lake Forest College.  Dr. Carr is a long-time Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University where he works in the Department of Psychology’s Program in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience.  His research focuses on perceptual recognition, attention, and the executive control of complex skills and the cognitive and neural processes that comprise skilled performances. The Carr Prize in Neuroscience will be an annual award of $250.  The recipient, chosen in consultation with the Chair of the Neuroscience program and the Dean of Faculty, will be a graduating neuroscience major or minor whose intellectual excellence and potential for professional contributions is reflected by outstanding academic performance combined with the pursuit of superior undergraduate scholarship in neuroscience. The prize will be awarded each May at the Senior Honors Convocation.

THE ALDO CROVETTI PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY

THE FRESHMAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN CHEMISTRY

CRC Press of Cleveland, Ohio, gives annually a copy of the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics to an outstanding student in freshman chemistry. The recipient is selected by the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and honored at a departmental gathering.

THE FREDERICKA L. STAHL MEMORIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE

Judge Haas established these annual cash awards for excellence in science in memory of his wife. The recipients of the awards are determined, in consultation with the Dean of the Faculty, by a committee of faculty members and announced at the Senior Honors Convocation. The prizes are awarded to the senior class students who have the best records in the field of natural sciences. Students who major in biology, chemistry, or physics are eligible. Excellence in the natural science courses forms the primary basis for selection. Attitude, habits of work, and spirit of cooperation are all taken into consideration by the committee.

MERCK ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AWARD

Merck & Company of Rahway, New Jersey, presents a copy of the Merck Index at a departmental gathering to the outstanding student in organic chemistry.

THE DAVID W. TOWLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Sociology and Anthropology

THE LEO F. VAN HOEY SENIOR PRIZE IN SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

This prize was established in 1987 in memory of Professor Van Hoey, who served as chairperson of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for 15 years. It is presented at the Senior Honors Convocation and is awarded to a senior who is judged by the faculty of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology as the outstanding student majoring in this field.