ABS Awards and Student Paper Competition. ABS annually presents professional achievement awards and holds a student paper competition.

Awards. ABS offers three professional achievement awards. Awardees will be acknowledged during presentation at the Association of Black Sociologists' Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, July 29-August 2, 2008. See our list of past awardees.



Nominations Sought for the
JOSEPH HIMES AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Annually, the ABS gives an award to a sociologist for his or her career of outstanding scholarship.  The purpose of the Joseph Himes Award for a Career of Distinguished Scholarship is to honor members of ABS who have worked over a lifetime career to achieve two goals: (1) to enhance the status of theory and research specifically related to the social condition of African-Americans broadly in the context of a framework of sociological construction and (2) to recognize the contribution of the individual to the support and growth of the Association for Black Sociologists as an institution and an activist network of scholars and academicians.  The individual should build on a rich history of African-American scholarship and, at the same time, have distinguished him- or herself as a unique contributor to some aspect of African-American social organization and structure.

Requirements for Submission of Nominees: A nomination letter for a candidate should be submitted by one member of ABS, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae of the nominee and at least one additional supporting letter from a peer familiar with the nominee's work.  A detailed nomination letter should outline the achievements of the individual.  As this is an award for scholarly achievement, the nomination and supporting evidence should be scholarly and  include research, publications and other awards or evidence of academic merit, visiting  professorships, fellowships, service on important study commissions, and the like.  Materials should be received no later than April 1, 2008, for consideration for the August 2008 award.
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Nominations Sought for the
A. WADE SMITH AWARD FOR TEACHING, MENTORSHIP, AND  SERVICE

ABS is seeking nominations for the A. Wade Smith Award for Teaching, Mentorship, and Service, established in 1998. Named in honor of A. Wade Smith, Ph.D., the award recognizes an ABS member for outstanding teaching, mentoring, and service. The A. Wade Smith Award was initiated to honor our beloved colleague and outstanding contributor to the sociology profession and to Black social thought, A. Wade Smith.  The award recognizes the special and often unrecognized excellent performance in teaching and mentorship.  It particularly targets members who have been dedicated and innovative teachers and those who have nurtured future scholars in the field.  The award further  acknowledges the crucial role played by many outstanding teachers in bringing young African-American scholars into the trying and difficult world of academic achievement.  Often lacking unavailable appropriate mentors and guides for their scholarship en route to undergraduate, graduate, and, particularly, Ph.D. degrees, unique dedicated individuals provide unusual support where there are few real rewards.  This award recognizes this important, and invaluable, role and those who perform it  well and with pride.

Requirements for Submission of Nominees: A nomination letter for a candidate should be submitted by one member of ABS, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae of the nominee and at least two additional supporting letters, with any other testimonials or demonstrations of achievement.  One of these letters should be from a peer or colleague and at least one from a former student able to testify in detail the nature of the support and how it has helped further his or her career.  Materials should be received no later than April 1, 2008, for consideration for the August 2008 award.
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Nominations Sought for the
JAMES E. BLACKWELL FOUNDERS AWARD

The James E. Blackwell Founders Award of the Association of Black Sociologists was established in 2002 with Dr. Blackwell as the initial recipient.  This award will be given annually by the President of ABS to individuals in recognition of exemplary service to the organization, lifetime achievement, and sustained contributions for 20 or more years to scholarship, teaching, and professional service.

Requirements for Submission of Nominees:  A nomination letter for a candidate should be submitted by one member of ABS, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae of the nominee and one additional letter of support from a peer familiar with the nominee's service to the organization, achievements and contributions over the 20-25 year period to scholarship, teaching, and professional service.  Materials should be received no later than April 1, 2008, for consideration for the August 2008 award.
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Please submit all nominations
(hard copy only, no e-mails or faxes of original material) to:

Dr. Earl Wright II
Chair & Associate Professor
Department of Sociology
Texas Southern University
Houston, TX 77004

For additional information:

Dr. Earl Wright II
Awards Committee Chair
wrighte@tsu.edu

NOTE: Please specify for which award the nomination is being made.

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Student Paper Competition

CALL FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENT PAPERS

Undergraduate

Deadline: May 1, 2008

Cash awards for the top three papers submitted by undergraduate students of Sociology (must be members of ABS). Papers must not be under consideration for publication at the time of submission. Student winners will present their papers at a conference session and attend an award presentation at the Association of Black Sociologists' Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, July 29-August 2, 2008.

Papers must be no more than 20 pages in length (including references). Electronic submissions are encouraged. They must be Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, or PDF documents that include a cover page (with author contact information) and all references, tables, and figures. Please send electronic submissions to studentpaper@blacksociologists.org.
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Graduate

Deadline: May 1, 2008

Cash awards for the top three papers submitted by graduate students of Sociology (must be members of ABS). Papers must not be under consideration for publication at the time of submission. Student winners will present their papers at a conference session and attend an award presentation at the Association of Black Sociologists' Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, July 29-August 2, 2008.

Papers must be no more than 30 pages in length (including references). Electronic submissions are strongly encouraged. They must be Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, or PDF documents that include a cover page (with author contact information) and all references, tables, and figures. Please send electronic submissions to studentpaper@blacksociologists.org.
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For additional information:

Dr. Korie L. Edwards
Student Paper Committee Chair
kle@sociology.osu.edu