Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) recipient essays

Samantha Lee Peterson

Samantha Peterson is pursuing a dual degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She took Sociology classes throughout high school and always found herself looking forward to going to class and leaving with a new perspective. “I have always enjoyed thinking deeper than the surface and learning from people of all different backgrounds.” She notes that her favorite Sociology professors are known for their passion and knowledge of the field, which makes it easy to look forward to going to classes and cultivate mentors by taking multiple from the same instructors. She notes that her favorite professor “has always been prepared, helpful, and I hope she knows that all the little things did not go unnoticed.”

Martha G. Baldaras

Martha was already in college when she first heard about Sociology: “I really like it, learning about how people behave and interact with each other, the differences between cultures, our commonalities as human beings throughout history, is very interesting.”  One of her favorite courses was actually an out-of-classroom experience: Sociology 398, Study Abroad: Sociology of Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, co-taught by several faculty members whose unique teaching styles complemented each other: “I learned a lot.”

Ryan Salvatori

Ryan originally planned to major in Psychology major, because he was interested in the way the brain works in mental illness, perception, emotion, relationships. :”I was interested in the things we can’t see that can drive our behavior and the closest thing I could come up with that I understood (on a basic level) was psychology.”  After meeting a Sociology faculty member, Ryan’s interests shifted towards how social networks and social status affect behaviors. So he added Sociology as a second major and has since been involved in lab-based sociological research. After graduation in December 2019, Ryan hopes to earn a graduate degree in either sociology or clinical psychology.  Ryan particularly enjoys the training we provide in theory and the “capstone” senior seminar, which he finds “really push critical thinking and understanding systems underlying all of the social world” in ways that prepare him well for graduate school and for work.…  

Lillian Butler-Hale

Lillian Butler-Hale is a Pre-Law student studying Sociology, Spanish, and Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. Sociology initially caught her attention because she is interested in research and how people interact with each other on the societal level. Pursuing a law career with a background in sociology has allowed her to interpret how the law affects certain demographics differently and also apply empirical research to her studies. Lillian's favorite class so far has been the theory course because it dealt with key concepts and explanations that she found “both fascinating and applicable to current events.” Lillian notes that she initially chose her (now) favorite courses purely based on the motivation to fulfill the major requirement -- but soon these classes “became the best part of the week.”

Josey Denise VanOrsdale

Josey is a graduate research assistant with interests in bio sociology and health, as well as both quantitative and computational methods.  Josey’s credits one of her undergraduate professors, a medical sociologist, for sparking her initial interest in these substantive topics, especially computational social science approaches to health outcomes.  Josey’s current research contributes to the ongoing project on Injection Risk Networks in Rural Puerto Rico (Dr. Kirk Dombrowski, P.I.). Josey’s prior research experiences also dealt with employment-related health disparities as well as the impact of the e Great Recession has shaped the relationship between education and health.

Beza Meheret Bekele

I am a senior undergraduate research assistant majoring in Psychology and double minoring in Humanities in Medicine and Sociology. Her research assistantship with the Minority Health Disparities Initiative on the Health Voice Vision project revolved around mental health disparities and service utilization among refugees and immigrants in Rural Nebraska. She initially chose an introductory Sociology class purely by chance – and it turned into “one of the unexpected classes that I took that resonated with various experiences I had encountered but never realized the impact.” Beza appreciated that multiple courses directly engaged issues of race, inequity and social injustices that played into our notions of health (or lack thereof). She felt challenged by instructors to develop her nascent interest in mental and physical health.

Brigitta Diane Bogue

Brigitta chose Sociology as her emphasis within an Environmental Studies major because she would like to pursue a career in Environmental Justice, either through law or non-profit work. One of her favorite courses at Nebraska was, at face value, not directly related to her interest – it dealt with what Sociologists call “intersectionality” -- Race, Class, and Gender:. “This course helped me understand the interconnections and multiplicative effects [on social inequalities]… I had learned about in other Sociology courses.”Beza’s instructor is now also her thesis advisor, for which Besa is examining environmental justice issues related to migrant farmworker rights.

