Commencement Awards

The John Jay College Committee on Undergraduate Honors, Prizes and Awards grants the Distinguished Service Awards each year to five graduating seniors who have made significant contributions of service to the College. To be eligible for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less) and personal statement (300 words or less). In your personal statement, please discuss:

• How the John Jay community has benefited from your service to the College
• How you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent
• Your academic achievements
• Your continuing educational goals and career aspirations

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This award is given to three distinguished graduate students who have triumphed over extreme adversity in the pursuit of their education. Students who may have experienced such adversity as homelessness, drug addiction, physical or mental abuse, severe medical conditions, and/or are single parents are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less), personal statement (300 words or less) and essay (300 words or less). In your essay, please discuss:

• What inspired you to overcome your obstacles to achieve your degree?
• What would you say to someone who may be experiencing extreme hardship while pursuing his or her education?
• What are your academic achievements?
• What are your continuing educational goals and career aspirations?

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This award is given to two graduate students who have taken tremendous initiative to help other graduate students through tutoring, professional development, and leadership development within the College Community. Students who have been very involved in student organizations or committees, facilitated workshops or study groups geared towards the development of graduate students are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less), personal statement (300 words or less) and essay (300 words or less). In your essay, please discuss:

• How has the graduate student population benefited from your College service?
• What important lessons did you learn while volunteering your time and talents?
• What are your academic achievements?
• What are your continuing educational goals and career aspirations?

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This award is given to a graduate student who has made significant contributions of service to the College community.

To be eligible for this award, a graduate student must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less) and personal statement (300 words or less). In your personal statement, please discuss:

• How the John Jay community has benefited from your service to the College
• How you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent
• Your academic achievements
• Your continuing educational goals and career aspirations

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This monetary award and plaque is given to a graduate student who has made a considerable impact on the John Jay College community during his/her service or after being honorably discharged from the military. To be eligible for this award, you must be in good academic standing (including no findings of misconduct or academic integrity violations and no stops on your record).

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less), personal statement (300 words or less) and essay (300 words or less). In your essay, please discuss:

• Your military to civilian transition to John Jay College?

• How have you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent?

• What are your continuing educational goals and career aspirations?

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This award was established in memory of Dr. Howard Mann, scholar, counselor, educator, humanitarian, associate professor and dean of students (1971–79). The award is presented to a graduating senior who unselfishly and voluntarily has worked for the welfare of others. The Committee on Undergraduate Honors, Prizes and Awards selects the award winner. To be eligible for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less) and personal statement (300 words or less). In your personal statement, please discuss:

• How the John Jay community has benefited from your service to the College
• How you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent
• Your academic achievements
• Your continuing educational goals and career aspirations

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This medal was established in honor of the first president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. It is awarded to an outstanding member of the senior class for distinguished scholarship and exceptional service to the College.

To be eligible for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less) and personal statement (300 words or less). In your personal statement, please discuss:

• How the John Jay community has benefited from your service to the College
• How you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent
• Your academic achievements
• Your continuing educational goals and career aspirations

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

The Scholarship and Service Award is given annually by John Jay College to a graduating senior who has demonstrated scholarship and outstanding service to the College.

To be eligible for this award, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less) and personal statement (300 words or less). In your personal statement, please discuss:

• How the John Jay community has benefited from your service to the College
• How you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent
• Your academic achievements
• Your continuing educational goals and career aspirations

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This monetary award and plaque is given to an undergraduate student who has made a considerable impact on the John Jay College community during his/her service or after being honorably discharged from the military. To be eligible for this award, you must be in good academic standing (including no findings of misconduct or academic integrity violations and no stops on your record).

To apply, you must complete the Commencement Awards Application Form which includes an autobiographical statement (200 words or less), personal statement (300 words or less) and essay (300 words or less). In your essay, please discuss:

• Your military to civilian transition to John Jay College?

• How have you personally benefited from volunteering your time and talent?

• What are your continuing educational goals and career aspirations?

Two letters of recommendation are also required.

This award was established in memory of Professor Albert Elias by his family and the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration. An expert in correctional studies, Professor Elias pioneered guided group interaction as an intervention to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents. The award is presented to the graduating correction officer with the highest cumulative GPA.

The Department of Sociology established this award in honor of Professor Emeritus Alex Smith, one of the founders of the College. The award is given to a graduating senior with the highest GPA in the criminology major. The Office of the Registrar identifies award candidates and the faculty of the Department of Sociology selects the award winner.

This award was established by Associate Registrar Emerita Jennie Gisses in memory of her sister Anne. It is given to a graduating senior who has made marked progress in English as a second language. The director of the Center for English Language Support selects the award winner.

This award is given to a promising senior in Forensic Psychology or Criminal Justice, who has a strong research interest and plans to attend graduate school.

The Department of Psychology established this award in memory of Bernard Locke, professor of psychology and former dean of students. This award is presented to a graduating senior selected by a faculty committee of the Department of Psychology for outstanding achievement in psychology.

The Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration, the Wagner family, and the Order of Christian Brothers established this award in memory of Brother Robert Wagner, Christian Brother, professor, and advocate for the rehabilitation of adolescent offenders. The award is given to the graduating senior with the highest GPA in the correctional studies major. The Registrar's Office identifies candidates and the faculty of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration selects the award winner.

Established by the late Jennie Gisses in honor of her brother, this award is given to the Master of Public Administration graduate with the highest GPA.

Established in memory of Claude Hawley, the first Vice President of John Jay, this award is given to the student with the best master's thesis and/or scholastic distinction in the graduate program.

Upon graduation, one award is given to a CUNY/BA and one to a CUNY/BS student with the highest GPA.

Established in memory of John Jay College's second President and his wife Leah, this award is given to the graduating senior with the highest GPA in the Criminal Justice or Legal Studies major. Dr. and Mrs. Riddle believed strongly in the importance of critical and analytical course content for law enforcement officers. After succeeding the College's first President, Dr. Riddle introduced courses in languages and the humanities to the curriculum.

This award, established by Professor Emeritus Haig Bohigian to honor the memory of his parents, recognizes the graduating senior who has best demonstrated excellence and originality in Operations Research.

The Department of Psychology established this award in 1999 in memory of Elaine Noel, who served as the Psychology Department secretary from 1980 to 1996. The award is given to the forensic psychology student with an excellent record in psychology who has made a special contribution to the John Jay College community.

This Award Is Presented To A Graduating Senior Majoring In Law And Society Who Most Demonstrates Academic Excellence In The Major.

Established By Professor Jane Katz In Memory Of Her Husband Herbert L. Erlanger, This Award Is Given To A Graduating Senior Who Has Been A Member Of A John Jay Varsity Team And Has Demonstrated Wellness In Lifestyle, Sportsmanship And Team Spirit, Outstanding Individual Sports Achievement, And A Commitment To Public Service.

This Award Is Given To A Graduating Senior In The Global History Major With The Best Senior Paper And The Highest Gpa In Major Classes

This Award Is Given To The Graduating Senior Whose Prospectus And Senior Thesis Represent The Highest Standards Of Research In The Study Of Justice As A Humanistic Discipline.

Established by the faculty and alumni of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, this award is presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated not only academic excellence but also the ability to integrate the department's various disciplines into some common understanding of the human condition. The faculty and alumni of the department select the winner.

This Award is Given to Graduating Students in the International Crime and Justice Master of Arts Program Who Have The Highest Cumulative GPA.

This Award Is Given To Two Graduating Seniors In The International Criminal Justice Major Who Have The Highest Cumulative GPA.

The Department of Sciences established this award in memory of Jerome Metzner, professor of biology. This award is given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated academic excellence in the forensic science major. The faculty of the Department of Sciences selects the annual winner.

The Department of Sciences established this award in memory of Jerome Metzner, professor of biology. This award is given to a student for superior academic performance in the Master of Science in Forensic Science Program.

This award was established by Dr. Liliana Soto-Fernandez and Dr. Catherine Rovira of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. It is given to a graduating senior with a minor in Spanish who holds the highest GPA.

Established by Professor Emeritus of Economics Lawrence J. Kaplan, the award is presented to a graduating senior who has shown excellence in the study of the humanities. Winners are nominated and selected by faculty members, with the participation of Professor Kaplan.

This Award, Established By Professor Marny Tabb (2011), Is Given To An Exemplary Graduating Senior In Recognition Of Outstanding Academic Achievement And Leadership In The English Program.

The Department of Government established this award in memory of Professor Petra Shattuck, whose most significant work centered on the civil rights of Native Americans. The award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated academic excellence and distinction in the government major. The faculty of the Department of Political Science selects the winner.

This award was established by Associate Registrar Emerita Jennie Gisses in memory of her husband. It is given to the graduating senior who either is a member of the New York City Fire Department or has the highest GPA in the fire science major. The faculty of the Department of Security, Fire, and Emergency Management selects the award winner.

The Richard Henry Hommel Award was established by alumnus Richard W. Hommel in memory of his son. The award is given to a graduating senior who has made an outstanding contribution to theatrical performances at the College. The faculty of the Department of Speech, Theatre and Media Studies selects the award winner.

The Department of Psychology established this award in memory of Professor Robert S. Morrow, the first coordinator of the master of Arts in Forensic Psychology Program. The award is given to one or more graduating seniors, who have demonstrated academic excellence in the forensic psychology major. The faculty of the Department of Psychology selects the award winner.

This prize was established by Charles S. Lefkowitz in honor of his wife, Professor Emerita Ruth S. Lefkowitz, former chairperson of the Department of Mathematics. The award is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding academic performance in the computer information systems major. The faculty of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science selects the award winner from nominees with the highest GPAs in the computer information systems major.

This award is given to a graduating senior with academic honors who has played on a varsity team for at least two years.