CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Beth B. Hess Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a continuing graduate student who began her or his study in a community college or technical school. A student in an accredited PhD program in sociology in the United States is eligible to apply if she or he studied for at least one full academic year at a two-year college in the US before transferring to complete a BA.

The Scholarship carries a stipend of $3500 from Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) to be used to support the pursuit of graduate studies as well as a one-year membership in SWS (including a subscription to Gender & Society). The Scholarship will be awarded at the Summer Meeting of SWS. Recognizing Beth Hess’s significant contributions to SSSP and ASA as well, these organizations join SWS in supporting and celebrating the awardee at their Annual Meetings, August 8-11, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. The awardee’s economy class airfare, train fare or driving mileage/tolls will be paid jointly by SSSP and SWS; ASA also supports applicants for this award via their student travel award program (more than one such award may be given, but students must apply to ASA separately). Each association will also waive its meeting registration and provide complementary banquet and/or reception tickets for the awardee. 


CRITERIA

To honor Beth Hess’s career, the committee will be looking for:

• Commitment to teaching, especially at a community college or other institution serving less-privileged students.
• Research and/or activism in social inequality, social justice, or social problems, with a focus on gender and/or gerontology being especially positive.
• Service to the academic and/or local community, including mentoring.
• High quality research and writing in the proposal and letter of application. 


NOMINATION GUIDELINES

An application for the award should contain:

1. A letter of application (no more than 2 pages) that describes the student's decision to study sociology, career goals, research, activism and service that would help the committee to see how the Scholarship would be a fitting honor

2. A letter confirming enrollment in a sociology Ph.D. program (and aid award if any)

3. A letter of recommendation from a sociologist (original and five copies in a sealed envelope, signed on the seal)

4. Full curriculum vitae, including all schools, degrees awarded, years of study, and full or part-time status in each

5. (Optional) a one-page letter describing a community college faculty member who particularly contributed in a significant way to the decision to study sociology or pursue higher education

6. A cover sheet with:

• Name and full contact information, including phone and email
• Current academic or organizational affiliation, with years
• If not currently enrolled, future Ph.D. program and date of entry
• Community college attended, with years and credits taken OR transcript
• Name and contact information for graduate faculty reference
• If included, name of honored faculty member  

 


NOMINATION PROCEDURES

Six complete copies of the application should be submitted to:

Prof. Myra Marx Ferree
Department of Sociology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1180 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

To be considered applications must be postmarked no later than March 30, 2009
For further information contact Myra Marx Ferree at