To be eligible for graduation awards, students must complete at least 56 credits at John Jay College (52 credits for those who entered the college with an associate degree) with a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Note: some awards require a higher grade point average. Awards that support graduate studies must be used beginning no later than the fall semester of the fourth academic year following graduation.
Albert Elias Memorial Award
Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration
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 grade point average.
Alex Smith Award for Excellence in Criminology
Department of Sociology
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 grade point average in the Criminology major. The Office of the Registrar identifies award candidates and the faculty of the Department of Sociology selects the award winner.
Alexander Joseph Memorial Award
Department of Sciences
In honor of Alexander Joseph, the first Chairman of the Science Department, this award is granted to a graduating senior who has the highest GPA in Forensic Science with plans to attend graduate school.
Arthur and Elaine Niederhoffer Undergraduate Prize
This award is given to a promising senior in the Forensic Psychology or Criminal Justice major, who has a strong research interest and plans to attend graduate school.
Bernard Locke Award
Department of Psychology
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.
Brother Wagner Award
Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration
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 minor. The Registrar's Office identifies candidates and the faculty of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration selects the award winner.
CUNY BA/BS Distinguished Scholar Award
Upon graduation, one award is given to a CUNY/BA and one to a CUNY/BS student with the highest GPA.
Donald and Leah Riddle Scholarship Award
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 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.
Dorothy and Solomon Bohigian Operations Research Award
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
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.
Elaine Noel Award
Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology established this award in 1999 in memory of Elaine Noel who served as the department’s 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.
Herbert L. Erlanger Wellness Award
Department of Counseling and Human Services
This award was established by Professor Jane Katz of the Department of Health and Physical Education in 2008. It is given to the graduating female athlete with the highest cumulative GPA.
Harold Sullivan Award in Law and Society
Department of Political Science
This award is presented to a graduating senior majoring in Law and Society who most demonstrates academic excellence in the major.
History Department Award
Department of History
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
Humanities and Justice Award
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.
Interdisciplinary Studies Award
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
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.
International Criminal Justice Excellence Award
This award is given to graduating seniors in the International Criminal Justice major who have the highest cumulative GPA.
Jerome Metzner Undergraduate Award
Department of Sciences
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.
Juan Antonio Soto Scholarship Award for Excellence in Spanish
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
This award was established by Professor Liliana Soto-Fernandez of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. It is given to a graduating senior with a major in Spanish who holds the highest GPA.
Lawrence J. Kaplan Humanities Award
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.
Outstanding Graduate in English
Department of English
This award, established by Professor Marny Tabb, is given to an exemplary graduating senior in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and leadership in the English program.
Petra Shattuck Prize for Distinction in Political Science
Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science 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 Political Science major. The faculty of the Department of Political Science selects the winner.
Phillip Gisses Award
Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management
This award was established by Associate Registrar Emerita Jennie Gisses in memory of her husband. It is given to the graduating senior who is a member of the New York City Fire Department or who has the highest grade point average in the Fire Science major. The faculty of the Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management selects the award winner.
Richard Henry Hommel Award
Department of Communication and Theatre Arts
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 Communication and Theatre Arts selects the award winner.
Robert S. Morrow Prize
Department of Psychology
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.
Ruth S. Lefkowitz Mathematics Prize
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
This prize was established by Charles S. Lefkowitz in honor of his wife, Professor Emerita Ruth S. Lefkowitz and former chairperson of the Department of Mathematics. The award is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding academic performance in the Computer Science and Information Security major. The faculty of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science selects the award winner from nominees with the highest grade point averages in the Computer Science and Information Security major.