Awards
The ISA presents the five awards listed below each year that recognize accomplishments in undergraduate research.
Judging Criteria for awards: Succinct identification of issue(s) illustrated in the paper/poster and summarized in the abstract; Review of the relevant professional literature; Methodological rigor (if empirical); Organization; Disciplinary relevance and contribution; Creativity; Visual imagery (if poster); Overall quality.
Mary Alice Ericson (1st/2nd year open topic paper) - In 1986, the Association began to select Kuhn award winners in both a freshman/sophomore division and a junior/senior division. In 1989, the freshman/sophomore award was named in honor of Mary Alice Ericson, long-time member of the Department of Sociology at Coe College and active member of the ISA from its earliest days. Dr. Ericson served as the ISA President in 1968-1969, and 1978-1979, and as the Iowa state director for the Midwest Sociological Society. She was named "Woman of the Year - 1978" by the Cedar Rapids Women's Equality Day Committee and "Golden Role Model" in 2007 by the Cedar Rapids NAACP.
Manford Kuhn (3rd/4th year open topic paper) - Initially named in honor of Edward A. Ross, a graduate of Coe College and the fourth president of the American Sociological Association, the award was renamed in 1980 in honor of Manford Kuhn, the founder of the "Iowa School" of symbolic interactionism, who taught at the University of Iowa from 1946 until his death in 1963. Dr. Kuhn was the second President of the ISA, serving in 1959-1960.
Stephen Wieting (Integrating Theory and Research paper) - Named in honor of Dr. Steven Weiting, professor of sociology at the University of Iowa from 1971 to 2008. Dr. Wieting's expertise was in the sociology of sport and the sociology of family. He was dedicated to developing a sense of community for sociology undergrads and ran the Sociology Club at the University of Iowa for many years in addition to serving as President of the ISA in 2006-2007.
Ward Reynoldson (Criminal Justice paper) - In 1993, the Association added an award named in honor of W. Ward Reynoldson, a former chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, for the best criminal justice-oriented paper. Since 1988, copies of winning papers have been added to the collection of the Kirkwood Community College Library.
Keith Crew Research Poster Award (Poster) - Named in honor of B. Keith Crew who taught at the University of Northern Iowa from 1985 to 2019, serving as department head for ten years. Dr. Crew was also an active member of the Iowa Sociological Association and served as President of the ISA in 1991-1992, and again in 2002-2003.
Outstanding Project Award -