Claire Rene Bartels

Claire was first introduced of Sociology through her older sister, also a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who minored in Sociology and would often describe the interesting information she was learning. As a double major, Clair found that “Sociology has also paired incredibly well with my Global Studies major as it has given me the tools to look at not only my society, but those across the world.” She valued in particular that her professors “challenged and stimulated me intellectually” and enabled Claire to make connections with other areas of interest —such as Latin American Studies. “I am forever thankful for it.”  

Daniel John Krueger 

Daniel chose Sociology as a second major in light of his goal to pursue a career as Advocate for Native Americans. Understanding the history of how Native Americans were treated and how that relates to the situation found today on many Reservations will utilize many of the skills that Sociologists use.

One of his favorite Sociology class has been Environmental Sociology, where he appreciated learning about “how humanity interacts with the natural environment and the impact we have on nature. This is especially relevant to Native Americans as there are many mines, wells and other contaminating activities that take place on or near Native lands.” 

Grace M. Kelly

Grace chose Sociology because early on in her undergraduate career taking a Sociology course changed the way she viewed the world. “Growing up in a religious … household in an overwhelmingly white, small town” had taught her one way to understand the world. Sociology was the vehicle through which she began looking at the worn through a prism. She fondly remembers her favorite Sociology teacher for her “energy, spirited and no-nonsense way of teaching” that made “learning accessible and engrossing to every student.” Grace, who is earning a PhD in Sociology and hopes to work in an academic setting, says “ I hope to emulate [this style] in my future teaching.”

Jade Kaur  Virdi

Jade admits she had “little idea what I wanted to do” when she arrived at Nebraska.  However, as a freshman, the class that “hooked” was a 200-level course in Sociology of Family. She found the combination of having a” joyful passionate teacher [who] made learning a breeze” and difficult-to-discuss topics irresistible: “The class changed the way I saw people and the way I interacted; best of all I got the opportunity to be introspective. I learned just as much about myself as I did about the content of the class. Jade is now pursuing a major in Human Development and Family Sciences and minors in Sociology, Education and Psychology.

Lauren Bruning

Lauren was still a high-school senior when she started taking college-level courses at Nebraska, which “sparked a love for Sociology. As a senior, she valued the “capstone” seminar, for which she conducted a research project on political party affiliation and religion: “It was the perfect way to bring together all of my interests.” Sociology was different – I was not just fed information to memorize but taught to think differently and I learned why. I learned why humans form the social relationships they do and why institutions are built.  The patterns and applicability to everyday life fascinated me.

Lauren is also a member of Alpha Kappa Delta and has served as President of the Order of Omega Honor Society, the Selections Chair for Mortar Board Honor Society, a mentor and recitation leader for the university's Honors Program, and she served in student government (ASUN). “Scholarship is and has always been important to me, but I didn’t realize I was a good leader until I started studying Sociology.”

Sylvie Zozaya

Sylvie chose Sociology she has “always been highly interested in the way people interact with one another and why.” Though she did not discover Sociology until her Junior year, she “ended up falling in love with the topic and adding it as a minor just a few classes” – a completely feasible strategy given the flexible parameters of the program. She has found her instructors to be “passionate and knowledgeable. They made things relatable with real life examples and always kept the topic interesting this was an excellent path and choice for me!”       

Morgann Pospisil

Morgann chose Sociology because of her interests in pursuing a career serving families and children. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science, sheplans on earning a graduate degree in Counseling. Morgann has found the training in Sociology “gave me insight on some of the problems I might face in my future career, and how to solve them. One of the assignments … was an application project, in which the students had to apply [assigned] material from the course to real-world examples... This was one of my favorite assignments I had done in a course because it allowed me to be creative.”

Olivia Stafursky

Olivia took her first Sociology course in high school: “I thought it was so fascinating to be able to look at different parts of society and be able to break down and really figure out why people are the way they are and why they interact the way they do…. Studying Sociology has been a really cool experience, and Nebraska offers so many amazing Sociology courses.” Olivia singles out a course in Environmental Sociology for giving her” a deeper understanding of the social causes of environmental problems, as well as how society impacts the policy created to help solve these problems.” She experienced taking courses in Sociology and Political Science as a perfect complement. 

