Awards
Awards:
The Erika Woodleif Student Leadership award:
Erika Woodleif was a senior at Meredith College in 1997, majoring in Sociology and planning to be a K-6 elementary teacher. She was a funny, warm and enthusiastic young woman who was excited about her future and about the field of sociology. Erika was a resident assistant for 3 years and she was a member of the Silver Shield Honor society. She had just begun interning in the Fall of 1997 at Wake County Juvenile Court where she was well liked and respected. In November 1997, Erika died in a tragic car accident. Vice President Murphy Osborne (at the time) stated that "the life of a very important person will be remembered as long as Meredith College exists."
In fond memory of this wonderful young woman, the Erika Woodleif Social Leadership award was established in the Sociology program. This award is given annually to a senior majoring in sociology who best exemplfies the character traits of Erika. The student should show enthusiasm for the field of sociology and encourage her fellow sociology students while in the program.
Erika Woodleif Student Leadership Award, 2011: Lindsey Cox
"My name is Lindsey Cox and I am a senior at Meredith majoring in Sociology with a minor in Crime and Justice. When I first came to Meredith I wanted to pursue a degree in Biology and become a Medical Scientist to cure cancer and AIDS. About two week
s into Bio-101 I decided that wasn’t for me. I then wanted to be a pastry chef, but quickly realized I was not patient enough for that. After that I bounced around from Psychology to Political Science to Social Work. While trying to decide on a major I found myself taking as many sociology classes as possible. I loved every single sociology class I’d taken. From Human Sexuality to Color of Crime, I just couldn’t get enough. I finally decided to declare my major in Sociology.
For my internship I was lucky enough to join the psychology staff at Western Youth Institution and Foothills Correctional Institution in Morganton, NC. That’s right; I spent my summer in prison. Each day I sat across from unrestrained inmates and listened to them talk about any problems they were experiencing in prison. Through this experience I was able to see firsthand the flaws in our criminal justice system. Because of my Crime and Justice Minor I was aware that our system was not perfect, but meeting these inmates and hearing their stories made me realize how corrupt the system really is .
After graduation I hope to attend law school. I plan to be a criminal defense attorney specializing in juveniles who are being tried as adults. I hope to help these young men receive fair trials with fair sentencing. My professors have taught me much more than just Social Theory and Research Methods. They have given me the tools I need to succeed in anything I do. I have learned how important it is to stand up and fight for what you believe in. I’ve always had a somewhat unrealistic dream to change world. I feel that the knowledge and understanding of society and human nature that I have gained from my professors has put me on the right path to fulfilling my dream."
Recent past winners were: Shameka Lane (2010), Nichole Eury & Cha'veya Watkins (2009), Amanda Mills (2008), Jerethia 'Recey' Blake (2007), Courtney Price (2006), Telecia Hartsfield (2005), and Randi Byrd (2004)
The Dr. Rhonda Zingraff Academic Excellence in Sociology/Criminology award:
The Dr. Rhonda Zingraff Academic Excellence in Sociology and/or Criminology Award was established in the name of a faculty member who taught for over 20 years in the program. She was famous among students and alumni for her rigorous Social Theory and Criminology courses.
This award is given to an exceptional senior majoring in Sociology or Criminiology who has a GPA of at least 3.5 and has shown evidence of her personal intergrity while a student at Meredith College. This award is not necessarily given annually.
The Zingraff Academic Excellence Award 2011: Hilary Towle. 
"I am a senior Sociology major and a Women’s Studies and Crime and Justice minor. Around campus I am involved as the president of the Sociology/Criminology Club as well as involved in the Sophie Lanneau Leadership Development program. After graduating in May I hope to take the steps necessary to pursue a career in advancing and improving the education of women worldwide so that their lives may also improve in result. This may take shape in the form of going into public policy work or international human rights law—I haven’t yet decided the exact path I want to take. Right now I am trying to find a job to gain some experience in the field before heading to graduate school. My Sociology major coursework has helped me learn so much about the world we live in and the social interactions that take place on a daily basis. Everything we do is sociology and that’s what makes it so interesting! Several of the classes I have taken for my major as well as my women’s studies minor have helped me form the decisions I have made about my future life’s work."
Last Recipient: Robin Gary (2008)
