Social Welfare and Justice Jane Addams Award

Jane Addams

Jane Addams was responsible for co-founding one of the largest and most influential settlement houses in the United States, the Hull House.  Addams’ advocacy for the poor and marginalized transcended the inner-city Chicago neighborhood where the Hull House was located; Addams was among the leaders of the Progressive movement and is widely recognized as responsible for introducing the tenets of social justice and reform to the field of social work. Later in life, Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong contributions to the social work field.

Apply

  • For information about applying, please contact Dr. Louise Cainkar.
  • Application Deadline: April 11, 2023

Selection Criteria

The prestigious Jane Addams Award is offered each year to one outstanding senior who has excelled in the areas of academics, service, and leadership. This award is competitive and is bestowed upon the one graduating senior who has acquired at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, demonstrates leadership qualities, and has dedicated significant time and effort to service of the University and community. The recipient of the Jane Addams Award will be honored during the Commencement Ceremony and associated media announcements, including all-university commencement programs, the college's graduation webpage, and college social media accounts.

Selection Criteria

To be minimally qualified, the nominee must meet these standards:

  • Be a graduating senior at the time of the award
  • The nominee must be a Social Welfare and Justice major (double majors are also eligible)
  • The nominee must have a cumulative QPA of at least 3.5

Additional Criteria

In judging the nominees, the Committee will take into consideration the following factors:

  • Academic record
  • University service
  • Leadership
  • Community service
  • References

Past Awardees

2022
Katie Ruszkowski
2021
Sarah Lipo
2020
Anusha Das
2019
Claire Keyes
2018
Jessica Szuminski

Additional Information