Angelica Phillips

Angelica decided to join Sociology because she saw it as an opportunity to study everything she cares about. Within one singular field, she is able to study topics as wide-ranging as survey design, complex statistical methodologies, gender, and networks. “I saw a future in sociology as a way for me to research my many interests without the kinds of limitations that can sometimes be present in other academic fields.”  With the mentorship of two incredible Nebraska sociology researchers, she feels more prepared for a successful future in sociology. “I’ve learned so much from them in the short time that I’ve been in the graduate program and I am excited to learn more in the future! “

Sydney Nicole Paulak

Sydney took a sociology course her freshman year as a general requirement, but soon added it as her second major. “It paired well with my other majors and led to my career interests in community development and economic equality. Sociology has taught me about a wide range of social issues, as well as skills in empirical research and analysis.”  

Her favorite sociology class was Social Problems. “Even though it is mostly an introductory course, I learned about a wide range of issues that helped me figure out my own interests and concentrations within the field.”

Tiffany Marie Mick

Tiffany chose Sociology because she finds the interaction of people in society extremely interesting. “The way in which our society is developing so quickly changes the way we interact within it and with each other and I want to know why and how that works. “

Her favorite Sociology class was Sociology of Crime. “This was my favorite class because it incorporated two of my favorite topics, sociology and criminology. This class taught me how one society may see a crime or crimes in one way and how another may see that same crime or crimes in a completely different manner. I learned you have to look at the totality of circumstances.”

Andrea Klug Johnson

Andrea could say that she chose Sociology, but it chose her. After graduating from college with a degree in Business, she realized it was not quite the right fit. She then applied for an AmeriCorps program, and worked with students in low-income areas. That opportunity helped her realized greater forces were at play than just the individuals she worked with. “Political, economic, gender, racial and class forces all played a role, and I was interested in diving deeper into understanding these greater forces, and to see how I could help make positive changes in the communities I was working in.“

After entering Nebraska’s sociology graduate program, she took a Gender and Sociology class. “The content of the class opened my eyes to gender inequalities. It also sparked a true passion for Sociology, a field I was very new to, academically. The instructor had high expectations, but Andrea felt she gave the class all the tools they needed to succeed. “I learned a great deal, and still use that class as a way to frame my sociological philosophy. I also have made Gender one of my concentrations of study… the gender class not only introduced me to sociology as a field, but helped me see how I fit academically in Sociology and how I can use gender to contribute to the field.”

Maizie Alexa Humm

Maizie chose sociology because she is passionate about improving the health and wellness of communities and society. “I am interested in creating and maintaining a balance between physical health, mental health, and environmental health in my community and beyond. Sociology helped me realize my passion for public health and achieving health equity through analyzing the influence of social structure.” She feels that Sociology perfectly aligns with her community health and wellness major and bridges the gap between her major and minor. “I am very interested in correcting the structural barriers that prevent people from living a happy and healthy life. I am passionate about public health and I couldn’t image a better combination of majors than Sociology and Community Health & Wellness.”

Her favorite sociology class that she have taken so far was Environmental Sociology (SOCI346) because it made connections between her sociology major and her environmental studies minor. “I learned about the structural barriers that prevent people from engaging in environmentally-friendly behaviors and living a sustainable life. If people do not have their basic needs met they will not even begin to consider acting in an environmentally-friendly manner. This really changed my perspective in regards to the connection between health and engaging in pro-environmental behavior. This class really helped me make connections between both my majors (Sociology and Community Health & Wellness) and my minor (Environmental Studies) as well. After taking Environmental Sociology, I felt sure that my choice of majors and minor were a perfect fit for me and my future career. “

Kamryn L Sannicks

Kamryn chose sociology as because she was looking for a way to understand the world that she lives in and how she can make a difference. “Since the introductory course, I have not been let down in this desire. I have continued to learn new ways to understand research and conduct my own.”

