Congratulations to Our Sociology Inductees for

Alpha Kappa Delta Honors Society!

 

Alpha Kappa Delta

Founded in 1920, Alpha Kappa Delta seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition. Membership is open to students who have met minimum standards in scholarship and who are sociology majors or minors. Currently there are more than 115,000 AKD members in 650 chapters around the world.

The 2020 inductees are Abby Gardner, Madyson Ast, Taylor Scott, Aaron Jolliff, and Mary Christina Deken. While the pandemic made it impossible to do a traditional ceremony, these students completed their applications prior to the closing of campus and we use this venue to honor these outstanding students! Congratulations!

 

Abby Gardner

Abby’s primary interests include women and children affected by domestic abuse as well as women’s rights and empowerment. She interned at Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery where she got a closer look at the inner workings of a non-profit organization. She now regularly volunteers with Girls on the Run where she gets to encourage and inspire elementary aged girls! Abby’s future goals include getting he master’s degree and working in a non-profit setting with the eventual goal of becoming the executive director of a non-profit.

 

Madyson Ast

Madyson is a second semester senior majoring in Sociology with a minor in Anthropology. This semester she is volunteering at a local before and after school program, XLT, to see how community values are reflected in youth. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, she is interested in pursuing either graduate school, or careers in the non-profit field working with students and families.

 

Taylor Scott

Taylor is a junior majoring in both Sociology and Psychology. She is a member of Psi Chi and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She has volunteered at The Boy’s and Girl’s Club, and has also served as an advocate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Southwest Missouri. Her passions include helping children and at-risk youth, and after graduation she plans to pursue her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.

 

Aaron Jolliff

Aaron is a Sociology major who has interest and experience in Sociology, Psychology, History, Philosophy, and Political Science. He has volunteered with local animal shelters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Springfield Community Gardens. He is currently involved in an internship with the Springfield community Gardens and hopes to use the opportunity to network in the local nonprofit sector of Springfield. He plans on finding work with a local nonprofit and remaining in the area of Springfield.

 

Mary Christina Deken

Mary Christina Deken will be a senior this coming fall at Missouri State. She is majoring in sociology and minoring in both criminology and diversity studies. She has a wide range of interests involving sociology, traveling, music, criminology, and global studies. She has volunteered at nursing homes in her hometown, as well as at CARE Animal Rescue and Convoy of Hope here in Springfield. She hopes to find a job that is in the non-profit sector or in the criminal justice system, as helping others and prison reform are two of the biggest things she care about.