The most influential course she took was SOCI 481- Minority Groups.  In that class, the instructor kept the class engaged to talk about the articles they read for class and relate them to the world as they experience it. “I also appreciated the fact that he made me feel like I could personally succeed outside of the classroom. My favorite thing about the way that (the professor) would teach was that he would include everyone in the conversation.”

Sara Anne Benes

Sara chose to study Sociology from the start of her college career because she was interested in learning more about people and society on an individual basis.” I get a lot out of discussions on social trends, human behavior, and how our actions affect the general population. Digging into my Sociology courses has taught me just how much one person can impact another person’s life and how to use that knowledge to help others. “

Ashley Suzanne Prososki

Ashley chose Sociology as one of her minors because she has always been interested in understanding how society can influence the actions of an individual. “One of my all-time favorite sociology classes has been Human Sexuality. I think one of the reasons why I chose the class was because it sounded interesting but I loved it because of the professor I had. She had such a care-free attitude and she made the less comfortable topics easy to talk about. She had a love for what she did and it really showed in her class.”

Jesse Clayton Esquivel

Jesse Esquivel is a junior at the University of Nebraska and is studying advertising and public relations with a minor in sociology. His reason for choosing sociology as a minor goes back to his family roots. “I was born right here in Lincoln, Ne, but my families roots are far from that. My father’s family directly originates from Costa Rica and goes back further in Mexico. My mother is Jewish and her family’s roots come from Poland. Suffice to say, I came from a diverse background with rich tradition and history. My parents have always taught me acceptance of others and to embrace art and culture from all over the world no matter the ethnicity, race, region, or religion. I hope to take my lessons from my sociology minor into my career in advertising in better relating to people and better understand them”

Nestor Hernandez

Nestor chose Sociology because of the different areas such as health, race, or policy to learn about. “With sociology, you can help people through research. My favorite class was Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 101). I chose that class out of pure curiosity, and it changed my entire academic career. I was taught new perspectives on the discipline of sociology, and what you can do it in the future. The instructor helped by recognizing my interest in research and talking to me about it, as well as being an excellent instructor. After the instructor’s mentorship, I have studied various different aspects of sociology, and how we can use data to inform and educate. After SOCI 101 I could tell that sociology instructors truly care about their students.”

Madison Louise Woodward

Madison chose Sociology because she enjoys learning about the structure and functions of society. “I want to have a better understanding of how the social world influences myself and others. My favorite sociology class is the Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. This was one of the first sociology classes I took and it motivated me to change my major to Sociology. It provided me with new ways to look at what was going on in my own life, as well what was happening around me.”

Jackson Denis Belva

Jackson chose sociology because he was interested in gaining a fuller understanding of how people interact with each other and what makes people who they are.” My interests began early in my life when I learned about the fields of criminal behavior and initially I wanted to pursue this area of sociology. On my arrival to college, however, I realized that I didn’t have an interest in putting people behind bars. Rather I decided to understand what separates people from each other in their own societies. I wanted to understand why some people are placed higher on a social scale simply because of their race, gender, or other identity category. The knowledge I've gained through sociology has given me tremendous power in observing the society around me and has allowed me to better inform others about how the way they live impacts others around them. Sociology has also given me skills in political science. Knowledge about various groups of people living together under one identity has given me a new vision of what America is and what it can be.”

Grecia Ivanka Macias

Gracia chose to study Sociology as a way to provide context to the information she was learning in her biology classes. “Doing so has allowed me to study health inequity in different populations. My favorite Sociology class was Sociology of Race and Ethnicity because it provided me with the vocabulary I needed to describe and think critically about situations my community and family have faced as marginalized groups.”          

Vanessa Woosley

Vanessa chose to major in Sociology because she loves to learn about why people do certain things and how they are influenced by the world around them. “I also wanted a major that challenged me and was genuinely interesting to me. Sociology checks all of those boxes and more. I think Sociology helps me examine society and social interaction with a unique perspective and will ultimately help me when one day I own and run my own Chiropractic office.”

Her favorite sociology course has been Health, Medicine, and Society.” It gave me some social understanding of the field I hope to enter upon graduation. It was a great introduction into the world of Medical Sociology.